Oliver, Edmonton

Coordinates: 53°32′32″N 113°31′19″W / 53.54222°N 113.52194°W / 53.54222; -113.52194

High and Mid-rise condominiums along 100th Avenue in Oliver, a common sight in Oliver.

Oliver is one of the oldest residential neighbourhoods in the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The neighbourhood is named after Frank Oliver, an early Edmonton resident, businessman, and politician. The south east portion of the neighbourhood is also known as Grandin, with both Grandin LRT Station and Grandin School located in this part of the neighbourhood.

Oliver is located immediately to the west of the downtown core (to the point where it is sometimes mistaken as part of downtown), and overlooks the North Saskatchewan River valley. Located in the river valley immediately below Oliver is Edmonton's Royal Glenora Club, Victoria Golf Course, and Victoria Park. The High Level Bridge and Groat Bridge give residents access to locations on the south side, including the University of Alberta and Old Strathcona. The Victoria Promenade (part of Edmonton's Heritage Trail) offers attractive vistas of the river valley at the western end of Oliver.

Oliver is one of the densest neighbourhoods in Edmonton and West Oliver is the densest area in Alberta.^{[citation needed]}

The north edge of the neighbourhood was once a Canadian National Railway right of way and rail yard. This part of the neighbourhood was recently redeveloped, and includes apartment buildings, the Oliver Square and Oliver Square West strip shopping centres, some old warehouses converted shops, and parking for the MacEwan University downtown campus.

Residential development

Residential development along 102 Avenue in Oliver.

Oliver was early Edmonton's West End. As the city grew, Oliver became a central neighbourhood and underwent a significant amount of redevelopment. According to the 2001 federal census, most of the residences in Oliver were built in the 1960s and later, with only one residence in seven (14.5%) dating from 1960 and earlier. These buildings represent surviving structures from Oliver's early development.

Beginning in the 1960s, the neighbourhood underwent significant redevelopment with a significant number of high rise apartments/condos coming to dominate the neighbourhood's skyline. Approximately one residence in three (30.4%) were built between 1961 and 1970. Another one residence in three (31.9%) were built between 1971 and 1980. One residence in seven (13.7%) were built during the early 1980s. While some redevelopment occurred after 1985, the pace of redevelopment slowed significantly.^[1] Recently the areas around Jasper Avenue have been home to new retail and condo developments like the Serenity and Illuminada.

The most common type of residence in Oliver, according to the 2005 municipal census, are rented apartments and apartment style condominiums in high rise buildings with more than five stories. This type of residence accounts for roughly two out of every three (66%) residences in the neighbourhood. Approximately seven out of every ten of these are rented.^[2]

Most of the remaining residences are rented apartments and apartment style condominiums in low rise buildings with fewer than five stories. This type of residence accounts for approximately one out of three (31%) of all residences in Oliver. Approximately four out of every five of these are rented.^[2]

In addition, there are a small number of duplexes,^[3] row houses, and single family dwellings.^[2][4]

Distribution of Types Of Residences - Owner Occupied vs Rented - 2005 Census[2]
	Owned[5]	Rented[6]	Total
Apartment With Five or More Stories	31%	69%	100%
Apartment With Fewer Than Five Stories	21%	79%	100%
Duplexes	40%	60%	100%
Row Houses	73%	27%	100%
Single Family Dwellings	52%	47%	100%
Total	21%	79%	100%

Population mobility

The population in Oliver is highly mobile. According to the 2005 municipal census, almost three out of every ten (28.3%) residents had moved within the previous twelve months. Another one in three (28.5%) residents had moved within the previous one to three years. Only one resident in three (28.1%) had lived at the same address for at least five years,^[7]

Shopping and services

Oliver Square shopping centre is one of several strip shopping centres located in or near the Oliver neighbourhood.

There is a significant amount of commercial development in the Oliver area.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, the majority of the rail yards of the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railways were rededeloped as strip shopping centres. These include Oliver Square and Oliver Square West located along the north edge of Oliver. In addition, a Canadian Pacific rail yard, immediately to the east of Oliver, was also redeveloped as a strip shopping centre.

Edmonton's main street, Jasper Avenue, cuts through Oliver, and much of Jasper Avenue is lined with shops, restaurants and other services.

Along the west edge of the neighbourhood, shops and businesses line 124 Street. Just to the west of Oliver, in the neighbourhood of Westmount, are the shops and services located in another strip shopping centre called High Street.

Religious assemblies

St. Joseph's Basilica

There are many places of worship in the Oliver area. One of the best known is St. Joseph's Basilica. Originally St. Joseph's Cathedral, the name was changed when Pope John Paul II visited Edmonton during his visit to Canada in 1984.

Other places of worship in Oliver are:

• Beth Shalom Synagogue
• Christ Church (Anglican)
• Ethiopian Evangelical Church
• Evangelical Mission to Ukraine
• Grace Lutheran
• House of Refuge Mission
• Jesus is Lord Fellowship
• The Oblate Missionaries Secular Institute
• Robertson Wesley United Church, and
• St. Joachim Church.

The Beth Israel Synagogue was also located in the Oliver area before relocating to the Oleskiw neighbourhood.

Surrounding neighbourhoods

Surrounding neighbourhoods include Queen Mary Park to the north, Central McDougall to the north east, and Westmount to the west and north west. It is bounded on the west by 124 Street, on the north by 105 Ave, and on the east by 110 Street.

References

1. ^ http://censusdocs.edmonton.ca/DD23/FEDERAL%202001/Neighbourhood/OLIVER.pdf
2. ^ ^{a b c d} http://censusdocs.edmonton.ca/C05002/MUNICIPAL%202005/Neighbourhood/OLIVER.pdf
3. ^ Duplexes include triplexes and fourplexes.
4. ^ Many single family dwellings have been converted for use as business offices. These are not included in the residential single family dwelling numbers.
5. ^ Residence is owner occupied. Where an apartment is owner occupied, it is likely a condominium.
6. ^ Residence is occupied by renters. Where an apartment is rented, it is likely in a rental apartment building, though it could be a condominium the owner has rented to a tenant.
7. ^ http://censusdocs.edmonton.ca/C05022B/MUNICIPAL%202005/Neighbourhood/OLIVER.pdf
8. ^ Westmount (Groat Estates) is a wedged between Oliver and the neighbourhood of Glenora to the west.