Rob Howard, president of the Richmond Community Coalition (RCC), says the City of Richmond ought to look at “gentle density” within neighbourhoods, meaning more single-family home lots being subdivided to provide for new, smaller detached homes.
“We’re suggesting in some neighbourhoods, gentle density might actually solve the problem” of housing unaffordability, said Howard, a former BC Liberal MLA for Richmond Centre and past city councillor.
When asked, Howard stopped short of suggesting Richmond neighbourhoods should include townhouses. He said maintaining existing character is important, however the city needs to examine ways to incentivize more affordable housing.
“In some instances, if the city were to offer the owner the ability to put three units of housing on a lot — it’s an up-zone — as a result of this up-zoning, the city gets more control of form and character. And in that neighbourhood you then get a value of housing that’s more in line with the rest of the neighbourhood,” said Howard, acknowledging even the smaller homes may still be unaffordable.
“At least it’s a step in the right direction.”
Howard’s expertise in rezoning stems from his career in real estate finance and development. Via his company, New Coast Lifestyles, he is building a high-end seniors home/condo development in east Richmond and planning a second in City Centre.
He noted the RCC has consulted with real estate professionals, academics and planners in drafting a policy for housing affordability.
The benchmark price of a single-family home now sits at $1.72 million. A typical townhouse costs $769,000, as per the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver .
