Affordable housing development in Calgary set to welcome residents

Calgary Housing is welcoming residents into more than a dozen new affordable homes in the community of Mount Pleasant. Hannah Lepine has more.

A new affordable housing development is officially opening Wednesday in Calgary’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.

Just over a year after breaking ground, the 16-home mixed-income project is the first to be developed by Calgary Housing in its new role as the city’s development manager.

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The project was built on the former St. Joseph School site along 20 Avenue N.W.

It includes 16 homes that will house up to 45 people.

The mixed-income model combines below-market and affordable units with rental revenue, helping cover operating and maintenance costs to reduce reliance on ongoing government funding.

The homes were also designed to blend into the surrounding neighbourhood, and include energy efficient features like rooftop solar panels and cold climate heat pumps with natural gas back ups.

The project had a construction budget of $7.9 million, receiving funding from all three levels of government.

The province contributed $3.7 million and another $1.5 million came through a joint federal-provincial affordable housing program.

Ward 7 Coun. Myke Atkinson, Calgary Confederation MP Corey Hogan and Alberta’s Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services Nathan Neudorf are expected to be at the grand opening, alongside the City of Calgary and Calgary Housing.