16-unit affordable housing project breaks ground in Mount Pleasant neighbourhood
A new mixed-income affordable housing project broke ground in a northwest community on Thursday as the mayor highlighted Calgary's top spot in national housing starts.
"For too long, affordable housing has been framed as something that cities simply cannot afford," Mayor Jyoti Gondek told reporters at the groundbreaking.
"Here in Calgary, we are shifting that narrative because the truth is, we can't afford not to be investing in homes like this. We are putting dignity first."
Sitting on the former site of St. Joseph School, the 16-unit mixed-income project will provide homes for about 45 people, with a planned opening in the summer of 2026.
The head of Calgary Housing says the approach to subsidized housing has changed.
"People from a variety of backgrounds will be able to live here and engage in this community as well as pursue their financial opportunity and success," Sarah Woodgate said.
"That is why every home for affordable housing matters. All maintenance and other costs are covered through the rent revenue."
Rent is pegged to income, so some people will pay more.
"To increase affordable housing supply, you need three ingredients: land, predictable funding, including capital and financing, and also streamlined government processes," she said.
$7.9M project, with $5.2M from province, federal government
The project sits on city-owned land with funding and support from all levels of government. It'll cost about $7.9 million, with the province kicking in $3.7 million and another $1.5 million from a joint provincial-federal program.
Current Calgary Housing works with about 27,000 residents, with a goal of 40,000. There are 680 homes under construction, with a future goal of 3,000.
Gondek said cities across the country are looking at Calgary's model. Calgary's new housing starts tops the nation at about 14 per cent, and account for 55 per cent in the province, she said.
"Every community should have a variety of housing so people can age in place, so people's adult children can live in the same neighbourhood they live in, and we can all have a great quality of life," the mayor said.
Terry Wong, councillor for the area, Ward 7, said the location next to a dog park and playground has been welcomed by the community.
"When I talk to the Mount Pleasant Community Association and the residents here, they want population, they want diversity, because that's what makes a community what it is," Wong said.
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