Several members of the public appealed to city council for “equitable” access to affordable rentals in Richmond.
They argued waitlists and a centralized registry could help manage low-end market rentals (LEMR) units fairly – LEMR units are built into new developments and are often managed by the owner.
The idea was first brought forward by Kathy McCreary, a Vancouver resident, at Monday’s city council meeting in regards to a housing agreement for a 134-unit development at 8131 Westminster Hwy. that was on the meeting agenda.
McCreary noted the housing agreement, as currently written, allows the owners’ relatives to occupy a LEMR unit.
“I think it would be appropriate that they too would have to go through a waiting list process so that they aren’t getting first dibs and safeguard the equitable distribution of these units in the community,” said McCreary.
LEMR units have controlled rents and the income of occupants have to be between certain minimums and maximums, depending on the unit size.
McCreary added a waitlist for all LEMR units and a centralized registry, managed by the city, would allow for more “fair, equitable and inclusive” access to affordable housing.
Also, the waitlist would benefit property managers and owners to easily draw tenants from the eligible list so rental units could be allocated on a “first-come first-serve basis,” she added.
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said staff would take McCreary’s concerns “under advisement when drafting future housing agreements.”
The public also called on council to consider doing a “full LEMR program review,” to prioritize non-market housing construction and to densify housing areas to alleviate the “affordability crisis” that is being felt in the city.
Youth leaving Richmond
While many struggle to keep up with the rising costs in the city, Richmond’s younger generation has started to consider living in other cities.
Richmond resident Mark Lee told city council it’s “embarrassing” to see Richmond doing worse than other cities such as Vancouver which also have a “bad rep” for being unaffordable and unlivable.
“I don’t think that excludes or precludes us from reviewing what we need to do. It needs to be the top priority and an affordability context and not just what is supposedly feasible,” said Lee.
Lee said he moved to Richmond after being out-priced from Vancouver but he’s finding Richmond unaffordable as well.
Meanwhile, Richmond-born David Yang added the outlook for the younger generation looking to stay and live in the city is “not looking good at all.”
Young people, working families and seniors, he said, are “at crossroads” with the city’s “affordability crisis.”
“At this critical juncture, with no end in sight and rising housing costs, homelessness and growing inequality, policymakers and decision-makers simply have to step-up big time or they have to step down,” said Yang.
Coun. Carol Day agreed that Richmond has “fallen behind on rentals.”
She asked Yang whether he would rather wait a while for a goal to be achieved or to see that something being done “is better than nothing,” to which Yang responded he hope to see the city spend the time to “get it right and get this over once and for all.”
Day highlighted that she voted against previous projects that did not have enough rentals and affordable housing, and she would rather “see a land empty until we get it right.”
Coun. Bill McNulty noted that in order to have more subsidized housing and LEMR, a balance is needed in the market, something that has proven to work with the Kiwanis, Storeys and Pathways developments.
Both Couns. Linda McPhail and Alexa Loo highlighted the agenda item was about the housing agreement, but assured the public the numbers for affordable housing have increased for future developments.
While Coun. Michael Wolfe said he opposes “all aspects” of the Westminster development he still supports the housing agreement.
Meanwhile, Coun. Andy Hobbs said city council is “very aware” of affordable housing problems, and they are “working very hard” on it including in an upcoming review of the Official Community Plan (OCP).
City council members voted unanimously for the housing agreement for the Westminster Highway development.
