Calgary Downtown Offices Transformed into Affordable Housing with New Grant
Calgary’s downtown is set to undergo a significant transformation, with nearly 100,000 square feet of office space being converted into affordable housing. This initiative is made possible through a new city grant program aimed at addressing the city’s housing crisis.
Affordable Housing Initiative in Calgary
The project will create 128 units of non-market housing in two towers, specifically targeting the city’s core. HomeSpace Society and the Trellis Society are the first recipients of the Downtown Non-Market Office Conversion Grant.
Details of the Projects
- Trellis Society: Teaming up with Bluevale Capital Group, this organization will transform office space at 441 5 Avenue SW into 63 affordable units. The city is contributing $6.2 million to a total project cost of $27.8 million. The plans include:
- 27 studio units
- 18 one-bedroom units
- 9 two-bedroom units
- 9 three-bedroom units
- HomeSpace Society: This organization will convert the office space at 1000 8 Avenue SW into 65 non-market units. The project is estimated to cost $27.5 million, with $4.1 million coming from the city’s grant. Unit distribution includes:
- 30 studio units
- 35 one-bedroom units
City’s Housing Goals
Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas emphasized that these projects contribute to the city’s aim of developing 3,000 non-market housing units annually. Last year, the city issued permits for 1,800 such homes, significantly surpassing the average of 374 units over the past decade.
Funding and Future Concerns
The grant of $10.3 million is sourced from Calgary’s share of the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), through which the city has received $251.3 million, including additional funds. However, there are fears that future funding might be jeopardized by upcoming decisions regarding citywide rezoning policies.
City officials have indicated that up to $861 million in federal funding, including HAF resources, could be endangered if the city council votes to repeal rezoning measures. Reid Hendy, the city’s chief housing officer, highlighted the potential risks involved in this decision.
Response from City Leadership
During a recent visit to Ottawa and Toronto, Mayor Farkas discussed Calgary’s funding with federal officials. He expressed optimism about the future collaboration between the city and federal entities, especially as Calgary has exceeded its housing targets under the HAF.
Impact of Citywide Rezoning
Calgary’s city council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on March 23 regarding the potential repeal of the citywide rezoning policy. The policy, implemented in August 2024, aimed to encourage diverse housing types across the city by modifying the land-use bylaw.
Premier Danielle Smith voiced concerns over municipalities negotiating housing funds with the federal government, suggesting that these agreements may impose unreasonable conditions.
With these developments, Calgary aims to maintain momentum in addressing its housing challenges while navigating financial dependencies on federal funding.
