Mikisew Cree First Nation web logo
EDMONTON — Mikisew Group and Paragon Living have announced plans for a major Indigenous-led housing development in Edmonton that will include 180 affordable housing units and more than 400 homes overall.
The project, known as Mikisew Commons, will feature 438 residential units in northeast Edmonton, including 180 non-market affordable units aimed at addressing housing affordability challenges in the city.
Developers describe the project as one of the largest Indigenous-led housing developments in Canadian history.
Mikisew Commons is being developed through a partnership involving Mikisew Group, the economic development arm of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, and Edmonton-based Paragon Living.
The Mikisew Cree First Nation is based in Fort Chipewyan, Alta., on the Allison Bay Reserve along the western shore of Lake Athabasca.
According to project partners, affordability for the non-market units will be secured for 40 years. Rents in those units are expected to average 56 per cent below median market rents in Edmonton’s North Central survey zone.
The development will also include barrier-free housing, with 11 per cent of units designed to be fully accessible and affordable for residents with mobility challenges.
Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro said the project reflects the First Nation’s commitment to supporting members who live in Edmonton, where many have relocated for education, employment, health care and other opportunities.
Developers say the project has also been designed with environmental performance in mind. Mikisew Commons is expected to exceed the 2020 National Energy Code for Buildings and achieve more than a 50 per cent reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional construction.
Construction timelines were not included in the announcement.
The project comes as governments, Indigenous organizations and housing providers across Canada continue to search for ways to increase affordable housing supply amid rising housing costs and growing demand in urban centres.
Comments