Proposed affordable housing development for the Quarters gives neighbours hopes of vibrancy

Long seen as an untapped area of Edmonton's downtown, the Quarters district may be the home of Edmonton's latest affordable housing site.

Today, city council's executive committee will see a recommendation to sell eight city-owned lots at a below-market price to e4c, a non-profit charitable organization that helps Edmonton's vulnerable inner city population.

The sale agreement lists the land price as $1,000, with a $15,000 security deposit.

The market value of the parcel — between 102a Avenue and 103rd Avenue, east of 96th Street — is estimated at $3 million.

E4c plans to construct a building that would provide 19 single-occupancy transitional housing units, about 50 shelter beds, office and services spaces, and a Women's Emergency Accommodation Centre.

The plans also call for the building to have a potential future commercial space, similar to The Hallway Café in City Hall.

The proposal is a good use of land that has long sat vacant, said Michael Lee, chair of the Chinese Benevolent Association.

"I'm in favour of having something built on that site that will serve some people who are really neglected by society overall," Lee said.

The association runs some of the Chinese seniors' facilities nearby. It was consulted on the project alongside the Chinatown Transformation Collaborative.

Both groups are in favour of the project, saying that e4c has proven to be thoughtful neighbours and good facility managers.

"We were just elated … because it will be the first new-build in the south part of Chinatown," said Sandy Pon, chair and co-founder of the transformation collaborative.

Officials with e4c declined to do an interview ahead of the committee meeting.

But in an email to CBC, e4c spokesperson Shannon Donogh said the land acquisition is critical to advancing the project and assessing its viability.

"We have been longstanding neighbours and tenants in Boyle Street and the Quarters for over 50 years, and look forward to the committee's review on Wednesday," Donogh said.