Creating A Healthy City: Affordable Housing For Everyone?
Creating a healthy city isn’t just about “market housing;” it is about providing adequate and affordable housing for citizens of ALL ages and economic means.
It seems every week or two, a new affordable housing project is being announced. And what is really healthy is they are in different communities ranging from Temple in the NE to Glamorgan in the SW. From upscale neighbourhoods like Rosedale to historic communities like Ogden.
Note: An edited version of this blog was published in the Calgary Herald on Sept 19, 2020. And after it was published the Federal Government of Canada announced $1B in funding for affordable housing projects across Canada. The stated goal is to add 3,000 new affordable homes across Canada, which translates into over $300,000 per home which seem very high even if you take into account higher costs for Toronto and Vancouver affordable homes. The funding is not just to build new buildings, but to buy older hotel and apartment buildings. Calgary has 22 shovel ready projects that will be applying for funding.
One of the newest affordable housing projects to be announced is the Mustard Seed’s project on the site of the Ogden United Church. The church will continue to operate on the main floor of the building with 24 two and three bedroom homes above, as well as a child care centre and community kitchen.
Diversification of Neighbourhoods
Back in January 2020, I wrote a Calgary Herald column entitled “It takes many different villages to create a healthy city” which looked at the diversity of different housing options in Calgary - from highrise neighbourhoods to single-family ones. Over the years, my New Condos columns have tended to focus largely on empty nesters and young professionals living in the City Centre.
In July 2019, I did ventured out to southeast community of Mahogany to check out the unique, upscale, resort-style living in Westman Village. Since then, I have been thinking I should profile other niche housing developments in Calgary.
Recently, I became aware of several interesting seniors’ projects being built east of the Deerfoot Divide.
The Brenda Strafford Foundation has a vision to convert the old Clifton Manor (formerly known as Forest Grove Care Centre) into Clifton Village with five buildings that combine various levels of supporting care, along with affordable housing that celebrates Forest Lawn’s rich multi-culturalism and diversity.
Phase 1 is to build 175 supportive living homes to replace the existing Clifton Manor, which is at the end of its lifespan.
Phase 2 is to demolish the old Manor to add another affordable living homes, as well as independent living accommodations, a community centre and green space. The community centre will accommodate various programs including the only adult day programs in the City of Calgary.
Clifton Manor hosts several unique programs including the Jack James Highschool Horticulture Program that brings students and seniors together to plant and care for a garden. Students visit weekly to help prepare, plant and tend the garden.
Part of the vision is to create more opportunities for the residents to interact and integrate with the surrounding neighbourhood residents in a mutually beneficial manner.
Over in Temple, Trinity Place Foundation of Alberta, Calgary’s largest seniors’ affordable housing provider, has been working for the past five years on converting the old St. George’s Anglican Church site (Templemont Drive and 52nd St NE) into a four-storey independent living wing with 50 homes and a three-storey supportive-care building for seniors.
Working with Zeidler Architecture, two buildings will share a common courtyard and a common area space that can be used not only by the residents, but the neighbouring community as well.
In Rosedale, the City of Calgary has utilized some land left over from the expansion of 16th Ave NW to create lots for 16 funky affordable homes that fit nicely with the community’s modern infill architecture.
While there was some controversy from some neighbours, the six 1-bedroom, five 2-bedroom, two 3-bedroom and three barrier-free homes are charming and close to transit, schools and employment centres. They are home to Calgarians of all ages, including families.
Over the past six years the Forward Housing Association (formerly Bishop O’Byrne Housing Association) founded in 1975 has quietly created “Columbus Village” in Bridgeland that provides safe, affordable and supportive housing for Calgarians in need. Columbus Court will be added to Columbus Manor, Columbus Place later this year.
Columbus Court currently under construction will add to the diversity of affordable housing being offered in Calgary.
Horizon Housing has recently completed the final phase of its 210 home Horizon View village in Glamorgan, adding 45 new affordable homes. And, in the Beltline they have acquired the Elan hotel, thanks to a generous private donation which will add 62 new homes (studios, 1 and 2-bedroom apartments) in a very desirable location.
Last Word
The RESOLVE affordable housing fundraising campaign which ended March 31, 2018 raised $74 million dollars (goal was $120 million) from Calgary philanthropists and corporate donors (including many of Calgary’s leading home builders - Albi Homes (now Albi Luxury by Brookfield), Brookfield Residential, Calbridge Homes, Cardel/Logel Homes, Cedarglen Homes, Hopewell Residential, Homes by Avi, Jayman Master Built (now Jayman Built), Morrison Homes, Shane Homes, and Streetside Developments - to be used as seed money to build affordable housing.
Over the past two years, several of Calgary’s affordable housing agencies have been actively working with home builders and all three levels of government to build hundreds of new affordable homes across the city. While Calgary still has a long way to go to address the need for 15,000 more affordable homes, it is making progress - one project at a time!
The Federal government announcement of $1B in funding for affordable housing will help to address the need by allowing some of the Calgary’s projects to proceed more quickly. But what is really needed is a way to build affordable housing at a much more affordable cost.
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It takes a lot of different villages to create a healthy city!
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