The City of Calgary has approved the sale of five parcels of city owned land at below-market prices to four non-profit housing organizations that will be dedicated to affordable housing.
According to a release from the City of Calgary on Thursday, the five parcels will accommodate 387 homes in the communities of Crescent Heights, Erlton, Haysboro, Erin Woods and Shaganappi.
The land buyers include Onward Homes (Erlton and Shaganappi), Siksika Off-reserve Affordable Housing (Erin Woods), Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (Crescent Heights) and Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (Haysboro).
Each will receive a per-door funding of $75,000 to expedite construction, resulting in a $29 million contribution from the federal Liberals taxpayer funded Housing Accelerator Fund.
In its release, the city said, “New to this round of non-market land sale, Indigenous organizations were given priority in an earlier application period to apply for a parcel of land. This latest initiative addresses all five outcomes of Home is Here – City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy.”
"The need for affordable housing in Calgary is greater than ever, and selling city-owned land below market value to these affordable housing builders is a major step toward meeting that demand,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “By working with trusted organizations, we are not only providing more homes but also making our communities more inclusive. This effort also supports Indigenous housing.”
A time line of our years has been established for housing to be completed, which includes planning approvals and community engagements.
“As Calgary continues to grow and evolve, the need for affordable housing becomes increasingly urgent. It's not just about constructing homes; it’s about building vibrant communities where everyone can thrive,” said says Reid Hendry, chief housing officer. “We are working towards ensuring that all Calgarians have access to safe, stable, and affordable places to call home.”
While not revealing the cost of the five parcels, the city’s release indicated it has contributed $25.3 million in land value through the program, which enabled the development of 835 homes for Calgarians in need.
“This round of land sales is the fourth portfolio of city-owned sites offered to non-profit organizations at below market value under the Non-Market Housing Land Sale program,” said Hendry. “The portfolio of city lands is sold below market value to give non-profit organizations the opportunity to develop affordable housing at a discounted rate. This program reduces the land cost for non-profit organizations, who can turn the savings into more support for affordable housing programs or services.”
