Edmonton’s population is growing rapidly and there is a significant gap for both purpose-built rentals and non-market affordable housing.
To maintain Edmonton’s affordability and livability, we need to ensure there are housing options for all residents in every area of the city.
Coming Soon: Affordable Housing Development Opportunities
- The sites are anticipated to be for sale in late 2024 or early 2025.
- The City will:
- Be seeking council approval for the required rezonings, subdivisions and reserve removals for each site.
- Be open to various opportunities, including proposals for a single site, a portfolio approach, and/or partnerships between nonprofits and private organizations.
- The affordable units must be rented at or below the Maximum Allowable Rental Rates (MARR). At a minimum, 30% of total residential units must have rent payments that do not exceed 80% of average market rental rates.
- Successful applicants will be required to obtain the development and building permits by September 2026, with construction to follow.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to both private developers and non-market housing providers as well as team submissions from market and non-market providers. The successful applicants of each site have the following:
- Demonstrated experience completing residential development projects / rental buildings.
- Demonstrated experience operating residential development projects / rental buildings.
- Ability to meet project timelines.
Incentives
- Grant funding may be available to help cover off-site infrastructure costs as well as the development of affordable units.
- Land may be provided at no cost to successful applicants, subject to Council approval. The City is open to both sale or lease of the land but preference will be given to applicants interested in leasing the land.
Preliminary Development Requirements
Applicants are welcome to submit on a single site or a portfolio of sites.
Formal negotiations will begin once the properties are listed. All requirements are minimums, the City expects all applicants to surpass the minimum as part of their submission in a competitive process.
(Evaluation criteria is subject to change once the formal sales listing is released.)
- Length of affordability - Applicants need to identify the number of years the development will be maintained as affordable housing. The City will be seeking proposals that maximize the duration that the development will be maintained for affordable housing. Minimum duration that the units must remain affordable is 25 years.
- Level of affordability - Applicants need to identify the level of affordability that will be provided for the non-market units. The City is seeking proposals that maximize the discounts on the affordable units. The baseline affordability considered for the surplus school sites is the City’s Maximum Allowable Rental Rates (MARR). The applicants will have the right to set the rental rates for the market units.
Types of affordable housing include:- Social housing: Rent-geared-to-income for very low to low-income households.
- Non-market affordable rentals: Shallow subsidy (less than 80% market rent) and deep subsidy (less than 50% market rent) for moderate-income households.
- Near-market affordable rentals: 80-90% market rent for moderate-income households.
For more information, see Affordable Housing Developments
- Affordable unit mix - Applicants need to identify the size and number of bedrooms that the development will contain. The City will be seeking proposals that provide a mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom affordable units.
- Number of affordable units - Applicants need to identify the number of affordable units that will be provided. At a minimum, the City requires that at least 30% of the units on a single site or portfolio be affordable. The City will be seeking proposals that maximize the number of affordable units within the development or portfolio of development projects and will assess proposals against how well they may respond to the housing needs identified in Edmonton's Housing Needs Assessment.
- Value of grant funding - Proposals need to identify the amount of funding being sought from the City to develop the affordable housing units. The City will be seeking proposals that maximize the value of any affordable housing grants it provides.
- Accessibility - Additional consideration will be given to projects that provide accessible units.
- Environmental Sustainability - Additional consideration will be given to projects that provide environmentally sustainable features.
Sites
These listings will be available in late 2024 or early 2025 (subject to change).
- The sites range from 1 to 1.4 hectares in size.
- The majority of the sites will be zoned RM h16; 2 will be zoned to RM h23, subject to Council’s approval.
For Updates
North
Address: 14903 121 Street NW
Site Area: 1.40 hectare or 3.45 acres (approximately)
Zoning: Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h16)
The Caernarvon development site has a lot to offer families, as it shares green space with 2 elementary schools, a playground, community rink and sports fields.
The location is well served by transit, with regular service that connects to the Castle Downs Transit Centre. Residents will have access to nearby Castle Downs Park, where there are year-round activities for kids and adults, including a playground, skatepark, spray park, picnic sites in summer and an outdoor rink in winter. The park is also home to the Castle Downs Arena and the Castle Downs YMCA.
Caernarvon is home to various housing types, including an above-average number of row houses. Around 6.65% of housing is non-market, while about 20% of renters are in Core Housing Need. Average rent in Caernarvon is $1,287.
Address: 12030 162 Avenue NW
Site Area: 1 hectare or 2.48 acres (approximately)
Rezoning: LDA24-0149. Future sale of the site for development is subject to Council’s approval of a proposed rezoning to the Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h16).
Subdivision: LDA24-0189
The future development is a short walk from the Dunluce Community League hall and 2 elementary schools. Residents will be well served by transit, including connections to the nearby Castle Downs Transit Centre.
Amenities, including groceries, restaurants, medical services, and household shopping, can all be found nearby. Residents will have access to nearby Castle Downs Park, where there are year-round activities for kids and adults, including a playground, skatepark, spray park, picnic sites in the summer and an outdoor rink in the winter. The park is also home to the Castle Downs Arena and the Castle Downs YMCA. The development site is adjacent to a future First Place development, providing first-time homebuyers with attainable homeownership.
Dunluce is home to a mix of housing types, with low-rise apartments, row housing and semi-detached homes making up one-half of the neighbourhood’s supply. Around 5.5% of housing is non-market while about 25% of renters are in Core Housing Need. Average market rent in the Dunluce neighbourhood is $1,287.
South / Southeast
Address: 2710 and 2810 112 Street NW
Site Area: 1.40 hectares or 3.47 acres (approximately)
Rezoning: LDA24-0151. Future sale of the site for development is subject to Council’s approval of a proposed rezoning to the Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h23).
Subdivision: LDA24-0178
Blue Quill’s future development is located within walking distance of the Century Park LRT station, offering reliable connections to the rest of the city. Century Park offers ample amenities for residents, including restaurants, shopping, health services, and grocery stores.
Families with children will be near 2 elementary schools, as well as playgrounds and the active Blue Quill Community League. Seniors will be able to access the Heritage Seniors stop-in centre at the nearby Ermineskin shopping centre.
Blue Quill has an above average concentration of multi-unit housing. One-quarter of housing in Blue Quill is single-family homes, compared to the Citywide average of nearly 50%. Around 3.5% of housing is non-market while about 23% of renters are in Core Housing Need. Average market rent in Blue Quill is $1,384.
Address: 4320 41 Avenue NW
Site Area: 1.20 hectare or 2.98 acres (approximately)
Zoning: Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h16)
The Kiniski Gardens development site in Mill Woods is just a short walk away from the trails of the Millcreek Ravine, while still being well served by connections to transit and major corridors like Whitemud freeway. Future residents will also be a short walk from an elementary school, the Burnwood Community League hall, a playground and community rink, and sports fields.
Single-family homes make up most of the housing in Kiniski Gardens. About 1.25% of housing is non-market, while about 18% of renters are in Core Housing Need. Average rent in Kiniski Gardens is $1,432.
East
Address: 13207 - 37 Street NW
Site Area: 1.41 hectare or 3.50 acres (more or less)
Rezoning: LDA24-0150. Future sale of the site for development is subject to Council’s approval of a proposed rezoning to the Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h16).
Belmont’s future development will be located near the South Clareview Community League hall, elementary and junior high schools, and 2 playgrounds. Residents will be well served by transit, including connections to the nearby Clareview LRT station.
Amenities, including groceries, a drug store, restaurants, medical services, shopping, and even an indoor playground, can all be found within walking distance or a short drive away at the nearby Clareview Town Centre. Next door, the Clareview Community Recreation Centre and Clareview Public Library provide individuals and families with public programming for physical and mental wellness. Residents will also be able to take in nature in nearby Kennedale Ravine.
Belmont is already home to a diversity of housing, with privately owned row housing and condominiums. Around 5.8% of housing is non-market while about 17% of renters are in Core Housing Need. Average market rent in Belmont is $1,278.
Address: 4910 - Matheson Way NW
Site Area: 1.34 hectare or 3.31 acres (approximately)
Zoning: Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h16)
The development site in Miller is located next to Manning Drive and in close proximity to Anthony Henday Drive. Residents will be well served by transit, including connections to the nearby Clareview LRT station. Shopping, restaurants and entertainment can be found at both the nearby Manning Town Centre and Clareview Town Centre, which is also home to the Clareview library branch and Clareview Recreation Centre.
Miller currently has 5.2% non-market housing, while about 10.4% of renters are in Core Housing Need. Average market rent in the Miller neighbourhood is $1,278.
Address: 12770 - Victoria Trail NW
Site Area: 1.29 hectare or 3.18 acres (approximately)
Zoning: Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h16)
Residents of the future development in Overlanders will enjoy easy access to nature. A multi-purpose educational and recreational site is located at the centre of the neighbourhood and there is access to the river valley on the neighbourhood’s north side.
The development site is well connected to the rest of Edmonton through Yellowhead Trail and transit, with connections to nearby Clareview Transit Centre. An elementary school shares the same green space as the development site, along with a playground and sports field.
Overlanders has a unique mix of housing, with a nearly even mix of single-detached homes, low rise apartments and row housing. About 3.4% of housing in Overlanders is non-market while about 32% of renters are in Core Housing need. Average market rent in the neighbourhood is $1,278.
West / Southwest
Address: 9611 - 189 Street NW
Site Area: 1.13 hectare or 2.80 acres (approximately)
Rezoning: LDA24-0152. Future sale of the site for development is subject to Council’s approval of a proposed rezoning to the Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h16).
Families that call this future development home will be within walking distance from an elementary school, a playground, sports fields and the La Perle Community League hall. Seniors would also find the area welcoming, with the West End Seniors Centre a short drive or bus ride away. All residents will be well served by transit, with regular service connecting to the West Edmonton Mall transit centre and future LRT station, as well as the mall’s shops and services.
About half of the homes in La Perle are single-family, with the rest a mix of row housing, low-rise apartments and semi-detached houses. Around 11% of housing is non-market while about 19% of renters are in Core Housing Need. Average market rent in the La Perle neighbourhood is $1,329.
Address: 7204 - 184 Street NW
Site Area: 1.40 hectare or 3.47 acres (more or less)
Rezoning: LDA24-0148. Future sale of the site for development is subject to Council’s approval of a proposed rezoning to the Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h16)
Subdivision: LDA24-0175
Lymburn’s development site has much to offer families, with an elementary school, the Callingwood/Lymburn Community League hall, playground and outdoor skating rink all within walking distance. The development site is well served by transit, with regular connections to the West Edmonton Mall transit centre and future LRT stop.
Most Lymburn residents live in single-family homes, which make up 70% of dwellings. Around 2.3% of housing is non-market while 13% of renters are in Core Housing Need. Average market rent in the Lymburn neighbourhood is $1,329.
Address: 9020 and 9104 - 175 Street NW
Site Area: 1.00 hectare or 2.46 acres (approximately)
Rezoning: LDA24-0253. Future sale of the site for development is subject to Council’s approval of a proposed rezoning to the Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h23)
Subdivision: LDA24-0315
The development site in Summerlea is within the neighbourhood’s large central park. The location provides excellent connection to mass transit at the West Edmonton Mall transit centre. Residents will be within walking distance of one of Edmonton’s biggest attractions and shopping centres, as well as smaller shops like the west end Italian Centre. Families and seniors alike will find themselves near schools, the Westend Seniors Activity Centre, and the Jasper Place Leisure Centre. Summerlea’s park hosts several soccer fields, baseball diamonds and a playground.
More than half of the housing in Summerlea is offered in low-rise apartments, with single-detached, semi-detached and row housing comprising the rest. Around 3% of housing is non-market while 21% of renters are in Core Housing Need. Average market rent in the Summerlea neighbourhood is $1,329.
Address: 1003 and 1021 - Wedgewood Boulevard NW
Site Area: 1.13 hectare or 2.79 acres (approximately)
Rezoning: LDA24-0249. Future sale of the site for development is subject to Council’s approval of a proposed rezoning to the Medium Scale Residential Zone (RM h16)
Subdivision: LDA24-0272
Residents of the future development site in Wedgewood will have access to the stunning paths and trails of Wedgewood ravine on the east side of the neighbourhood. Wedgewood is bordered on the west by the Anthony Henday, which provides easy access to the rest of Edmonton. Amenities, including a grocery store, can be found nearby on Lessard Road. Elementary and junior high schools are a short drive away in adjacent neighbourhoods.
Wedgewood Heights is entirely comprised of single-family homes, with about 3% of residents renting. There is no non-market housing and no households are in Core Housing Need.
According to the City's Housing Needs Assessment, 1 in 4 households that rent in Edmonton are in core housing need, meaning they pay too much for housing or live in crowded or unsafe conditions and can't afford to move.
And there are only 78,000 purpose-built rental units for the city's 143,000 renter households.
Contact Us
Housing Action Team
18th Floor, Edmonton Tower
10111 104 Avenue NW
Edmonton AB T5J 0J4
If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311
| Telephone | 311 |
|---|---|
| affordablehousing@edmonton.ca |