Bridgeland Place Redevelopment Delayed, Affordable Housing Tower Now Expected to Reopen in 2028

Calgary’s Bridgeland Place affordable housing tower is undergoing a major $90 million redevelopment, but residents waiting for the building to return to service will have to wait longer than originally planned.

The city owned high rise at 736 McDougall Court NE is now expected to welcome residents in late 2028 or early 2029. The previous target had been 2027, but delays related to funding and the development permit process have pushed the timeline back by approximately one year.

The redevelopment is being managed by Calgary Housing, a wholly owned subsidiary responsible for the city’s affordable housing assets. Construction work on the building’s exterior is getting underway as part of a comprehensive renewal that will effectively rebuild much of the tower’s interior while preserving its existing concrete structure.

Bridgeland Place was originally constructed in 1971 and provided subsidized, below market rental housing to Calgary residents for more than five decades. The building previously contained 210 units, but it was eventually determined that major upgrades were necessary because of aging infrastructure and problems involving its water and ventilation systems.

The tower was decommissioned and its remaining residents were relocated. By 2024, the interior had been stripped down to the concrete structure in preparation for the installation of new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation systems.

Calgary Housing officials say the decision to renovate rather than demolish the building was supported by inspections that found the tower’s core structure and concrete remained in good condition.

Bo Jiang, Calgary Housing’s interim chief executive, said the extensive interior demolition created an opportunity to address the building’s deficiencies comprehensively and remove hazardous materials before rebuilding the internal systems.

The next major phase will focus on the exterior of the tower. Workers will replace the existing cladding and windows and remove the balconies as part of an upgraded building envelope designed to improve energy efficiency and protect the structure from weather.

The project will also bring the building’s internal systems up to current building codes and standards. Since much of the interior has already been removed, crews will have to reinstall virtually every major system before the individual residential units can be completed.

That includes new electrical infrastructure, plumbing, heating, ventilation and other mechanical systems. The residential suites will then be rebuilt and equipped according to modern standards.

Jiang said the overall construction schedule is expected to take approximately two years, with occupancy targeted for the end of 2028 or potentially early 2029.

The redevelopment will result in 203 affordable housing units when the building reopens. Although that represents a reduction from the previous 210 units, Calgary Housing says the change was intentional.

The redesigned building will include a broader mix of unit sizes. The original property primarily offered one and two bedroom suites, while the renewed building will include some three bedroom homes to better serve families and reflect the changing needs of Calgary Housing residents.

The building will also operate under a mixed income rental model. This approach allows different levels of affordability within the same development, creating housing opportunities for people with varying incomes.

Jiang described the future residents as including working people such as service employees, tradespeople and others who need affordable housing while remaining close to Calgary’s established communities.

The project is being welcomed by representatives of the surrounding Bridgeland Riverside community.

Tony Imbrogno, a member of the Bridgeland Riverside Community Association board, said the neighbourhood has a long history of accommodating community support facilities and suggested that bringing affordable housing back to the site could help address some of the wider housing pressures facing the area.

The reopening of Bridgeland Place is particularly significant as Calgary continues to experience strong demand for below market housing. Rising housing costs and limited affordable rental options have placed pressure on residents with lower and moderate incomes.

Affordable housing advocates and community organizations have increasingly emphasized the importance of creating a range of housing options rather than relying solely on emergency shelters and temporary accommodation.

Imbrogno also noted that additional affordable housing could help create a pathway for people experiencing housing instability to move into more permanent accommodation.

The construction project is expected to have some effects on the surrounding neighbourhood during the next two years. Jiang said Calgary Housing does not anticipate significant daily disruption for residents, but construction traffic and restricted access around the property are expected while the work is underway.

The renewed building is expected to provide modernized housing while retaining its location near downtown Calgary. Its position along Memorial Drive gives residents access to established transportation routes, services and amenities in the surrounding communities.

The decision to preserve the tower rather than demolish it also reflects an effort to make use of an existing housing asset at a time when Calgary is facing a significant shortage of affordable homes.

Rather than starting from scratch, Calgary Housing is investing in the existing structure and replacing its aging infrastructure. Officials say this approach will allow the property to return to the affordable housing system while maintaining the building’s strong structural core.

The delay to 2028 means residents and housing applicants will have to wait longer for the additional units to become available. However, Calgary Housing says the extended timeline will allow the organization to complete the project to modern standards and incorporate feedback received from the surrounding community and other stakeholders.

Jiang said the additional engagement has helped produce what he considers a stronger redevelopment plan.

The project is also part of a much larger affordable housing strategy. Calgary Housing is aiming to add approximately 4,500 affordable housing units across the city over the next decade.

Bridgeland Place alone will not solve Calgary’s housing shortage, but its return will restore more than 200 affordable homes to a strategically located part of the city.

For former residents and Calgary families waiting for affordable rental opportunities, the redevelopment represents a long term investment rather than a quick solution. The tower has already undergone years of planning, relocation and preparation, and the next two years will involve rebuilding much of the infrastructure that once made it a functioning residential building.

When Bridgeland Place finally reopens, the property will have a substantially different interior and upgraded exterior while retaining the concrete structure that has stood in the community since the early 1970s.

The expected late 2028 or early 2029 reopening will bring the long vacant tower back into Calgary’s affordable housing network and provide 203 modernized rental homes at a time when demand for affordable housing remains one of the city’s most pressing challenges.

Courtesy: calgaryherald