Vancouver City Councillor
Integrity of office and public trust.
Yesterday morning I tweeted news that the City’s top properties guy: Bill Aujla, manager of Real Estate and Facilities had tendered his resignation to go and work for the Aquilini Group as VP of Real Estate.
Fallout over the BOFFO-Kettle deal that would have seen a new drop-in and supportive housing along with close to 200 market condos built atop an assembled parcel of private and public owned land and Commercial and Venables.
As I commented to the Sun reporter yesterday and on Twitter as the story broke – it’s impossible to have an informed opinion on this issue because there is absolutely no transparency. Indeed, as close to half the property in question here is owned by the taxpayers, there should be an onus for even MORE clarity when it comes to negotiating Community Amenity Contributions. There isn’t.
Some years ago I met w/ Daniel Boffo, over n’hood resistance to height/density and perception that inclusion of city land in project called to question net public benefits, notwithstanding Kettle contributions.
I suggested that the best solution might be to open the books, show people the pro formas ie. the numbers that make the project work vis a vis public land and public benefits involved.
If EHT is not tracking primary residence but location at time of declaration, and declarations can be made by a proxy — are we tracking local owners, or local realtors/lawyers?
Want to avoid Vancouver’s Empty Home Tax?
Find the right strata.
The extended empty home reporting deadline is approaching.
There’s been plenty of advertising. But did you know EHT specifically exempts condos where strata rules restrict rentals?