The Edmonton Community Development Company (ECDC) was born out of End Poverty’s Road Map to invest in a poverty-free future. The current tools and strategies the ECDC have implemented focus on redeveloping residential and commercial properties.

A comprehensive study was done by the ECDC to quantify the socio-economic costs of Edmonton’s problem properties. The analysis reveals that more than the financial costs problem properties create, community members bear the highest consequences of living around derelict houses. It is not only a threat to public safety but also contributes to the significant decline of the community.

Neighbourhood safety is a top concern for residents. Neglected properties are a substantial contributor to drug activities and fire-related incidents within a community.

Ultimately, the ECDC believes that reinvesting in commercial properties helps surrounding communities increase their quality of life through improved access to goods and services. Additionally, focusing on residential redevelopment provides a safer neighbourhood for families to enjoy and positively impacts their overall economic well-being.

ECDC started Project 10 as an initiative to purchase 10 problem properties in the McCauley and Alberta Avenue areas and transform them into neighbourhood assets. Properties are demolished or redeveloped to create housing and encourage families to move into the neighbourhoods.

We have currently decided to widen our reach and are now looking into the neighbourhoods of Balwin, Belvedere, Queen Mary Park, Central McDougall, Inglewood, and Jasper Place.