Canada Post assessing old post offices for housing. Could these Alberta towns fit the bill?

The mayor of Airdrie is hopeful the site of the long-shuttered Canada Post office in the city's downtown could finally show signs of life — not as a post office, but as a new housing development.

Since the post office closed 14 years ago, the city immediately north of Calgary has been trying to find a solution for the abandoned, one-storey brick building, which sits just off Main Street. 

This spring's federal budget provided Mayor Peter Brown with some optimism that a solution could be on the horizon. 

In a section discussing the possibility of building homes on Canada Post properties, Airdrie is mentioned as a sample location that could be "unlocked" for housing. 

"We have been working with them for several years to try and figure out what to do with that site. So we're really excited about it," said Brown.

Three other communities north of Calgary — Crossfield, Carstairs and Didsbury — were also mentioned as possible sample locations where this could happen, though the document doesn't explain what qualifies these communities as sample spots or whether they will be assessed for future housing.

The section in this year's budget, titled "Building Homes on Canada Post Properties," mentions how many of the Crown corporation's 1,700 post offices could be leveraged to build new homes across the country.

The government says it will take steps to enable Canada Post to prioritize leasing or divestment of post office properties and lands with high potential for housing. 

The federal budget also mentioned a plan to launch a Canada Post housing program to support affordable housing providers to build on disposed or leased Canada Post properties. 

In an email, Canada Post told CBC News it's working with the Canada Lands Company to assess which properties could be viable for "alternate use," including as residential housing.

In Crossfield, 25 kilometres north of Calgary, the mayor learned of the idea on budget day in April, but she hasn't received any updates.

"We didn't hit the panic button. It's in a document, no one has talked to the town of Crossfield," said Kim Harris. 

Canada Post has a long history in Crossfield. It's operated a post office in the community of 4,000 for more than a century. The first post office sprung up along the railway tracks for the old C&E, better known as the Calgary and Edmonton Railway, which started in 1890.

Today, it's a community hub on Railway Street that attracts a constant stream of people picking up and dropping off parcels and mail. 

When told about Ottawa's post office housing idea, some residents wanted more details.

"This is where you run into most of your neighbours and see them … it's in the middle of town, it's part of the main street," said Krista Frayn, who was just leaving the post office with her husband and an armful of packages. 

"Obviously we're in a housing crisis, but is this the best place to have housing?" 

In the budget, the federal government says "high service standards" will be maintained in affected communities if such a proposal were to come to fruition. 

The minister responsible for Canada Post told CBC News the goal would be to maintain "the quality and the accessibility" of Canada Post services in those communities.

"In some specific circumstances, including in Alberta, there are places where Canada Post services could be maintained while using the land better, using the buildings, perhaps building on top of those buildings that could lead to homes, affordable homes for Albertans and Canadians," said Jean-Yves Duclos, the minister of public services and procurement.

Carstairs, Didsbury looking for answers

Carstairs was also mentioned as a possible sample site for housing, leaving the mayor of the town of 5,200 somewhat perplexed.  

Lance Colby says Canada Post sold the building several years ago to a local home repair company and is leasing space on what is considered the town's main street.

"There are no other federal buildings in Carstairs, so I really don't know why we would have been included [on the list]," he said in an email. 

The mayor of Didsbury was unaware of the the budget document. The post office in her community is being expanded to accommodate additional post office boxes, according to Rhonda Hunter.

"This capital investment isn't likely to be converted to housing," she said.

However, the community is desperate for affordable housing, according to the president of a non-profit group that helps the town's vulnerable population.

Sheree Andrews was setting up a makeshift dining room in the town's historic train station. She says the cost of a one-bedroom suite is $1,000 per month.

"You know, really we need investors, real estate investors to come in and build the apartment complexes. They'll be full in a heartbeat," said Andrews.

"We need those things and we've got land."

Excitement in Airdrie

Back in Airdrie, the mayor says city officials held talks with the federal government last month and he's hopeful the building's future could soon become clearer. He says the city has been trying to make the downtown more vibrant and the old post office is in a key location.

He says while it's been 14 years, he believes they are getting closer to a solution. 

"I think we have the right people we're talking to now to move the project forward."

"We're just happy that we're on the books and they're recognizing this site needs to be developed and we're looking forward to having more conversations with the federal government.

Brown says Airdrie, with a population of 84,000, is short 1,500 to 2,000 affordable housing units and the demand is growing every day.

While the mayor of Crossfield says she will wait to see what the plan is for her town's post office, she is skeptical of what she's heard so far.

"I think there's different ways for the federal government to work with municipalities to get housing development done if we need houses," said Harris.

She says Ottawa could help pay for infrastructure services such as roads and sewer and water lines to help speed up housing development.

But in the meantime, she's not hitting the panic button.

"I don't think anything's really happening right now and we'll wait and see what's coming down the pipe. And when it does, that's when we'll deal with it."

Bryan Labby is an enterprise reporter with CBC Calgary. If you have a good story idea or tip, you can reach him at bryan.labby@cbc.ca or on Twitter at @CBCBryan.