New 90-unit affordable seniors complex to help ease housing crunch

Boyle Renaissance Project Phase II to help anchor Quarters development 

March 27, 2012 (Edmonton, Alta.) – The Métis Capital Housing Corporation and its partners, today broke ground on the Boyle Renaissance Project Phase II – a 90-unit seniors-friendly, barrier-free residential complex, featuring the latest in “green” design.

The $22-million, 120,000-square-foot complex will tailor to the needs of Aboriginals, seniors and people with disabilities. The complex, located on 95 Street between 104 Avenue and 105 Avenue, is slated to welcome residents in November 2013. The project is part of a City of Edmonton-led sustainable, community revitalization strategy supporting the revitalization of The Quarters.

“The City of Edmonton, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada are major funding contributors to this much-needed affordable housing project,” says a spoke person for Métis Capital Housing Corporation. “We thank them and all of the project partners for supporting the development, ensuring that we have affordable, sustainable and quality homes for some of our community’s most vulnerable people.”

“It’s gratifying to see work begin on a building that will anchor Phase Two of the Boyle Renaissance,” said Mayor Stephen Mandel. “The Cornerstones Plan has helped realize Council’s vision to increase affordable housing. With this project, we're responding to the needs of seniors by reducing barriers and building community.”

Buildingfeatures

The building will feature:

• Seven floors with 90 affordable, self-contained units for seniors; 30 of the 90 units will be barrier-free
• Approximately 10,000 sq. feet of ground-floor commercial space will link into a revitalized streetscape and services
• An accessible green roof providing city views, safety and common spaces
• A “Spiritual Gathering Room” with a distinctive Aboriginal identity
• Installation of shared heat and power systems to reduce energy consumption
• Sheltered drop-off and pick-up zones
• 60 underground parking stalls

“This is such a great day for the Métis people in the Capital Region, with the start of this exciting development, which will mean so much for our seniors,” says Audrey Poitras, President, Métis Nation of Alberta. 

Funding Partners

Métis Capital Housing Corporation, the developer, is contributing $6 million to the project. The City of Edmonton, through Cornerstones: Edmonton’s Plan for Affordable Housing, is contributing $5.9 million, with $1.95 million of that from the Government of Alberta. Cornerstones, created by Edmonton City Council in partnership with the Government of Alberta and community organizations, supports Council’s strategic vision to improve Edmonton’s livability and manage growth.   

The Government of Canada and Government of Alberta are committed to helping Albertans access affordable housing by increasing the housing supply through capital partnerships. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to the project under the amended Canada-Alberta Affordable Housing Program Agreement, which includes funding under Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The funds are being delivered under Alberta’s 2010/2011 Housing Capital Initiatives program.

Community and Business Partners

“To complement the support from all three levels of government, we are pleased to work with an excellent team of energy-efficiency and barrier-free experts, which includes Cisco Systems Canada and Enmax,”. “They will ensure the building will provide comfortable, sustainable and quality homes for our community for years to come. Many community partners have also helped us with this project and we thank the Canadian Paraplegic Association and the Boyle Street Community League for their ongoing support.”

"By working with the City of Edmonton, the Province of Alberta and affordable housing developers like the Métis Capital Housing Corporation, we're providing sustainable and durable housing that's also affordable,”. “It just goes to show what you can accomplish when you work as a team towards the same goals. When we all step in the right direction, moving forward is easy."

"Among other things, ENMAX's vision for corporate responsibility includes cleaner energy choices for consumers and investing in the communities we serve,"said Charles Ruigrok, interim President and CEO, ENMAX Corporation. "The Boyle Renaissance project allows us to focus on both of these mandates. The facility will benefit from advanced heating and power systems that use cleaner burning natural gas and will reduce the amount of electricity that has to be purchased from the grid."

“This building will have a significant impact on the lack of accessible housing for people with disabilities. This will have a great impact on decreasing the wait list for housing in the downtown core,” Larry Pempeit, Director of Community Development, Canadian Paraplegic Association. 

This is the largest project to date in the three-year life of the Métis Capital Housing Corporation. 

The Métis Capital Housing Corporation is a non-profit corporation providing affordable, adequate and appropriate rental housing for low and moderate income Métis (and other Aboriginal) families in the urban centres of Alberta. Using fair, equitable and innovative practices in the delivery of quality services, they seek to improve the housing conditions of Métis and Aboriginal communities by offering an alternative to mainstream housing. 

Home Dedication Ceremony - May 25, 2012

CMHC Affordable Housing Centre Video - Habitat for Humanity Edmonton