Mixed Use Development

The following questions address what mixed use development is and why we need it in St. Albert.  

What is mixed-used development? 

A mixed-use development means a development with a combination of commercial, institutional, retail or residential uses. Developments located downtown are required to incorporate commercial and retail spaces on the ground floor to allow for future business opportunities that support downtown vibrancy. 

The proposed 22 St. Thomas Street development will include a mixed-income model which provides housing at different rates based on individual household incomes within the same building or development.  

Key components within the new development will meet also the City’s objectives of universally accessible public spaces, energy efficiency, barrier-free unit designs and social procurement benefit opportunities.  

What are the benefits of a mixed-income model and why is this needed in St. Albert? 

Mixed income housing is an approach that focuses on providing housing options for people of all ages and incomes within a given development, allowing people to come together to build diverse and inclusive communities. 

St.Albert typically has lower vacancy rates that the City of Edmonton, and higher rents. As a result, many St.Albert families have difficulty finding rental housing appropriate for their incomes. The national measure of affordability is based on a household spending a maximum of 30 per cent of their total household income (before taxes) on shelter expenses.  

Who is this housing for and why do we need it? 

The City has less than 1.8 per cent of its housing stock as affordable rental accommodation. This amount is significantly below the average of 3.1 per cent in other Alberta municipalities. As a result, many St.Albert residents have difficulty finding housing in St. Albert and must consider leaving the city in search of more affordable accommodation  

The most recent 2016 census data shows that 6.9 per cent of St. Albert households (1,640 in total which includes 740 renter households and 880 owner households) are in “Core Housing Need,” which means households are: 

• paying more than 30 per cent of their income toward housing costs (rent or mortgage). 
• living in accommodation that is not suitable for their family size, or their housing is in need of major repairs. 
• not able to find alternative market rental accommodation in St. Albert that would be suitable for their household size based on incomes earned.  

Housing affordability impacts female-led households the most, including single females living alone (senior and non-senior) and female-led, lone-parent families with children.