New affordable housing development breaks ground in Wildwood
May 29, 2017 (CALGARY, AB) – The City of Calgary is pleased to announce that site preparations have begun on a new three-storey affordable housing development at 4012 Bow Trail S.W. in the community of Wildwood.
Comprised of 48 residences; the building will be constructed to Built Green Canada certified silver standards with sustainability features that reduce energy consumption and operational costs. Five residences will be barrier-free, and one will accommodate the visually impaired. The development is expected to be complete in late 2018.
“Back in 2015 I challenged The City of Calgary and our affordable housing organizations with a passionate call to action. In addition to the approximately 3,000 Calgarians who are currently homeless, there are tens of thousands of people who are on the brink of housing insecurity. This means they could be a single paycheck away from no longer being able to afford the roof over their heads,” said Ward 8 Councillor Evan Woolley. “The new Wildwood affordable housing development is a big step towards providing our most vulnerable Calgarians with a safe place to call home.”
Funding to build the Wildwood development was provided by the Provincial Government via a $4.4 M Housing Capital Initiative grant and $1.6 M through the Province’s Affordable Housing Block Funding Program. City Council also earmarked $4.9 M for the development through Calgary’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative.
“Every night, citizens in Calgary find themselves without a home. And, without a home, it’s very difficult to build a life. Our Government is taking action to help these people and to strengthen the middle class—the heart of Canada’s economy,” says Minister of Veterans Affairs and MP of Calgary Centre, Kent Hehr. “I am proud that we were able to support initiatives like the Wildwood affordable housing development, which in conjunction with our upcoming National Housing Strategy, will ensure that more Canadians have access to housing that meets their needs and that they can afford.”
Rents at the Wildwood development will be set according to a mixed income model to maintain the financial sustainability of the building and provide an inclusionary approach to housing where tenants of mixed financial means are blended together. This also allows for the most efficient way to help minimize the operating costs of the buildings.
Once constructed, Calgary Housing Company will manage the building and will work with the residents and community to create and maintain a safe, secure and well-managed property. CHC has been Calgary’s leading housing provider for 40 years. CHC manages over 10,000 affordable housing units with more than 25,000 tenants and provides a variety of mixed income housing options.
The City worked with the communities of Wildwood, Sprucecliff and Rosscarock to ensure the building will be meaningfully integrated into the community. Feedback and concerns were gathered and discussed at four open houses in 2014, individual meetings with adjacent neighbours and regular updates with the Wildwood Community Association have been ongoing as the project continues to progress.
In support of Council’s strategy to make affordable housing more readily available to individuals and families living on lower incomes, several developments are currently underway in Calgary including a 32-household development in Kingsland, a 24-household development in Bridgeland and 16 future households in Rosedale. In addition, a 16 household property was completed in Crescent Heights earlier this month, and to ensure existing supply is well maintained, the Calgary Housing Company recently completed a regeneration project for a 26-household property in Bankview.
