Section 01
Old lot geometry shapes new houses
Mature Edmonton lots were laid out with frontages, side yards and lane relationships suited to the houses of their time. A larger contemporary house on that geometry produces narrow side yards, deep floor plans and front-to-back light problems unless it is well designed.
Walk the side yards and look at where the windows land relative to the neighbours. That single observation predicts most of the privacy experience.
Section 02
The street is mid-transition
The lot next door may hold a 1950s bungalow today and two skinny homes in three years. Municipal infill policy exists precisely to enable that change.
A buyer should decide whether they are comfortable with the street continuing to evolve, and a seller should present the evolution honestly rather than photographing around it.
Section 03
Permits, variances and what was actually approved
Infill projects often involve variances for height, coverage or setback. The permit record shows what was approved and on what basis.
Where a house exceeds what a neighbour expected, disputes surface at resale. Documentation resolves them.
Section 04
Grading and mature trees are the recurring conflicts
New construction changes how a lot sheds water, and the neighbouring properties were graded for the previous condition. Approved grading plans and completed final grading are the buyer's protection.
Mature boulevard and yard trees are the reason people want these streets. Confirm what was retained, what was removed and what protection measures were in place during construction.
Section 05
Resale comparability is the quiet issue
A high-specification infill can be the most expensive house on a block of original stock. Appraisal and buyer psychology both reference the surrounding street.
This is not a reason to avoid infill; it is a reason to buy in locations where the surrounding transition is well underway and to hold with a realistic horizon.