Calgary opens affordable housing units for 62 families in Bridlewood

A new townhome-style affordable housing development in Bridlewood will provide 62 Calgary families a place to call home.

The homes, which will be managed by Calgary Housing Company will include 48 two-bedroom homes and 14 four-bedroom homes.

Of the two-bedroom homes, 14 are barrier-free, meaning they are suitable for anyone with mobility needs.

“These new homes are all about being part of an established community and bringing a sense of belonging for families,” Ward 13 Coun. Diane Colley-urquhart said in a news release. "The new residents will be connected with new neighbours and friends in one of the most beautiful and welcoming neighbourhoods in Calgary.

“Bridlewood residents and nearby businesses have been engaged right from the get-go on this development, and as a result is one of the best in class in Calgary.”

The homes were built on surplus land left vacant after the demolition of a temporary fire hall. In 2018, the city allocated the land to CHC with a mandate to build affordable housing on the site.

Units will be offered to families with low to moderate incomes with rents set by a mixed income model. This means some renters with higher income will pay closer to a market rate, helping to offset costs for others with a lower income. According to the city, this model offers greater financial stability of the housing corporation while bringing people from different financial backgrounds together as neighbours.

The homes have been built with new green building techniques and materials. Solar panels have been installed on one building, and the energy savings from those panels will be passed on to families.

The 10-building site will also include a community resource building for use by all tenants, as well as an open park space.

“Housing is about homes, and homes are about building community,” Mayor Naheed Nenshi said in a news release. “It is so much more than incredible design, it's about 62 families that will have a place to call home — where they can thrive and grow and create a foundation for success.”

The units officially opened July 1, and residents will be moving in throughout the summer.

These new homes are all about being part of an established community and bringing a sense of belonging for families.