Avenue Magazine recently named Strathcona Edmonton’s best neighborhood for the third time. These accolades are well deserved as living in Strathcona has a lot to offer. The neighbourhood will turn 102 years old this year and it has been a cultural centre in Edmonton for quite some time. The neighbourhood is bordered on its south side by Whyte Ave. The north end borders the river valley, while to the west it is bordered by Garneau (along with the University of Alberta). Finally, the east end borders the beautiful Mill Creek Ravine.
The history of Strathcona dates back to 1891, when it was the end of the railway that came from the south. Because of the large river valley, Edmonton was actually two different cities – north of the river was Edmonton, Alberta and south was Strathcona. Thus Strathcona (also known as “Old Strathcona”) has a more historic feel than downtown Edmonton, as in this area many of the old buildings still remain intact. This gives the neighbourhood a very charming feel – the image of an old western town. The original railway station and some of the first businesses are also intact to this day.
The area has a bohemian, carefree and artistic vibe. The neighbourhood has always been home to many artists and people seeking an alternative way of life. The Strathcona Farmers Market has been a hallmark in the area for close to 25 years and is open year round. The Fringe Festival is also a major contributor to this feel. The Edmonton Fringe Festival is the second largest fringe festival in the world and has over 1,000 plays during a 10-day span in August.
Whyte Avenue is the major street that goes through Strathcona and is lined with unique shops, pubs and cafes. In the summer there is no better place to take a stroll or enjoy a beer or coffee on a patio. The street offers a unique vibe that can only be captured by a few other streets in Canada. You just walk along Whyte Avenue and have this sense you are in a special place.
The area has some of Edmonton’s finest restaurants and cafes. A local favorite is DaDeO’s, a Cajun restaurant set up in an old Hwy 66 style diner, and it is as distinctive as the area. The Next Act Pub named as such because of the fact that many actors go there after their plays. Like the whole area The Next Act is unique and has a great atmosphere
Next to downtown, there is no better place in Edmonton for entertainment than Strathcona. The area has a lively and active theater district that is particularly eventful during the Fringe Festival. A local favorite is Blues on Whyte, which has live blues music every night of the week. Some of the most famous Blues artists in the world have made a stop here, as it is a long standing stop on many artist’s tours. There is also the Yardbird, which has live Jazz along with a few other live music venues like the Pawnshop; the Pawnshop features live rock bands.
To go along with the abundance of artistic things to do in Strathcona there are also plenty of outdoor entertainment activities. Strathcona is surrounded by green space which makes it ideal for bicycling, jogging and cross country skiing.
Real Estate
Being a trendy neighbourhood, the real estate market in Strathcona is fairly expensive. The per-square-foot rental rate for a business on Whyte Avenue is higher than anywhere else in the city. The large number of pedestrians walking up and down Whyte Ave makes it a lucrative place to open up a restaurant or shop.
The area is situated on a grid type block system with mostly old houses along the streets and avenues. There is however a large number of condominium buildings, particularly on the North edge overlooking the river valley. These are some of the nicest condos in Edmonton that are quite expensive, but there are less expensive condos further from the river valley.
Whyte Avenue, as mentioned, is not a quiet street. The street is packed with people until late into the evening. Thus, anyone looking in this area should be aware of this. With that being said, the area gets very quiet as you move a block away from Whyte. Generally, the neighbourhood is very quiet in the residential parts. The area is surrounded by green space, so it is really not very polluted.
Crime Rate
One of the major downsides of this area is the Crime Rate. While the crime rate generally isn’t that high, it is higher than you might expect. Whyte Avenue has many bars and is known for incidents that occur mostly late at night.
Schools
The biggest school in the area is the University of Alberta, one of the biggest and best Universities in Canada. The largest non-post-secondary school is Strathcona High which is one of the biggest schools in Edmonton. Strathcona High is no longer located right in Strathcona, but is a short bus ride or walk to the south.
Public Transportation
Public transit in Strathcona is good but it isn’t the best. The closest LRT (light rail transit) location is at the University, which is a 10-20 minute walk. The area does, however, have plentiful bus service and it is easy to get to the University terminal which offers great access to the rest of the city.
Family Life
Strathcona in general is a very young area with plenty of students and artists. Thus it is not the place you find many families, but it is still a nice place to raise children. The area has abundant schools and parks along with a fun atmosphere. There are plenty of kid-friendly festivals to go along with the more adult oriented Whyte Avenue scene.