Latest news with #HousingAcceleratorFund
Calgary Herald
30-07-2025
- Business
- 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.
Global News
28-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
Winnipeg selects developers for 5 new housing initiatives
The City of Winnipeg says five new affordable housing sites are another step closer to reality. The city announced Monday that it has chosen developers for the sites as part of a project through the federal government's Housing Accelerator Fund. The projects — to be located on Tache Avenue, Osborne Street, Pembina Highway and two on Watt Street — are expected to create almost 700 new housing units. Of those units, 270 will be considered affordable housing. The city said it didn't receive any viable interest in a sixth site, on William Avenue, and will find another use for that land. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Winnipeg needs more housing, and we need it quickly,' Mayor Scott Gillingham said Monday. 'By making city-owned land available for these projects, we're helping to speed up the construction of affordable and accessible homes in neighbourhoods across our city. Story continues below advertisement 'This is a great example of how partnerships can deliver real results for Winnipeggers.' Construction is set to begin within a year, the city said. 0:51 More affordable housing funding in Westman
Hamilton Spectator
24-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Calgary outpaces housing unit target, secures funding boost from feds
Dollars to doors was how Mayor Jyoti Gondek has described multiple government-funded housing projects that are ahead of schedule in Calgary. The federal government awarded the City $228.5 million through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) in 2023, and the City of Calgary set out to incentivize 43,000 new housing units built by Oct. 2026. That goal was exceeded by the city in June, a year and a half ahead of schedule. 'In just 20 months, the city has already incentivized the delivery of more than 44,000 units, achieving 104 per cent of our goal,' said City of Calgary Chief of Housing, Reid Hendry. Hendry said that because of the city's quick action in utilizing the funds, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation provided an additional $22.8 million in March to further encourage housing supply growth in Calgary. According to Hendry, the city has achieved 103 per cent of its multi-unit target and 152 per cent of its multi-unit near transit target. The city is also on track to achieve targets related to missing middle housing—semi-detached, row, townhouse housing—and affordable non-market housing. Hendry said that $53 million from HAF has gone towards 6,000 secondary suites, $52.5 million for 700 homes created through the office-to-residential conversions and non-market land sale program, and $29 million for 400 non-market homes. The announcement of the success of the HAF funding was made at 11 Haddon Road SW, next to the Heritage LRT Station. 'In fact, this parcel of land behind me was sold to a non-profit cal led Liberty Housing, and they will be developing this site into nearly 200 units of non-market housing thanks to both the non-market land sale program and the half investment from our federal government partners,' said Hendry. Calgary Confederation MP Corey Hogan said that since its announcement in 2023, HAF funding in Calgary has been put into the right places. 'Calgary has been bold and decisive in its commitment to get housing built for those who need it, from streamlining approvals to investing in transit-oriented and downtown development, Calgary has more than answered the call,' he said. Hogan said that, admittedly, he was biased, but that cities across Canada could learn from Calgary in many ways, including the construction of housing. Addressing a long-standing claim from critics of upzoning, Mayor Gondek said that the HAF funding provided by the Government of Canada was not tied to rezoning occurring in Calgary. 'There was no stipulation that we had to pass any type of rezoning; there was none,' she said 'What we chose to do when it comes to rezoning is something that council took on on its own. So, the funding that you see with the Housing Accelerator Fund was not tied to that. The announcement that came from the federal government about that came later, after we received our funding.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Toronto Sun
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Ottawa threatens to pull Toronto's housing funding over sixplex decision
Published Jul 23, 2025 • 2 minute read High-rise buildings under construction near Lake Ontario in Toronto. Photo by Getty Images/iStockphoto OTTAWA — Claiming the city is falling short on its promise to ramp up density, federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson is threatening to pull some of Toronto's housing funding. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In a letter to Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow dated Monday, Robertson wrote that he's disappointed by a recent decision to limit where builders can put up to six housing units on a lot. Last month, Toronto city council compromised with a plan that would see some city wards sign up to the sixplex framework, while others would have the choice to opt in later. Robertson argued that decision went against Toronto's agreement with the federal government under the Housing Accelerator Fund — a tool Ottawa uses to encourage cities to rapidly build more housing. 'I encourage the City of Toronto to revisit the measures they could implement to address the housing crisis and to restore the ambitious scope of this agreement,' Robertson wrote in the letter, now a part of submissions to the city council's upcoming meeting agenda. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Toronto signed a deal with the feds in late 2023 that would see the city build nearly 12,000 new units over three years and receive $471 million in federal funding. The deal calls on city staff to report back to council 'on opportunities to permit more low-rise, multi-unit housing development through as-of-right zoning bylaws in neighbourhoods across Toronto, including … permissions for residential buildings with up to six dwelling units.' In his letter, Robertson warned Toronto could lose some of its housing funding if the city fails to meet the goals of the original agreement. He said he wants to find a solution to the impasse by Dec. 20. 'As previous stated, I will underscore the possibility of reduced funding if the City of Toronto does not present solutions that ensures the spirit of the agreement is met,' Robertson wrote. In a previous letter to Chow dated March 11, then-housing minister Nate Erskine-Smith warned Toronto could lose up to 25% of its funding if the city falls behind on boosting housing density. Sports Golf Canada Columnists Canada
Calgary Herald
23-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
With federal funding, city says it will exceed its goal of 42,000 new housing units by next year
A partnership with the federal government will see new homes for 100,000 Calgarians, as the City of Calgary announced Wednesday that it has blown past housing benchmarks set with the Housing Accelerator Fund. Article content The original target set alongside the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation aimed for just under 42,000 new housing units under way by fall of 2026. That target was later revised to 42,667 new units. Article content Article content Article content Since receiving the $228.5 million investment in October 2023, the city says it has incentivized 44,276 new units — 104 per cent of the revised targets — more than a year ahead of schedule. Article content Article content 'At the time, there's a lot of people who wondered if that target was maybe too ambitious. Today, I'm proud to stand here and say not only have we met the target, we have exceeded it more than a year ahead of schedule,' said Mayor Jyoti Gondek, speaking about the targets at the site of development recently approved through the fund. Article content 'These are futures that are made possible. It's a powerful reminder of what happens when different orders of government come together, where we collaborate, great things can happen, and that when we put funding in the hands of municipalities, we take action,' Gondek said. Article content In March, Calgary was awarded an additional $22.8 million, thanks to 'high performance under the HAF program thus far.' Article content Article content That funding will feed into two new initiatives, Backyard Suites and Accessory Dwellings Program, and the Downtown Complete Community Housing Program. The former will assist homeowners in developing secondary dwellings on their property, referred to by Gondek as a 'gentle density' initiative. Article content The latter includes several goals, namely the conversion of downtown office space into housing. Article content Housing targets in the program were further broken down by housing type. Reid Hendry, chief housing officer of the City of Calgary, said 'to date we've achieved 103 per cent of our multi-unit target and 152 per cent of our multi-unit near transit target.' Article content The targets for non-market housing are lagging behind the other two success stories, although the city says that those housing types are still on track for the original goalposts. The aim of non-market units sets at 746. 'To the end of June 2025, we're now at 301,' Hendry said.
