Calgary transit hub getting 350 new homes, half of them affordable housing
The City of Calgary announced a new development project that will bring 350 homes to Franklin Station — half of which will be affordable housing.
This development is planned for the transit hub of Franklin Station, located just off Memorial Drive and east of downtown Calgary. The city will be partnering with housing developer Onward to bring new life to this community.
City of Calgary/Supplied
“We’re building 350 new homes at Franklin Station — half of them affordable housing — thanks to our partnership with Onward,” says Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “Franklin Station’s transit access and proximity to schools and essential services make it a model for what’s possible when we build communities, not just houses.”
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The improvements to the Franklin Station Area are intended to provide both new and existing residents with a more vibrant place to live. This includes a mixed-use station area with easy access to Calgary’s public transit network, along with a more liveable neighbourhood overall.
What’s even better is that half of the homes in this development are expected to be below market, adding much-needed affordable housing to Calgary. This includes a selection of three-bedroom, family-oriented homes as well as universally accessible homes.
“We are honoured to partner with the City on this transformative project,” says Martina Jileckova, CEO of Onward. “Building affordable homes near high-quality transit is about more than housing — it’s about creating inclusive communities where everyone can thrive. We are thrilled to be able to deliver homes that meet this essential need.”
This development is part of Calgary’s housing strategy to build more affordable and liveable communities. According to the city’s housing page, “one in five Calgary households cannot afford where they currently live. That number is growing. We need more homes, and we have a plan.”
This plan was created in collaboration with the Housing and Affordability Task Force and outlines a total of 98 actions to build more accessible neighbourhoods and ensure Calgarians have an affordable place to call home.
The Housing Strategy is working towards five overall outcomes:
- Increase the supply of housing to meet demand and increase affordability.
- Support affordable housing providers to deliver services that make a positive impact.
- Enable the city’s housing subsidiaries to improve service delivery.
- Ensure diverse housing choices to meet the needs of equity-deserving populations.
- Address the affordable housing needs of Indigenous people living in Calgary
The Franklin Station development will represent a significant achievement of transit-oriented housing and a positive step towards providing more affordable housing in Calgary.
“Transit-oriented communities support The City’s efforts to increase housing supply, choice, and affordability,” says Reid Hendry, chief housing officer with the City of Calgary. “We’re excited to partner with Onward to transform the Franklin Station area with hundreds of new homes, creating easy and convenient access to transit and improving quality of life for the Calgarians who will call it home.”
What do you think about the city’s housing plan? Let us know in the comments below.