I couldn’t believe it when I read Carlito Pablo’s article in the Georgia Straight about the proposed Molnar development at Renfrew and East 10th. Normally, I really challenge developers, but in this case I’m applauding the Molnar Group. They’re building 96 rental units, 19 of them dedicated to households earning moderate incomes. The bottom line…
Tag: Development Cost Levies
Lots of problems with Rental 100, not city councillors!
Carlito Pablo, who has been doing a great job covering Vancouver’s Rental 100 program and its shortfalls for a while, recently reported in the Georgia Straight that city manager Sadhu Johnstone is concerned that Vancouver city councillors are “causing a lot of problems” by pushing for more affordability in the program. But the problems are…
Affordable rents: There’s a way, just no will
Over the last number of years, Vision Vancouver has been offering developers significant incentives in the form of waiving development cost levies or DCLs in return for a commitment from the developer to provide purpose-built rental housing. (See my June 29 blog on DCLs.) Unfortunately, this has not helped at all in addressing Vancouver’s housing…
Developers, their fair share — and real low-cost housing
Housing was all over the news this week, but three examples really speak to the usefulness of development cost levies in this regard — when they’re used for real affordable housing. I’ve long been critical of the City of Vancouver for its policy of waiving development cost levies or DCLs when a developer agrees to…
Gregor Robertson: 10 years of disappointments
A week ago, Mayor Gregor Robertson announced that he would not be seeking re-election this fall. So now is the time to reflect on what his 10 years in office have meant. I’ll tell you up front that I do not look back with any degree of fondness at Gregor Robertson’s time as mayor of…
Letter to the Vancouver Courier
I submitted this letter recently to the Vancouver Courier in response to this article. To the Editor, Re: “Vision rides high as Vancouverites fume” (Vancouver Courier, Dec. 24) Allen Garr has it 50% right. Vancouverites sure are fuming, and who can blame them? Vision Vancouver has handed tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars to developers…