City awards land for 200 affordable homes, including Indigenous housing in Dover

Calgary has selected two nonprofit providers to develop approximately 200 affordable homes on surplus City-owned land. Announced October 27, the latest Non-Market Housing Land Sale awards identify Liberty Housing Organization for a site at 155 Cirrus Close N.E., with an envisioned 105 homes, and Siksika Off-Reserve Affordable Housing for 3010 36 Street S.E., with approximately 95 homes intended for Indigenous Calgarians. The City estimates its contribution at $3.9 million in land value, helping the organizations reduce costs and pursue other financing.

The awards represent an important step toward development, but do not mean the homes are approved for occupancy or construction. Both providers must complete due diligence and meet pre-sale conditions, which may include land-use changes and development permits. The City says its land-sale program has enabled nearly 1,000 permanently affordable homes across 18 developments since 2019, with approximately 280 open to residents and more than 700 still in active planning or construction. Those distinctions matter when assessing housing announcements against the number of homes actually available.

The Siksika proposal is particularly important for urban Indigenous residents seeking stable housing connected to community priorities. More broadly, the land program removes one major development cost, but nonprofit providers still face construction inflation, borrowing costs and the need to finance operations. The awards must now progress through approvals, financing, groundbreaking and occupancy. The ultimate measure of municipal success will be homes delivered and maintained as affordable, not only the number of units attached to a land announcement.

Sources: newsroom.calgary.ca