City announces 128 new affordable homes through new non-market conversion program
Today, The City of Calgary announced 128 new non-market homes for Calgarians delivered through the inaugural Downtown Non-Market Office Conversion Grant. The new initiative is aimed at transforming underused downtown office space into much-needed non-market housing.
Funded through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), this $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.
“Our government is proud to partner with the City of Calgary and dedicated partners like HomeSpace and Trellis to bring more affordable housing to Calgary,” said Corey Hogan, member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation. “This investment is about building a more inclusive city where families and individuals can live close to the services and opportunities they need. These 128 new units represent a significant step forward in our shared mission to make housing more accessible for all Calgarians.”
“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.”
The successful 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 Produced: 65
- 30 studio units
- 35 one-bedroom units
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 Produced: 63
- 27 studio units
- 18 one-bedroom units
- 9 two-bedroom units
- 9 three-bedroom units
Together, these 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.
“Calgary urgently needs more non-market housing that meets the needs of families,” said Jeff Dyer, CEO of the Trellis Society for Community Impact. “By including nine three-bedroom homes in this project, we’re creating space for families to put down roots, thrive and remain connected to the services and opportunities that downtown living offers. This investment allows us to respond to real community need while helping ensure Calgary’s downtown is a place where families of all sizes belong.”
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.”
The Downtown Non-Market Office Conversion Grant aligns with Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy (2024-2030), which includes 98 actions to address the housing crisis, and it supports The City’s Greater Downtown Plan, which prioritizes the reuse of underutilized office space to bring more residents, services and vibrancy to Calgary’s urban core.
Learn more at: calgary.ca/DowntownNonmarket