Let’s Talk...
Richmond
Richmond
Affordable
AffordableHousing
Housing
Strategy
Update
Update
Strategy
City of Richmond wants to hear from you! Do you have thoughts about
Making The
Progress
Towards Housing
affordable housing in your community? Ideas about creating a liveable and inclusive
neighbourhood? If you are part of the Richmond community—you are invited to
participate in an
survey and attend one of the pop-up events to help the City
Affordability
inonlineRichmond
better understand our community’s current housing needs and future opportunities.
2016 Housing Report Card
The survey will be available from May 5–July 3, 2016 and can be
found along with project information at LetsTalkRichmond.ca.
These events are the first
opportunities to share your
Come and participate in one of our pop-up events:
thoughts and
helplocally.
the City
Housing affordability
is a critical issue both regionally
and
update its Affordable Housing
Wednesday, May 11
Wednesday, May 18
Strategy. The strategy will guide
Hamilton Community
Minoru Place Seniors
Increasing appropriate
and affordable
housing choices
is a key City of
the City’s actions in addressing
Centre: 1:00–2:30 p.m.
Centre: 2:00–3:30 p.m.
local housing challenges in
7660 Minoru Gate
5140 Smith Drive
the coming years.
is
Richmond goal,
as part of creating
a livable community
forEveryone
everyone.
City Centre Community
Cambie Community Centre:
encouraged to participate.
Centre: 3:00–4:30 p.m.
4:00–5:30 p.m.
Minoru Blvdaddressing
#105
12800 Cambie Road to work 5900
As the City continues
towards
housing demand
Minoru Aquatic Centre:
Tuesday, May 17
5:00–6:30 p.m.
through its Affordable
Housing7560Strategy
Update, it is important to
Minoru Gate
Steveston Community
Centre: 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Monctonhas
Street already been achieved. This housing report
take stock of 4111
what
South Arm Community
Centre: 4:00–5:30 p.m.
card highlights
the progress made and the City’s actions taken since
8880 Williams Road
adopting the Affordable Housing Strategy in 2007.
What is the City’s Role?
The City acknowledges that it cannot solve local affordable issues on
its own; however it can play a role in partnership with senior levels
of government, the private and non-profit sectors. Key elements in
the City’s response to local housing issues include:
•Long range housing policy development.
•Strategic review and planning on specific issues.
•An Affordable Housing Statutory Reserve Fund.
•Providing capital funding towards affordable housing projects.
•Strategic acquisition and below market rate leasing of land for
non-profit housing.
•Supporting and facilitating demonstration projects of innovative
housing.
•Monitoring and research of housing issues and trends.
Affordable Housing Snapshot
Affordable Housing Inventory
•1,392 units secured through the Affordable Housing Strategy since
2007 (as of March 31, 2016):
-- 320 low-end market rental units.
-- 477 subsidized rental units.
-- 411 market rental units.
-- 165 secondary suites and coach houses.
-- 19 affordable homeownership units.
•3,175 affordable rental units secured outside of the Affordable
Housing Strategy (including family and seniors’ rental, and co-ops).
2
Community Social Development Department | May 2016
City Contributions to Affordable Housing Projects
The City has made significant contributions over the past three years
towards the construction costs and municipal fees for two local
housing developments:
•$24.1 million to the Kiwanis Towers for low-income seniors’ rental
housing. Project completed.
Winner of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Community Excellence Award for
Innovation in Partnerships.
•$19.1 million to the Storeys development for vulnerable
individuals and families. Project competition: Spring 2017.
Land Partnerships
Richmond has leased seven (7) City-owned properties at below
market rates to non-profit housing providers.
Density Bonusing
•The City collects affordable housing contributions at a flat rate in
exchange for density bonuses:
-- $2 per square foot for single family developments.
-- $4 per square foot for townhouse developments.
-- $6 per square foot for apartment/mixed-use developments with
80 units or less.
•In developments with more than 80 units, the City requires at least
5% of the total floor area to be constructed as low-end market
rental units.
Affordable Housing Statutory Reserve Fund
Since 2007, the City has collected $7,459,208 in developer
contributions towards Affordable Housing (as of March 31, 2016).
Community Social Development Department | May 2016
3
What’s Next?
The Affordable Housing Strategy update will take place over five phases:
WE ARE HERE

Winter 2016–Summer 2016
Spring 2016–Fall 2016
Summer 2016–Spring 2017
Winter 2017
Summer 2017
Community
Profile
Policy
Review
Housing
Action Plan
Draft AHS
Final AHS
The feedback from the initial engagement activities will be used to
develop a Community Profile, which will identify housing needs and
opportunities in Richmond. This information will shape the policy
review and determine future housing priorities and objectives. The
policies will then be turned into action-oriented goals and targets
in the Housing Action Plan. Information from all phases will be
compiled in the final Affordable Housing Strategy. Opportunities for
community and stakeholder engagement will be available at each
phase. We look forward to hearing your comments on affordable
housing in Richmond.
More Information
For more information, visit www.richmond.ca/affordablehousing or
contact [email protected].