Attainable Homes Calgary bringing 230 below-market townhomes to former David D. Oughton School site
The homes will range in price, according to Tait, with one-bedroom units selling for around $170,000 and five-bedroom homes selling for between $300,000 and $330,000, which is well below market rates.
Article content
There are currently hundreds of Calgarians on Attainable Homes Calgary's wait list, according to Tait, who said the non-profit has helped more than 1,100 families buy a home in the last 15 years.
Article content
'The intent is for people that work hard, are on fixed incomes,' he said. 'We're looking for people that contribute very strongly to Calgary's economy, Calgary's cultural life, that just can't be in a market home right now, so we use that income eligibility limit to guide our sale decisions.'
Article content
There are also rules in place to prohibit owners from renting out their units, running a home-based business or secondary suite, or operating their townhome as a short-term vacation rental.
Article content
Article content
'We make sure that these aren't used as investment properties,' Tait said. 'The owner lives in the unit and we've got protections in place to ensure that happens.'
Article content
To help families afford the homes, Tait said Attainable Homes Calgary runs a down payment assistance loan program. Through the program, the non-profit's clients only need to contribute an initial $2,000. The agency then loans whatever is required for the buyer to reach the federally mandated five per cent minimum down payment. The interest-free loan is returned when the buyer eventually sells the home.
Article content
CMLC looking into developing park-and-ride lots along LRT
In addition to the former David D. Oughton site, CMLC president and CEO Kate Thompson said the civic partner is advancing several other housing initiatives on municipally owned land.
At Wednesday's event, she mentioned CMLC is exploring the feasibility of developing transit-oriented communities (TOCs) along the CTrain network, specifically the city-owned park-and-ride lots at the Anderson, Fish Creek-Lacombe and Dalhousie stations.
The first phase of community engagement for those potential projects will begin this month, according to Thompson, who added additional surveys and engagement will follow as site analysis progresses.
CMLC is also progressing its East Village master plan, with four residential projects featuring more than 900 homes currently moving through the city's regulatory processes.
Construction of the first 162 of those units will begin later this year as part of Bankside Properties' Library Square project, which Thompson noted will include two six-storey residential dwellings just east of the central library.
Article content
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Calgary Herald
Is Calgary creating inner-city sacrifice zones with its new housing policy?
With its rapid new housing policy, Calgary may be creating inner-city sacrifice zones. Article content Mostly associated with environmental destruction, 'sacrifice zones' are areas permanently changed by heavy alterations (usually to a negative degree) or economic disinvestment, often through locally unwanted land use. Article content Article content A prime example of a sacrifice zone is Appalachia in the United States, where the tops of mountains have been blown off to mine a resource deemed important. What is rarely discussed is how the path of destruction upends the lives of the people living around the zone. Usually, they don't have the resources to fight the destruction, as moneyed interests are too powerful to defeat. And the citizenry turns a blind eye because the need for the resource is more important than the inconvenience of the destruction. Article content Article content Sacrifice zones also occur in real estate. When Hurricane Katrina breached the New Orleans levees, a large part of the city was under water. Rather than helping residents recover their homes, the U.S. government turned the downtown into a sacrifice zone, making way for the development of high-end hotels and eateries. Article content Article content Calgary's approach to creating sacrifice zones is more subtle and is a response to Canada's urgent affordable housing crisis. In procuring $228 million through the Housing Accelerator Fund, the City committed to fast-tracking construction of over 6,800 housing units within three years. In Calgary, one in five households cannot afford where they live, and one in 10 households are at risk of homelessness. This significant need for affordable housing feeds into Calgary's determination to create sacrifice zones in the inner city, but I suggest these zones will not alleviate the housing or the affordability crises because they will be too expensive to buy (more than $700,000) or rent monthly (over $3,500) unless there is a reckoning like we are seeing in the Toronto condo market. Article content Article content Calgary's approach to this problem is to build 'middle housing', represented by multi-unit or clustered housing types. To stop urban sprawl, this type of new development is focused on the inner city and, in particular, neighbourhoods with proximity to LRT and BRT routes. This third driver also primes Calgary's housing plan. Article content The development push is being driven by developers facilitated by the city. Whereas inner-city developments were previously not attractive to developers, the city has sweetened the pot by allowing compounds (four up/four down eight-plexes) on lots previously having a single house. To further appeal, the amount of on-site parking has been reduced by a lot, meaning that more cars line the streets. Then there's the garbage cans. Take a walk around redeveloped inner-city neighbourhoods and see the garbage cans lined up along laneways, blocking access to garages, which means, you guessed it, more cars on the street. Instead of fitting in, these developments are forced in, and I submit that they will destroy the neighbourhood that once was, resulting in a sacrifice zone. Article content These units will help address Calgary's housing crisis, but at what cost? After all, that is what sacrifice zones are all about, providing a need (coal, housing) and ignoring the destruction (mountains, inner-city neighbourhoods). The cost is in inner-city neighbourhoods, beautiful areas that are treed, green, spacious and peaceful. Developers will continue to develop until every tree is gone, and until every last inch of land is covered by a building, garage or cement sidewalk. Article content While no bulldozers are knocking down entire communities, Calgary's inner-city neighbourhoods are facing a slow erosion – one lot at a time – divide and conquer, the oldest play in the playbook. Long-standing communities have been rezoned for high-density development, disrupting all that is good about them. Like Appalachia, Calgary's inner core may soon serve the needs of others at the cost of its residents. There is a better way to densify inner city neighbourhoods and protect what is beautiful about them, so that they continue to be places that people want to live in. I hope the city figures that out before it is too late.
CBC
6 days ago
- CBC
Stony Plain Road construction straining business, shop owners says
Construction along Stony Plain Road for the Valley Line West LRT is causing major challenges for shops in west Edmonton, business owners say. Many shop owners say the years-long project has led to a significant drop in foot traffic, leaving them struggling to stay open. Marigold Infrastructure Partners initiated several closures in the area, including some the area around Stony Plain Road and 156 Street, as part of the accelerated roadwork for Valley Line West Petra Sekhon owns Vacuum Central, which has been on Stony Plain Road for 36 years. She said her business has lost a third of its revenue this month alone. "We've been told it's going to be another three years," said Sekhon. "Ninety-nine per cent of the customers when they come in say it's hard to get in … they're telling us that we should move." She said decisions are also being made without input from business owners. "They're going to put one tree right in front of my door, which I did not ask for. But I was not given the opportunity to have any kind of input," said Sekhon. "The plan was in place and they weren't making any changes, even though we've asked." Bijoy Sasmel, owner of Spirit of India Express, took over his restaurant in January. He said construction around 156th Street has made it almost impossible for customers to reach him. "I've had a very bad experience here," said Sasmel. Sasmel said he hasn't taken a salary in six months, as even delivery drivers cancel orders because they can't find the entrance to the plaza where his restaurant is located. "Some days my sale is not even $100," he said. "If I don't move from here, maybe I'll be bankrupt. I have to feed my family, I have to feed my kids." Despite asking for support from the city and Marigold Infrastructure, Sasmel said he got no positive response. Construction for the Edmonton Valley Line West LRT has been going on for 50 months and is anticipated to be complete in 2028. Justin Keats from the Stony Plain Road Business Association said businesses are losing 50 per cent or more of their traffic. "There are no programs that are compensating or trying to rectify the unequal playing field these businesses have been placed in," said the association's members' relations and communications coordinator. Keats said there was some talk about financial support with city council that has gone through several times, led by Ward Nakota Isga Cioun. Andrew Knack, but council was unable to reach a decision. The association hopes that with Edmonton's municipal election coming up in October, they might be able to start the conversation anew. "Businesses need some form of compensation that addresses them individually as the business owner versus having those funds go directly to the property owner," said Keats. "The area in itself would also need some significant reinvestment, whether that's in marketing or additional placemaking initiatives to make this place more viable and lively." In a statement to CBC News, Po Sun, general supervisor for the Valley Line West, said the city is aware of the challenges and is grateful for the continued patience of residents, commuters and businesses. "The city doesn't offer financial compensation to businesses due to construction," the statement said, but added that the city is offering "business outreach, signage, and stakeholder support." Construction at the 156th Street intersection reopened on July 10, but work will continue throughout the area until the LRT is finished, said the city. "The plan will reduce the overall duration of traffic restrictions by more than half, and take many of the roads along the Valley Line West alignment to their final configuration by the end of 2025." "If I ran my business the way they run this construction project, I would've been bankrupt years ago," said Sekhon of Vacuum Central.
Cision Canada
24-07-2025
- Cision Canada
Eastern Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers Meet to Discuss Critical Issues
MONCTON, NB, July 24, 2025 /CNW/ - The federal Fisheries Minister along with the Eastern Ministers responsible for Fisheries and Aquaculture from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador convened on Thursday July 24, 2025, in Moncton, New Brunswick (NB) to discuss and collaborate on pressing issues facing the eastern Canadian fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Key topics discussed during the meeting included renewal of funding programs, support for the eastern Canadian aquaculture sector, enforcement and unauthorized fishing activities, marine conservation, delivery of the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program, MSX and Dermo impacts, improved science in decision making, and small craft harbours. The Ministers emphasized the need for improved federal-provincial communication and collaboration to effectively address the challenges and opportunities in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. They were encouraged by the discussions and agreed that a collaborative approach going forward is necessary to address the complex and interrelated challenges facing the eastern Canadian fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Minister Thompson recognized provincial jurisdictional authority over aquaculture in Eastern Canada and commitment for a sustainably managed aquaculture industry, and also agreed to work with the provinces on identifying priorities for small craft harbours. The Ministers discussed renewal of the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) and the Quebec Fisheries Fund (QFF), including support to industry market diversification efforts in light of shifting economic realities. They reflected on the success of the fisheries funds and committed to continued cooperation in supporting the seafood sector, providing much-needed advances in infrastructure, research, and innovation. The Ministers agreed to formalize the forum in order to more effectively support the important seafood sector. Further discussions on this topic will be crucial in addressing issues facing industry across eastern Canada. Quotes "The meeting of the Eastern Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers was productive, and I'm optimistic about our commitment to ongoing collaboration to support sector sustainability, growth and diversification by addressing key priorities like renewing the AFF and QFF programs, supporting provincial aquaculture mandates, addressing industry challenges like MSX and Dermo and by increasing enforcement efforts to stop illegal fishing activities." The Honourable Kent Smith, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister for Nova Scotia, provincial co-chair of EFAM "Our fisheries are the backbone of our rural and coastal communities, supporting families and driving prosperity. I greatly value the perspectives of my Eastern counterparts and this forum, where we found opportunities to collaborate more closely on our common goals. Together, with my colleagues we will support strong fisheries and aquaculture in eastern Canada." The Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, federal co-chair of EFAM SOURCE Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers' Meetings
