Avalon

At a glance

Avalon sits in south-central Saskatoon, tucked into the Nutana Suburban Development Area. It's bordered by Queen Elizabeth to the north and Adelaide/Churchill to the east, with Circle Drive forming much of its southern and western edge. The neighbourhood is home to roughly 3,400 residents.

This is a quiet, residential pocket of the city. Mature trees, established streets, and small parks define the feel. Most of the homes are low-density, single-detached bungalows built between the late 1940s and the 1960s, with smaller waves of homes added in the 1990s and ongoing infill more recently.

A bit of history

The land that makes up Avalon was annexed by the City of Saskatoon between 1910 and 1919, with a smaller southern piece added in the 1960s. Home construction didn't really begin until after the Second World War, and most of the build-out wrapped up by the late 1960s. Some additional development happened in the 1990s, mostly south of Glasgow Street and west of Clarence Avenue.

If you walk Avalon's streets, you'll notice the layouts shift as you go. The older sections follow a traditional grid. Newer sections curve and bend in line with the urban planning ideas of the day. Many street names honour early Saskatoon mayors and community leaders. Wilson Crescent, for instance, is named for James Robert Wilson, the city's second mayor.

Housing character

Bungalow-style homes dominate Avalon. Most sit on generous lots with mature trees, lane access, and detached garages or room to build one. You'll find a mix of original 1950s-era homes, some that have been thoughtfully renovated, and a smaller share of newer infill builds.

A few things to know about Avalon housing:

• Many homes feature finished basements, often with secondary suites or income potential. Always confirm legal suite status with the city.
• Detached garages off the back lane are common.
• Some streets near the Circle Drive perimeter sit closer to traffic noise.
• Avalon also has several low-rise apartment buildings, some of which have been converted into condominium units for individual ownership.
• A few townhouse-style condo complexes are mixed in, including the 810 Mendel Crescent group and 3415 Calder Crescent.

Schools

Avalon is served by two elementary schools right inside the neighbourhood.

John Lake School is the public option, part of Saskatoon Public Schools, in operation at its current location since 1959.

Georges Vanier Catholic Fine Arts School sits on Wilson Crescent. It opened in 1958 (originally as Christ the King) and became Saskatchewan's first designated fine arts school in 1979. A major renovation and expansion was completed in 2015.

For high school, Avalon families are served by Aden Bowman Collegiate, located a few blocks north in the Queen Elizabeth neighbourhood. The University of Saskatchewan is also a short drive away for post-secondary education.

Parks, green space, and recreation

Avalon has roughly ten acres of park space spread across three parks.

• Avalon Park sits centrally and includes playgrounds and sports amenities.
• John Lake Park is connected to the school and offers green space and a paddling pool for hot summer days.
• C.P. Seeley Park is the smallest of the three at about 1.3 acres.

Park amenities across the neighbourhood include playgrounds, ball diamonds, basketball facilities, walking paths, and the seasonal paddling pool. The Avalon off-leash dog park is one of the more popular dog parks on the south side of the city.

The Avalon Community Association runs programs for children and adults throughout the year, including fitness classes, sports, arts and crafts, and seasonal activities. They also maintain an outdoor skating rink in the winter for hockey and ice skating.

Shopping, dining, and everyday conveniences

For day-to-day needs, the Avalon Shopping Centre sits at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Cascade Street. You'll find local retailers, a few smaller restaurants, and a recycling depot. The Somewhere Else Pub & Grill is a long-time local fixture, and The Daily Scoop is a seasonal walk-up ice cream spot popular with families in the summer. The Avalon Food Mart handles convenience needs.

Just outside the neighbourhood, you have access to:

• Broadway Avenue for shops, dining, and the Broadway Theatre — Canada's only community-owned non-profit repertory cinema.
• 8th Street East for major shopping and restaurants.
• Stonebridge right across the overpass for grocery (Sobeys), big-box retail, and additional dining.
• Market Mall about 2 km east in Nutana for additional shopping.

Getting around

Avalon connects to Circle Drive via the Clarence Avenue interchange, which opened in the late 2000s. That gives residents quick access to the rest of the city. Idylwyld Drive (Highway 11) and Broadway Avenue both provide direct routes north to downtown.

Approximate drive times under typical conditions:

• Downtown Saskatoon: about 10 minutes
• University of Saskatchewan: about 10 to 15 minutes
• Stonebridge shopping area: a few minutes across the overpass
• Saskatoon Airport (YXE): about 20 minutes
• Cranberry Flats Conservation Area: about 10 to 15 minutes south

Saskatoon Transit serves Avalon, with routes connecting to the downtown terminal and the University of Saskatchewan. Frequency and specific stops vary by street — check the Saskatoon Transit website for any address you're considering.

For the curious: Vernon Avenue is a local quirk. On maps it shows as a one-block one-way street, but it actually starts life as a back alley before merging with the Idylwyld Freeway offramp. Just one of those Saskatoon planning curiosities.

Recent market activity

Here's what's been happening on the resale market in Avalon over the past 90 days.

Price ranges

• Detached sales ranged from $325,000 to $555,000
• Attached / townhouse condos ranged from $418,500 to $481,500
• One apartment condo sold at $157,000

Pricing patterns

• Five of nine sales closed above asking price.
• Strongest over-list result: $60,100 above asking on McAskill Crescent — sold in 5 days.
• The detached homes that sold over asking were generally smaller post-war bungalows priced sharply to attract buyer attention.
• Properties that took longer to sell (49 and 60 days) tended to be priced higher relative to comparable activity.

Active inventory

At the time of this profile, just one active listing in Avalon — a $450,000 detached home on Clarence Avenue South. That's thin supply.

Who Avalon suits best