Edmonton is currently buried under a massive snowpack, but the real story isn't the cold. It’s the sheer volume of change hitting the streets this January. Honestly, if you’ve lived here long enough, you’re used to the "City of Champions" being a construction zone, but the current City of Edmonton news suggests we are hitting a weird, experimental phase in how the municipal government actually functions.
Between a controversial "no-tow" snow policy and a sudden backtrack on housing density, the city feels like it’s trying to find its feet after a heavy 2025.
The Great Snow Blading Experiment of 2026
So, here is the deal: the Phase 2 parking ban officially kicked off on January 12. Usually, this means "move your car or get towed to a lot in the middle of nowhere." Not this time. Because of massive budget cuts and the discontinuation of certain towing services, the city basically said, "We’ll ticket you $250, but we aren't moving the car."
It sounds like a win for lazy parkers, right? Wrong.
If you don't move your vehicle, the plows just go around you. You end up with a permanent island of ice and snow in front of your house that stays there until April. It’s a mess. City Council is actually meeting on January 19 to discuss dropping that $250 fine down to $150, mostly because the enforcement has become such a headache. If you're living in a redeveloping neighborhood like Glenora or Holyrood, the narrow streets are already a nightmare without frozen cars blocking the way.
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Why the Infill "Backtrack" Matters
If you follow City of Edmonton news, you know "infill" is basically a swear word in some circles and a holy grail in others. For years, the push was for more density. More people, more suites, more height.
But things just shifted.
The city administration is now recommending a backtrack on those aggressive zoning rules. They want to cap mid-block developments at six units instead of eight. Why? Because the "Wild West" era of building massive boxes on tiny lots has finally hit a breaking point with the public. Mayor Andrew Knack recently admitted that while density is the goal, the "fixed number" approach hasn't exactly been the silver bullet everyone hoped for.
- Mid-block cap: Proposing a drop from 8 units to 6.
- Site Area: Increasing minimum lot sizes for new builds to prevent "squeezing."
- Corner Lots: Surprisingly, these might see more restrictions too, which has some councillors like Michael Janz raising an eyebrow.
Public feedback is open until January 29. If you have thoughts on how your street looks, now is the literal last minute to pipe up before the Urban Planning Committee meets on February 10.
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Safety and the Transit Surge
You might have noticed a lot more uniforms on the LRT lately. That’s not your imagination. The city just deployed 15 new transit peace officers this month. Another 15 are coming in July.
Basically, the city is phasing out the private Commissionaires—who couldn't really do much besides watch—and replacing them with officers who actually have enforcement power under provincial law. It’s a direct response to the "social disorder" complaints that have dominated the headlines for the last two years. While crime stats in some sectors are technically dropping, the "vibe" in the downtown core hasn't quite recovered, and $2 million in annual graffiti and vandalism costs isn't helping the budget.
The 2026 Real Estate "Soft Landing"
Everyone expected the Edmonton market to explode like Calgary’s did. It didn't.
Instead, we are looking at a "bumpy" 2026. The Conference Board of Canada just released a report saying our "affordability advantage" is eroding. It’s still cheaper to live here than in Toronto or Vancouver (obviously), but with unemployment hovering around 7.9% and federal immigration cuts slowing down the population surge, the bidding wars are mostly over.
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Expect home prices to grow by maybe 2% this year. That’s it. It’s a buyer’s market for the first time in a while, especially if you’re looking at condos. If you’re a seller? You might be waiting 60 days instead of six.
Things to Actually Do (If You Can Handle the Cold)
Despite the budget gloom, the festival scene is actually hitting its stride this month.
- Chiseled: The international ice carving competition has moved to the ICE District (Jan 15-17). It’s much easier to access than the old site.
- Deep Freeze: The Byzantine Winter Festival on 118th Ave (Jan 17-18) is still the best place to get deep-fried bannock.
- Flying Canoë Volant: This happens at the end of the month (Jan 28-31) in the Mill Creek Ravine. It's easily the most "Edmonton" event of the year.
The Bottom Line for Residents
The City of Edmonton news right now is a mix of "wait and see." We are waiting to see if the new transit officers actually make the LRT feel safer. We are waiting to see if the housing market stays flat or dips. And we are definitely waiting to see if our neighbors move their cars so the streets get plowed.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Map: Go to the City of Edmonton website and look up the "Phase 2" clearing schedule for your specific neighborhood. If you don't move your car, you're getting a $250 souvenir on your windshield.
- Voice Your Opinion: The Zoning Bylaw feedback window closes Jan 29. If you hate (or love) the 8-unit infills, email your councillor before the Feb 10 meeting.
- Plan for Transit: If you're heading to an Oilers game (like the one against the Islanders on Jan 15), expect a heavier peace officer presence. It’s actually a good time to test out the Valley Line Southeast now that the "newness" has worn off and the security has ramped up.