Latest news with #ReidHendry
Calgary Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Calgary's registered secondary suite number blows past 20,000
Article content In its concerted bid to ease an affordable housing shortage, the city is claiming success by expanding legal secondary suite numbers, with a legal registry of the units now exceeding 20,000. Article content Incentives to build legal basement suites have helped fuel momentum in the construction of registered suites, with the pace of growth doubling in the past 2½ years compared to the preceding five, say city officials. Article content Article content Article content Since 2022, their numbers have shot up by 10,000 with registrations increasing by more than 60 per cent in the past year, they say. Article content Article content 'Twenty thousand registered suites signals policy innovation, council commitment and resident action,' Josh Howes, the city's secondary suites program manager, said in a statement. Article content 'Each registration represents a homeowner who has taken the time to meet the fire, building and land-use requirements creating a space that contributes to the safety and resiliency of the entire community.' Article content The City of Calgary's Secondary Suite Incentive Program initiated last year provides up to $10,000 for qualifying homeowners to register and build a secondary suite within a main dwelling, though it doesn't include detached or backyard suites. Article content The strategy is part of the city's Calgary's Home is Here Housing Strategy adopted nearly two years ago which aims to increase the amount of affordable housing in the city through dozens of means, including converting downtown office space and blanket rezoning, the latter which has met resistance from critics who say it's negatively altering their neighborhoods through increased density. Article content Article content Calgary's Chief Housing Officer, Reid Hendry, champions both the rezoning and secondary suites policy, saying the demand for better access to a wider range of lodging options remains immense. Article content 'This is not just about numbers but about enabling housing supply, choice and affordability for Calgarians,' says Hendy. Article content 'Secondary suites offer a flexible solution that responds to Calgary's evolving housing needs – providing safe and affordable options for renters, flexibility for families and a dignified way for seniors to age in place.' Article content Part of that momentum's been generated by the inclusion of secondary suites in newly-built homes, whose numbers more than tripled from 2002-2024 due to a more streamlined permitting system, says the city.
CTV News
24-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
City hits housing target ahead of schedule
Calgary has passed its housing supply growth target one year ahead of schedule. The City of Calgary is celebrating surpassing its housing supply growth target one year ahead of schedule. It received over $250M from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) since 2023. With it, the city is working to develop more than 44,000 units, which will house over 100,000 people. The most recent target was set at over 42,500 units. '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 Reid Hendry, City of Calgary. Some of the projects are complete, while others are in the planning stages like a new one announced Wednesday, located on a plot of land across from the Heritage LRT station. Once complete, it'll have nearly 200 units of non-market housing. 'This will very soon be a place for families to put down roots. Where seniors can find stability. Where newcomers can begin a brand new chapter. Where Calgarians of all backgrounds, can feel at home,' mayor Jyoti Gondek said. Calgary is in a housing crisis, and the city estimates over 100,000 households need a more affordable option. The 2026 federal and civic censuses will give a better picture of Calgary's supply needs. Mayor Gondek confirmed on Wednesday that future federal HAF funding is not dependent on the city keeping the blanket rezoning bylaw in place.
Calgary Herald
12-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
City to add 480 new homes in two years as part of new housing initiative
Article content The city has announced seven housing providers that have been selected as the first funding recipients of the Housing Capital Initiative (HCI). Article content Article content With an estimated investment of $30.7 million from the grant, the builders will deliver approximately 480 non-market homes, the majority of which are promised to finish construction within two years. Article content The housing initiative holds $60 million in funding and was approved by city council as part of the November 2023 budget to increase the supply of affordable non-market housing. Article content Article content Calgary Heritage Housing has promised to build 199 units of housing, with building to get 'underway shortly,' according to Reid Hendry, the city's chief housing officer. Article content Article content 'There aren't just numbers or statistics. These are homes. These are places Calgarians will be able to put down roots, raise their kids, build a future,' said Mayor Jyoti Gondek. 'They represent stability, opportunity and dignity.' Article content The city had received 13 applications and selected builders who could best prove that 'they can deliver these affordable homes quickly,' according to Hendry. Article content Construction on four of the seven projects is already underway, with 141 homes scheduled to be available by the end of the year, he added. Article content Article content The new homes will be available to all demographics, including seniors, women, families, single parents and Indigenous families, at rents below rates for a minimum of 30 years — 'in some cases 40 plus years,' Hendry said. Article content Article content Article content The infusion from HCI will allow Attainable Homes, one of the housing providers selected within the initiative to rent homes to Calgarians earning up to $44,000 without any operating subsidy, said Jaydan Tait, company president and CEO. Article content The promised 84 units of housing, constructed as modular housing, will be completed in 69 days, he added, with plans to ship and stack the housing in July and have them ready for residents to move into by August. Article content 'Access to sufficient money is often the biggest challenge in creating affordable housing, and given construction costs have soared since the pandemic,' he said, pointing to initiatives like the HCI as critical to speed up construction and availability of affordable housing for Calgarians in need.
