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Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie (centre) accepts a donation of $46,485 to the City of Richmond’s Affordable Housing Reserve Fund from Townline Homes vice-president Chris Colbeck (left) and president Rick Ilich (right).
Photo by Chung Chow
Townline donates $46,485 to city housing fund
Giving back is firmly rooted in the story of
Townline Homes.
Since Rick Ilich started the Richmond company
in 1981, developing a social conscious has been on par with building quality
homes. Now, Townline is assuming another lead role by becoming the first
developer to donate assignment fees.
Recognizing the ongoing housing affordability
crisis in Metro Vancouver, Townline has made it corporate policy to donate the
assignments fees the company collects from purchasers to various social needs
groups and affordability programs. The first donation of $46,485 was made Tuesday
to the City of Richmond’s Affordable Housing Reserve Fund from its sold-out
Calla at the Gardens project.
“We’ve always made a conscientious effort to
always be aware of affordability issues, and came to the conclusion we were
going to look at doing something contrary to what the development industry (has
done),” said Chris Colbeck, vice-president of sales and marketing for Townline
Homes.
Being involved in the community is a mindset
a Townline, he said, be it at the corporate or personal level.
“We try to walk the talk in a sense,” he
said. “We don’t just talk about helping our communities, we’re involved. This
is just a small step, but if we can get other developers doing the same then it
means big steps.”
Townline doesn’t see a large number of assignments,
but see collecting fees from purchases as a way to monitor the pace of
assignments. Colbeck said Richmond is the first municipality to receive such a
donation, but envisions other communities where Townline has developments will
benefit as well.
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said Townline’s
contribution with further support “our mutual objectives of ensuring Richmond
is a great and affordable place to live for everyone.”
Brodie said affordable housing is an urgent
priority within the community and across the region. He said city council has
made significant financial and policy commitments to ensure development of a
broad spectrum of new affordable housing units. However, he said it will take
the partnership at all levels to meet Richmond’s goals.
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