Calgary affordable-housing complex opens in Kingsland after delay

After a months-long delay due to construction problems, the opening of Clarke Court, a 32-unit affordable-housing project in the southwest Calgary community of Kingsland was celebrated Saturday.

The residential property, which will be managed by the Calgary Housing Company, features a mix of bachelor, one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

It includes a handful of accessible units for tenants with disabilities.

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"Our goal is to have mixed housing ... and this is the perfect design for that," said Sarah Woodgate, president of Calgary Housing Company.

"We will be able to provide homes to people who can afford rents as low as $350 a month, up to near market rents, so it's a great blend of housing for families in Calgary."

Having a mix of income levels living in the building works from both a financial and social standpoint, Woodgate said.

"The other great benefit is, for people moving into this housing, if their circumstances change, Calgary Housing Company has the ability to change rents and change the program without them having to move," she said.

The $7.1-million project funded by all three levels of government was slated to open in December 2016 but the heating system was installed improperly, setting the opening back several months.

Coun. Brian Pincott the area representative who also serves as chair of Calgary Housing said affordable housing is a cornerstone to having a strong community.

"And a lot of times that comes with a bit of friction with communities, where people within the community don't quite understand what we're trying to do, they don't quite understand who's going to live here," he said.

"And I can say, unequivocally, there has never been a community like Kingsland, who has embraced this, who has been looking at what Kingsland needs to make sure it is that complete community."

The Calgary Housing Company has approximately 4,000 people on its waiting lists.

The two other affordable housing projects opened this year include a16-unit projectin the community of Crescent Heights and a 24-unit complex in the northeast community of Bridgeland.

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