The numbers are painful.

This week city councillors endorsed a plan that would see 2,500 new affordable housing units under construction within four years.

Distroscale

But to do that, Edmonton has to put in $132 million for land and permits to leverage $377 million in government grants, partner equity and private financing.

It’s still only five per cent of the 50,000 units Edmonton needs.

That’s a start, a good start. But it’s not going to get us where we need to be.

If Edmonton’s actually going to get this done, the city also needs a solution that doesn’t rely on new government grants for capital.

That’s why I love the concept Redemptive Developments is developing in Glenwood.

Director of construction Steve Hughes just finished public consultation for a row of three 12-unit buildings near 160 Street and 100 Avenue, just off Stony Plain Road.

Now the project goes to the City of Edmonton for a development permit. He’s hoping construction can start in March with occupancy in August.

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The buildings are no larger than what’s already allowed on a single-family lot in many parts of the city.

Each one is three-storeys tall with 12 self-contained micro-units and a large shared kitchen and living area for tenants on the main floor. It covers 40 per cent of the lot — the amount allowed under current zoning rules — and can use existing water and sewer lines.

If approved under Edmonton’s group home rules, the same concept could be replicated near transit avenues and LRT stations anywhere in the city.

The key is that Hughes believes the company can use pre-fabrication technology to get construction costs down to roughly $75,000 per bachelor suite. That means, as long as they can get access to land, anyone on AISH or earning minimum wage could afford this.

The $500 per month rent covers the mortgage.

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The Glenwood project is being built with a $2.7-million provincial grant. It’s still waiting for operating funding, which will allow Redemptive Developments to house people on Homeward Trust’s list of people experiencing chronic homelessness.

That population would have 24-hour support on-site.

Redemptive Developments is a social enterprise business created by the Jasper Place Wellness Centre to ensure the centre can hone the design and employ community members in construction.

The centre’s founder, Murray Soroka, argues the basic model could be used for many different groups, people with mobility and chronic health challenges, single mothers, students and anyone interested in co-housing options.

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Ideally, he says they’ll get the Glenwood project built, then scale up to build six of these per year with various partners.

The biggest challenges will be financing and land. Alberta’s financing community isn’t used to this model yet, leery of anything that can’t be converted to condos as a fall-back option.

For land, Soroka is hoping for long-term lease agreements with the city, private groups or developers. If a developer holding land knows redevelopment is not immediate, they could lend it out.

Elise Stolte, Postmedia

Soroka is hoping they can get a tax receipt for the value, and he would build with modular techniques that can be moved. As long as residents can stay for at least 10 years, the project breaks even.

Land will be a challenge but there’s a lot to like in this model.

If communities can get behind this new small-scale model, Edmonton won’t be left standing still, blaming others if federal and provincial grants don’t continue.

Plus, think about living here. The size is natural, cosy. It’s exactly what some psychologists have recommended for seniors homes — not so big you feel lost, but big enough for a kitchen party.

Mark Holmgren, head of Edmonton’s new non-profit community development corporation, says he’s interested. He starts with the question, what will make this neighbourhood stronger, and sees a real need for quality housing for singles.

He figures the model can be tweaked for couples and families once it’s proven to work and Hughes and Soroka have experience in business and construction. “They certainly have a proven track record.”

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Edmonton’s affordable housing investment plan goes to council for debate with the capital and operating budgets this fall.

It’s a serious issue to tackle and great to see council finally moving forward with a plan. But let’s be realistic. Government grants will not build everything needed. Let’s support innovation, look for community involvement and make sure zoning doesn’t stand in the way.

Elise Stolte is the Edmonton Journal’s city columnist.