History will be made for Calgary Housing come 2028, when the company’s largest development will house upwards of 1,000 residents in the southeast community of Southview.

Representatives from all three levels of government joined Bo Jiang, interim president and CEO of Calgary Housing, on the morning of June 25 to announce that the first phase of the Southview development is under construction. 

The initial portion of the eventual two-building mid-rise apartment complex will come equipped with 250 non-market units, available in one to four-bedroom layouts, and will house more than 600 people. When both phases are completed, the development will house an additional 400 people. 

“Southview marks a major milestone in Calgary Housing’s role as a developer,” said Jiang.

“These homes will help address the housing need that has grown in the city in recent years, and is a wonderful example of the Government of Alberta’s Stronger Foundations affordable housing strategy in action.”

Located just off International Avenue, the lot at the corner of 34 Street SE and 19 Avenue SE was a former social housing site that was demolished in 2014 when the buildings reached the end of their lifecycle. 

Teamwork makes the dreamwork, says housing partners

Calgary Housing acquired the lot in 2023 after the provincial government handed it over and tasked them with redeveloping the site with a $28.6 million investment. 

These funds were allocated through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program, which included $304,000 in federal funding for the project. An additional $31.2 million investment from the city council brought the total to $104 million.

Newly sworn-in Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services, Nathan Neudorf, said that the province’s housing strategy invites public, private, and non-profit providers to apply for affordable housing projects.

He said that these partnerships have supported the development of around 82,000 low-income households across Alberta. 

“Southview demonstrates what’s possible when we’re able to come together and work towards a common goal,” he said. 

“Families will be putting down roots, children will be growing up here, and seniors will remain connected to the community that they love. That’s the lasting impact of projects like this.”

Neudorf emphasized that mixed-income housing is intended to set residents who may be struggling financially on a path to success. 

“This model will bring together people from different backgrounds and different stages of life, families, seniors, working professionals, and individuals with lower incomes will all have the opportunity to live side by side and in the same neighbourhood,” he said. 

“This project creates a financially sustainable model that will continue to serve Calgarians for generations to come.”

Income-appropriate housing aims to alleviate displacement

Jiang said that Calgary Housing currently has 880 projects under development and that thousands more are expected to come to fruition. He said the motivation is the lack of non-market housing across the city, and that they are looking to close this gap one community at a time. 

“Mixed-income programs create housing stability by supporting residents as their life situations change,” said Jiang. 

“Rents rise or lower with residents’ income, while those residents keep living in the same home. This model allows residents to put down roots and build stronger communities.”

Jiang said that units will be advertised on sites like Rentfaster approximately six months before the project is completed. He explained that the application process will be on a first-come, first-served basis and that prospective tenants will be subject to an income assessment.

Ward 9 Coun. Harrison Clark pointed out that the neighbourhood’s demographic has historically been predominantly working-class, and that any type of revitalization poses a risk of displacing residents — but that he doesn’t see this project as part of the problem.

“It’s fundamentally important that we deliver this kind of project, this kind of housing,” said Clark. 

“It’s an invitation for those that live here and those who’d like to live here to be a part of it.”

Mayor Jeromy Farkas mentioned that he grew up in the area and got choked up while praising his council members’ leadership and the role they played in voting to make this development a reality while setting the budget last fall. 

“The fact that I’m coming home here to be able to build some homes — damn, it’s a good day,” said Farkas. 

“It’s always terrific to be at announcements like this, because it demonstrates the results of our governments working together and delivering for Calgarians.”