Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Calgary has awarded two city-owned sites to affordable housing providers Liberty Housing Organization and Siksika Off-Reserve Affordable Housing (SORAH), paving the way for about 200 non-market homes.
The sites, approved under the fifth round of the city’s Non-Market Housing Land Sale (NMLS) Program, are at 155 Cirrus Close N.E. and 3010 36 St. S.E.
Liberty Housing Organization plans to build 105 homes at the Cirrus Close site, while SORAH plans to develop 95 homes for Indigenous Calgarians at the 36th Street site.
The city is contributing a total of $3.9 million in land value to the two projects. The program uses surplus city-owned land to lower development costs and help non-profit housing providers secure financing and government funding. Each dollar of city land value has leveraged nearly $4.50 from provincial and federal partners.
Both providers must complete further due diligence to confirm the sites are suitable for development and meet pre-sale conditions, including land-use amendments where required and development permit approvals.
Liberty Housing Organization president Oliver Trutina said the Cirrus Close project, known as Midfield Heights, will expand access to affordable housing and provide stable homes for Calgarians.
SORAH general manager Max Lloyd said the Dover project will include close to 100 townhomes intended to address the need for affordable housing for urban Indigenous people.
A third site at 15 Santana Hill N.W. was included in the fifth round, but the applications received did not meet program requirements. The city will offer the site in a future round.
Since 2019, the NMLS program has supported nearly 1,000 perpetually affordable homes across 18 developments. About 280 homes have opened, while more than 700 are in planning or construction.
More information about the program and housing resources is available at calgary.ca/affordablehousing.
