City-owned land sale expected to create 387 new affordable homes in Calgary

Calgary has sold another five parcels of land below cost to help boost affordable housing supply. Jordan Kanygin reports.

Affordable housing providers have been selected to build nearly 400 new homes on city-owned property.

The City of Calgary announced the four providers that have been selected to purchase five parcels of land at below-market value as part of its latest round of non-market land sales.

The developments, expected to create 387 new homes, will be built in the communities of Crescent Heights, Erlton, Haysboro, Erin Woods and Shaganappi.

The city approved land sales in these communities to the following groups:

- Erlton and Shaganappi to Onward Homes;

- Erin Woods to Siksika Off-Reserve Affordable Housing (SORAH);

- Crescent Heights to Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (AFCC); and,

- Haysboro to Liberty Housing Organization.

“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,” Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said.

“By working with trusted organizations, we are not only providing more homes but also making our communities more inclusive.”

The city said Indigenous organizations were given priority in an earlier application period to apply for a parcel of land.

The organizations have up to four years to construct the housing, including planning approvals and community engagement.

“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,” the city said in a news release.

“This program reduces the land cost for non-profit organizations, who can turn the savings into more support for affordable housing programs or services.”

Additional funding is also available through the housing accelerator fund, at per-door funding of up to $75,000 for each parcel of land, resulting in a $29 million contribution.

The city says it has contributed $25.5 million in land value through the program, creating 835 homes to date.