Thorncliffe is designed in an attempt to control urban sprawl and thereby preserve agricultural land, conserve energy and provide more efficient delivery of services. Multi-unit structures are located adjacent to the neighbourhood's collector road and account for over one-half of the neighbourhood's total dwelling units.
The schools and commercial facilities are central to the neighbourhood and are easily accessible to residents. The neighbourhood has a large proportion of young families. Civic ward: sipiwiyiniwak. District: West Edmonton. City boundary records effective 1981-10-01.