 Much of the area's development occurred during the First World War era and it was once home to the Great Western Garment Company and the Norwood Foundry.Although it fell on hard times during the 1970s, Alberta Avenue is undergoing revitalization and increasingly is becoming a desirable place to live due to its close proximity to the downtown core, reasonable house prices, and access to amenities such as public transit, the Commonwealth Recreation Centre, the Sprucewood Library and many family owned and bakeries.According to a report by the City of Edmonton's Planning & Development Department, 104 building permits were issued for Alberta Avenue in 2011 with a total construction value of 5,114,708.