REGINA, Sask. — The City of Regina is looking to turn housing plans into construction, bringing developers, non-profits and community organizations together in hopes of creating more homes across the city.
More than 230 people attended the second annual Regina Housing Conference at the Conexus Arts Centre on Tuesday. The sold-out event brought together housing industry leaders, government representatives and community organizations to discuss development opportunities, financing and new approaches to housing.
Mayor Chad Bachynski said the response to the conference reflects growing interest in working together to address Regina's housing needs.
“It's great to see the growth year after year at only the second year,” Bachynski said. “So I think that's a huge step, showing that, you know, there's willingness to come together.”
One area the city hopes to advance is its housing land bank, which makes municipal properties available for development. Bachynski said making land available is only part of the process.
“We need folks that can actually do the development, actually do the vertical builds of housing,” he said.
Bill Neher, the city's manager of the Housing Branch, said the conference gives organizations an opportunity to discover potential connections they might not otherwise make.
“A lot of times we don't see market and non-market housing having those sorts of discussions,” Neher said. “And having them in the room together gives them a chance for sort of those one-off conversations that maybe potentially might lead to a partnership.”
North Central revitalization
The city is also working on a long-term revitalization plan for North Central, with a focus on development that benefits the entire neighbourhood.
One of the partnerships involved is with Growing Young Movers, which is helping care for properties in the city's housing land bank while future development plans take shape.
Neher said the work is helping change how residents view the neighbourhood's future.
“Residents are seeing lots that were once formerly filled with debris and overgrown grass are now cut and cleaned,” he said. “And so we're actually seeing this very base-level sense of optimism that, oh yeah, maybe this time this is going to happen.”
The city is finishing consultations with residents and organizations in the area, with a plan outlining the next steps expected in the coming months. Neher cautioned that the process could take decades, but said there is enthusiasm for substantial change.
He also identified protecting the interests of current residents as an important consideration.
“Things like if new development happens, there would be things like a right to return,” Neher said.
The goal, he added, is to create a neighbourhood with a range of housing options rather than one made up exclusively of social and affordable housing.
Housing needs across the city
Regina's housing challenges extend beyond the availability of market homes. Homelessness, encampments and the need for supportive and transitional housing are also part of the discussion.
Bachynski said the city needs to address the entire housing continuum, from shelter spaces to market housing.
"We need a balance based on the needs of the community,” he said.
Neher said some of the most difficult developments involve housing for people who need additional support. He believes bringing non-profits and private-sector developers together could help move those projects forward.
He did not announce any new shelter or supportive housing developments, but said the city continues to examine potential partnerships and solutions with other levels of government.
Building on previous progress
The first Regina Housing Conference helped establish connections between organizations that had not previously been familiar with one another.
Neher pointed to a skills training program that gave a presentation last year. Most people attending had not heard of the organization, but the presentation led to further discussions and potential opportunities.
Bachynski also credited the first conference with contributing to the work that shaped Regina's housing strategy, which has since been approved by council.
The mayor said the city is continuing to use its federal Housing Accelerator Fund to support development through initiatives such as zoning changes and incentives.
Neher said the work has helped create opportunities for housing types that have been missing from Regina's market, including the so-called missing middle. However, he acknowledged there is still considerable work ahead.
The conference is supported in part through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, which enters its final year in 2027.
Bachynski said he would like to see the event continue beyond that funding, given the interest from the housing sector.
