If you want more rental housing, why don’t you vote for it, was Richmond Mayor Malcom Brodie’s query to Coun. Michael Wolfe at last Monday’s council meeting.
Brodie was challenging Wolfe on his opposition to a proposal to build a 330-unit rental project in the Thompson area.
Wolfe is running in the current election under the RITE Richmond banner and at the meeting Brodie, who is also seeking re-election, read from RITE’s housing platform in an attempt to highlight what he called Wolfe’s “inconsistent” stance.
“What you say flies in the face of your platform,” Brodie told Wolfe at the council meeting.
“What more is the applicant to do to build rental housing in this city than what is being done in this report?” Brodie added.
In fact, there is more the applicant can do, according to Wolfe, adding that while he is “very much for affordable housing,” this project could be made better.
The proposal which would replace 50 rental units with 330, would destroy a grove of 10 mature trees in the northeast corner of the property, and it’s that which he opposes.
Changes have been made to previous projects, like the Polygon development on Cambie and Garden City roads, whereby a large grove of trees was saved after pressure from council, Wolfe noted.
Wolfe also pointed out that, despite requests, the mayor hasn’t put him on the planning committee where development proposals are first dealt with. So, when a proposal comes to city council, it’s the first time he can vote on it.
