Canadian and Design Construction Report staff writer
The City of Calgary will create 128 new affordable homes through the inaugural Downtown Non-Market Office Conversion Grant aimed at transforming underused downtown office space into much-needed non-market housing.
Funded through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), the $10.3 million investment will support two non-profit organizations to deliver high-impact office conversion projects in the downtown core, delivering much needed non-market housing while supporting downtown revitalization.
“With these projects, and thanks to funding from the federal government, we are tackling Calgary’s housing affordability challenge while breathing new life into our downtown,” said Mayor Jeromy Farkas. “By transforming empty office space into non-market homes with our non-profit partners, we’re strengthening our downtown community, supporting economic resilience, and ensuring Calgarians have access to safe, stable, and more affordable housing close to jobs, transit and services.”
Recipients of the Downtown Non-Market Office Conversion Grant are:
HomeSpace Society
- Project Address: 1000 8 Avenue SW
- Grant Funding: $4.1 million
- Total Project Cost: $27.5 million
- Units: 65
Trellis Society for Community Impact (partnering with Bluevale Capital Group)
- Project Address: 441 5 Avenue SW
- Grant Funding: $6.2 million
- Total Project Cost: $27.8 million
- Units: 63
Together, the projects will convert nearly 100,000 square feet of vacant office space into 128 non-market homes, increasing housing options for individuals and families in the downtown core.
The $10.3 million HAF investment will significantly accelerate Calgary’s progress on its non-market housing goals. In 2025, The City saw a total of over 1,800 non-market homes receiving development permit approvals, reaching about five times the average annual volume. The two new funded projects are high-impact opportunities to continue that momentum toward The City’s goal of 3,000 non-market homes per year.
“These projects represent exactly the kind of outcomes we are working toward on behalf of Calgarians,” said Reid Hendry, Chief Housing Officer. “They deliver deeply needed non-market homes for individuals and families, support downtown revitalization and community wellness, and demonstrate how adaptive reuse can play a critical role in addressing housing supply and affordability.”
