Construction begins on 230 affordable townhomes in southeast Calgary

Families unable to buy a home at market prices will benefit from a new development in southeast Calgary, say two city-created organizations that aim to boost the supply of attainable housing.

A partnership between the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) and Attainable Homes Calgary is set to bring 230 townhouses to the community of Albert Park/Radisson Heights, with eligibility for these homes to be based on income.

The organizations, both created by the City of Calgary, finalized an agreement for the project in 2023 following the CMLC's purchase of the land from the city in 2018.

CMLC president and CEO Kate Thompson called the development a significant step in navigating the city's housing challenges.

"With Calgary's growing population and housing demand, there is a huge opportunity and need for well designed, smartly delivered rental and condo homes," she said.

The project is located at the former David D. Oughton School site, a 3.5-hectare plot of land at 1511 34 St. S.E.

Thompson said the location provides easy access to downtown Calgary as well as ample opportunity for recreation.

"Re-investing in our inner city neighbourhoods and trying to increase density on those spaces, it's tricky work," she said. "This 230-unit project goes a long way in making that happen."

The units range from one- to five-bedroom townhouses, and will be built alongside the development of a 1.2-hectare green space with an off-leash dog park and basketball courts.

The goal is "to offer units that are significantly below market price right now," with prices ranging from $170,000 to $330,000, said Attainable Homes Calgary president and CEO Jaydan Tait.

"We're looking for people that contribute very strongly to Calgary's economy, Calgary's cultural life, that just can't be in a market home right now," he said.

Income will be the primary eligibility criterion, with those able to afford a home at market prices barred from purchasing from Attainable Homes, which works to help middle-income Calgarians achieve home ownership.

"We have multiple hundreds of people that want to live here right now," Tait said. "We are working with those clients right now so they can purchase a home here in the next coming months."

The townhomes are designated as owner-occupied, meaning they can't be bought for the purpose of renting them out.

Tait said the project is supporting local businesses amid ongoing economic uncertainty by building wood-frame townhouses that require locally sourced materials, adding that they will incorporate significant hail resistance.

"It's a balancing act between what our clients want, what is an appropriate fit in the neighborhood, and the viability of that financially," he said. 

Families are expected to start moving in next spring.

The David D. Oughton site project is one of several being overseen by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, which is also working toward building over 900 homes in downtown Calgary's East Village. Construction of the first 162 of those units is slated to begin later this year.