Aggrieved Edmontonians living across the street from the site of a future affordable housing complex took to the streets on Thursday to voice their concerns over what they say was a lack of proper consultation on density and safety from the city. The city, in turn, says it’s been consulting with the neighbourhood since 2024. Crews were turning up ground beside southeast Edmonton’s Julia Kiniski School this week to prepare for what should become a four-storey housing complex with 68 units. The plot of land in the Mill Woods neighbourhood is one of 11 school surplus zones across the city, where schools have ceded land back to the city for development. This particular land was initially slated to be a senior home. Joyce Kinsella, who’s lived in the area for 31 years, says the city didn’t consider the voices of long-time residents before starting work. “Having low income here, I don’t want to sound mean, but we’re going to have, I’m sorry, people on drugs, pedophiles moving in, and we’ve already got homeless people living in the playground,” the retiree told CTV News Edmonton. “Our taxes keep going up. You want kids to get off their computers. You want them running around outside and playing. How can that happen when you keep taking away land? This was a mature neighbourhood.” The protest saw some 30 people and a lone counter-protester – Dan Gallant – who said his neighbours were “demonizing these people before they even get into their homes.” Kinsella and her fellow residents say they would have appreciated door-to-door information check-ins and the opportunity to discuss the developments, having had to learn about the new development from a “big sign” near the area. Area Coun. Jo-Anne Wright told CTV News Edmonton community mailouts with information began in 2024. Residents within 160 metres of the property would have received the information. “There was signage up … You can’t miss them when you’re driving by, with numbers to call, websites to go to for more information. There were open houses,” the Ward Sspomitapi councillor said Thursday. The area is slated to include 1:1 parking spots to units, meaning developers hope parking should not be an issue for nearby homeowners with density concerns, she added. She also pushed back on the idea of affordable housing equating to low-income housing. “I think part of (the opposition) is the misinformation and disinformation that affordable housing sites are going to bring crime to the area. Those looking for this type of housing are looking for housing. They want to be part of the community.” As of Thursday, construction continues. Ajay Gill, a lawyer representing the interests of concerned residents, says he plans to take the matter to courts should the city not pause its work. Developers hope to have the building complete by the beginning of 2028. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Noah Rishaug
