Ontario Construction News staff writer
Calgary Housing has broken ground on Southview, its largest development project to date, a multi-phase development is expected to house more than 1,000 Calgarians when both phases are completed.
Construction of Phase 1 is expected to be completed in Q1 2028, with residents moving in shortly after. Phase 2 is currently in planning.
“Southview marks a major milestone in Calgary Housing’s role as a developer,” Calgary Housing interim President and CEO Bo Jiang said. “These homes will help address the housing need that has grown in the city in recent years and is a wonderful example of the Government of Alberta’s Stronger Foundations affordable housing strategy in action.”
Phase 1 is a mid-rise development with 250 homes, in a mix of 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom layouts serving more than 600 Calgarians. Ten per cent of the units will be barrier-free and the buildings will exceed the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB 2020).
“Every Calgarian deserves the dignity of a safe place to call home. That why breaking ground on phase one of this major affordable housing development is an important step for Calgary,” said Mayor Jeromy Farkas. “Council proudly supported a $31.2 million capital investment in this development during City budget deliberations last November. Our provincial and federal government partners also made major investments in this project.”
Opportunities for entrepreneurship at Southview will be built-in with live-work units and co-working spaces. Other amenities include a residents’ lounge, rooftop patio, secure bike storage and landscaped surroundings to help improve quality of life for its residents.
“When we talk about what good density and truly affordable housing look like, Southview delivers on every front,” said Ward 9 Councillor Harrison Clark. “Across both phases, more than 1,000 new residents will be able to live in a mixed-income community with homes ranging from one to four bedrooms.
“This is how we build a complete neighbourhood close to the inner city, with accessible connections to International Avenue and transit.”
Southview will be operated as part of Calgary Housing’s mixed income housing portfolio.
The development will be built on land that formerly had provincial social housing, returning affordable housing to the site that sits just off International Avenue (17 Avenue S.E.). The location is near community amenities like grocery stores, schools, parks, public transit, restaurants, health care and childcare, and is a short drive from downtown.
