Blatchford chosen as name of airport redevelopment

The massive redevelopment of the City Centre Airport lands will be named after Kenneth Blatchford, the former Edmonton mayor who helped establish Canada's first municipal airfield in 1926.

"Edmonton was a pioneer in Canadas aviation history," said David Weir, chair of the citys naming committee, in a news release. "Naming the area Blatchford recognizes an important chapter in our citys history."

The name was not included in the six options developed by a marketing company earlier this year: Sol'Town, Avia Park, The Landing, Wingfield, Central Park and Crossroads.

The omission provoked a backlash from those who believed that the site's earlier name, Blatchford Field, should have been included.

Once the development is complete, Blatchford will be home to 30,000 people. Construction is expected to start in early 2014 with the first residents moving in two years later