The Government of Alberta is looking for proposals for “innovative” affordable housing ideas for a parcel of land on the south side of Calgary’s Confederation Park.
The province put out the call for proposals in November 2023 through the Alberta Social Housing Corporation, for land it owns at 1320 – 21 Avenue NW. The province said it’s looking for proposals to use the government land “and provide more housing options for families and individuals.” The site first opened up as a seniors’ lodge and activity centre in 1976, but has since reached the end of its life cycle, the province said.
They’re looking for ideas from housing providers, developers, designers, or other public or private organizations, they said. Submissions are open until Jan. 24. They said the property was recently assessed at $4 million.
“This call-out will help us look at all possible options to ensure we make the best possible use of this property,” said Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, in a prepared media release.
“We look forward to seeing proposals to make the most of the site and provide more affordable places to live for Albertans.”
The Capitol Hill site is currently labelled via Google Maps as a Silvera for Seniors location. On Silvera’s website, they refer to it as Confederation Park Commons.
Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong, who sits as a City of Calgary council representative on the Silvera for Seniors board, said that right now that building is no longer functioning as a lodge.
“Silvera is trying to evaluate the future options associated with that and that includes consultation with the province,” Coun. Wong told LiveWire Calgary.
He said those conversations involve potential relinquishment of the land back to the city or the province.
Many options available
The land the buildings are on is provincially owned. According to the City of Calgary’s development map, the site is zoned for parks and schools. Upon additional inspection, it carries the S-CI (Special Purpose – Community Institution) Zoning.
This zoning primarily allows culture, worship, education, health and treatment facilities.
It’s an ideal location to keep a similar use on the site, Wong said. He’s had conversations with Silvera about repurposing the properties to match whatever segment of the housing spectrum was needed. He said it wouldn’t be a shelter, however.
“But could it be transition housing, it could be social housing, it could be below market rental housing, that sort of thing,” he said.
“It can be turned over to Calgary Housing and they could use it for whatever.”
The Calgary Housing Company already manages a portion of provincially owned housing in the city. Recently, the province provided additional cash to that organization for critical upgrades to properties operated in Calgary.
Meanwhile, on Jan. 12 in Calgary, Minister Nixon announced a one-time $10 million in additional operating funding for 87 Alberta housing providers. He said the challenge of inflation is being felt by all Albertans.
It was welcome news for Martina Jileckova, CEO of Onward Homes (formerly Horizon and Forward Housing). They have 30 independent living properties across Calgary, housing 3,000 citizens.
“Every Albertan is feeling the pinch of rising costs and community housing providers are no exception. These additional funds will go towards keeping rents as affordable as possible and are much welcome during these times,” she said in a prepared release.
