Boro Block
Boro Block is an innovative affordable housing proposal for 11 Haddon RD SW. The Boro Block site was previously home to the YMCA, and since the closure and demolition of this facility in 2019, the property has remained vacant as surplus City land. The City of Calgary’s Non-Market Land Sale program identified this site as an ideal location for affordable housing, and following a rigorous application process Liberty Housing Organization was chosen to develop the site and deliver new affordable homes within the community of Haysboro.
Boro Block is a six-story mixed-use building, delivering ±196 affordable homes with at-grade spaces for new businesses including a ±60 child daycare, and ±184 parking stalls. The building’s design includes accessible barrier-free units, and features sustainability measures that exceed current standards in order to significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
For more details, click to view our Vision Brief Booklet
Affordable Housing Model
The Boro Block housing model will provide new affordable rental homes for the next 40+ years. Boro Block rental rates will be set to average 68% of Calgary’s annual Median Market Rent, and the new homes will be available to households with a combined income of 65% or less of Calgary’s annual Median Income. Approximately 20% of the new homes will feature barrier-free design to support Calgarians with mobility challenges.
Timeline & Next Steps
A Land Use Redesignation (LOC) application (also known as “zoning”) was approved by City of Calgary Council in June 2025. This approval enables the development vision for this site and changed the site’s Land Use District from the Special Purpose – Recreation (S-R) District to the Mixed Use – General (MU-1 f3.0 h23) District. The new Mixed Use Land Use District limits the buildable floor area to 3.0 FAR (up to three times the area of the property) and limits the maximum building height to 23 metres (up to 6 storeys).
A Development Permit application illustrating the architectural design of the Boro Block building was approved in August 2025.
FAQs
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Liberty Housing Organization is a non-profit committed to creating socially, financially, and environmentally responsible homes. Since our inception in 2015, we have developed nearly 500 affordable homes in the Calgary area, and our goal is to be on our way to delivering 2,500 units within the next 5 years through our innovative Ownership and affordable Rental Programs.
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The City of Calgary’s Non-Market Housing Land Sale program identified 11 Haddon Rd SW as an ideal location for affordable housing to directly combat Calgary’s housing crisis. Through a rigorous application and review process, 11 Haddon Rd SW has been offered for purchase to Liberty Housing Organization by the City of Calgary (the City) to enable much needed affordable housing within the community of Haysboro. Liberty Housing Organization will enter into a 40-year term Housing Agreement with The City of Calgary, ensuring the long-term affordability with specific income eligibility criteria and rental rates for all new homes within Boro Block.
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The City of Calgary identifies a household as in need of affordable housing when it earns less than 65% of the Calgary area median income and spends more than 30 per cent of its gross income on shelter costs. (Source: Home Is Here The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy 2024-2030).
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Boro Block is proposed as a purpose-built affordable rental housing building. Boro Block will be owned, operated, and maintained by Liberty Housing Organization.
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Boro Block will provide units at an average monthly rent that is at least 68% or less than the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) annual Median Market Rent (MMR) for Calgary, with no individual rental rates exceeding 86% of Median Market Rent. For reference, based on Calgary’s 2024 Median Market Rent the average monthly rent in Boro Block would range in price from ±$940 for a one-bedroom unit to ±$1,110 for a three-bedroom unit.
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The spectrum of housing in each community is known as the housing continuum. Homes found within the housing continuum range from emergency shelters and transitional housing to affordable and market housing, each essential for accommodating community members from diverse backgrounds. Boro Block adheres to specific income and rental rate criteria and falls within the Affordable Housing category of the housing continuum.
A portion of the units within Boro Block will be rented directly from Liberty by non-profit partner organizations and matched to priority groups in need of housing by these partner organization. Priority groups will include but are not limited to recent immigrants, racialized groups, seniors, young adults, people with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. These groups have been identified as being in critical need of affordable housing by The City, and Liberty Housing Organization is committed to meeting that need.
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Boro Block homes will be available to households earning a reported maximum combined income of 65% or less of Calgary’s annual Median Household Income. All occupants will be required to re-qualify on an annual basis. For example, residents who had a combined household income of $64,545 or less would qualify to live in Boro Block in 2024.
For reference, starting salaries in Calgary for an Elementary School Teacher $48,000 / Transit Bus Driver $53,000 / Childcare Worker $40,000.
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Boro Block is proposing ±196 affordable rental homes with a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom homes. Approximately 20% of the homes will be designed with barrier-free best-practices to support residents with mobility challenges.
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Boro Block will have a total of ±184 vehicle parking stalls on-site; with 164 residential/visitor stalls, 17 commercial stalls, and 40 barrier-free stalls. Parking will be available both underground and within a surface lot that is accessed from the rear lane.
The site will also include a total of 120 bicycle parking stalls, located within a secure bike room and outside.
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Boro Block is proposed as a six-storey mixed use building on a 1.5 acre site that introduces new affordable homes, commercial/retail spaces and a daycare to the community. The site is ideal for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), which encourages higher intensity uses near primary transit, because it is directly beside the Heritage LRT Station.. The Boro Block design team is proposing stepped-down building height transitions with our surrounding neighbours, long lasting and attractive building materials, and new landscaping throughout the site, to form a contextually-sensitive and high quality development outcome.
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Similar to all Land Use and Development Permit applications, the applications for Boro Block will go through a comprehensive review by City of Calgary Administration. The City of Calgary prioritizes the review of affordable housing proposals which results in a ±4 to 6 month timeline from the application’s submission to a final decision.
The Land Use Change application was approved at Public Hearing by Calgary City Council on June 10, 2025.
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Boro Block is located within and fully aligns with the Heritage Communities Local Area Plan (HCLAP), approved in Fall 2023. Because the Boro Block site is located along a major roadway and near the Heritage Transit Station and other local amenities, the Local Area Plan identifies the Boro Block site for mixed-use development up to 12 storeys in height – through the “Neighbourhood Flex” and “Mid Scale” urban form designations.
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Boro Block is an ambitious development proposal that aims to exceed national standards for sustainable buildings. Boro Block is targeting a 16% decrease in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions relative to the current national energy code for buildings, by employing solar panels and a range of energy conservation measures.
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The proposed Boro Block design applies universal design best practices to promote multi-generational living, support aging in place, and enhance well-being, social connection, and a sense of belonging among residents. ±20% of all new homes in Boro Block with be designed with barrier-free best-practices to support Calgarians with mobility challenges. The new homes will have access to 40 barrier-free parking stalls.
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The Boro Block proposal is still in the early stages of the application and development process, and Liberty Housing Organization is not currently accepting applications for future residents. To receive updates on Boro Block and other Liberty initiatives, sign up for Boro Block News at the bottom of this webpage.
Click the buttons below to view the media release and vision brief booklet.
Learn More
Project Update
Liberty Housing Organization is pleased to share the land use and development permit applications have been approved and Boro Block is currently under construction.
For Construction Updates, Visit Truman Construction Updates.