Calgary Minute: Housing Funding, Downtown Incentives, and a Flood Mitigation Project

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

This Week In Calgary:

• The Event Centre Committee will meet this morning at 9:30 am. Much of the meeting will be held in-camera (in secret) to discuss an Event Centre and District Improvement Update.
  
  
• On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, the Executive Committee will meet. The agenda includes the Terms of Reference for a Downtown Post-Secondary Incentive Program, as well as an update on the Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program. Councillors Chabot and Wong will bring forward a Notice of Motion to approve a $300,000 grant for Silvera for Seniors to pay for and facilitate the construction of a sidewalk on 26th Street NE to improve access to the Vista Apartments. Councillor McLean will also bring forward a Notice of Motion to annex 415.15 acres of land from Foothills County. The Motion suggests that the annexation would allow for the construction of new homes, creating an estimated 3,376 residential units, and asks that the annexation be finalized by November. There are also several confidential reports on the agenda, including two regarding the Green Line.
  
  
• On Thursday, the Calgary Planning Commission will meet at 1:00 pm. Much of this meeting will also be held in-camera, with two confidential items on the agenda - the Redevelopment of Viscount Bennett Site and the West Elbow Communities Local Area Plan.

Last Week In Calgary:

• Ground was broken on a flood mitigation project that will see a 2.4-kilometer barrier built along Memorial Drive to protect Sunnyside from a one-in-100-year flood event. The barrier will include permanent flood walls, sheet piles, and temporary installations such as sandbags and water-filled tubes. Construction, expected to last two years, will significantly impact traffic, with half of Memorial Drive closed from July 29th to October 31st. The $50-million project is a result of strong community advocacy for more robust flood protection. It will also aim to enhance pathways for pedestrians and cyclists along Memorial Drive.
  
  
• The City has eased water restrictions, moving to Stage 2 and allowing residents to resume outdoor water use on a limited basis. This change follows the activation of an additional pump at the Bearspaw water treatment facility, which increased water flow. The use of sprinklers is permitted for up to one hour each week, according to a set schedule based on house numbers. Even-numbered houses can water on Wednesday or Saturday, while odd-numbered houses can do so on Thursday or Sunday. The City will monitor the system's performance over the weekend, potentially moving to Stage 1 restrictions soon.
  
  
• Calgary has launched a new program to fund affordable rental housing, offering $60 million over three years as part of the Housing Capital Initiative (HCI). Charities, non-profits, and Indigenous groups can apply for funding until October 10th with the City covering up to 30% of project costs. The HCI prioritizes projects with longer affordability terms, lower rents, and faster delivery timelines, requiring below-market rents for at least 20 years. This program is part of Calgary's "Home is Here" housing strategy, addressing the city's rapid population growth and significant housing affordability challenges.

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