Edgemont Walk in North Vancouver, by Boffo Properties. Credit: Boffo Properties

“Like any business, the underlying business model of building new homes or work spaces (whether market or non-market) must be profitable,” writes Daniel Boffo, co-principal at Boffo Properties. “For market homebuilders, the economics drive the opportunity. But through creative partnerships there are often ways to make inclusive communities work for all those involved and there are a variety of options to explore.”

Design and development at Boffo Properties is about much more than the numbers. The developer approaches development from a neighbourhood-building perspective, where the aim is to design and build homes that complement the local community.

The additional challenge of designing an inclusive community, with a mix of market and social housing, often requires addressing the stigma of mental health. “Integrating social housing into market housing should lead to more inclusive communities for all. Unfortunately, there are still those in society who may not associate with the empathy, teaching, learning opportunities, and general benefits that inclusive communities can provide,” writes Boffo. It’s a conversation the developer has had with its partners many times.

“At Boffo Properties we feel strongly that the future of the development and homebuilding industry continues to lie in partnerships—between builders and developers with social and non-profit providers, and between all levels of government, community groups, residents, and neighbours,” writes Boffo. “The broader neighbourhood and community benefit from and support these types of partnerships. At the municipal level, these projects are supported and the vision of an inclusive community—where there is no isolation, no ghettoization, and no stigma—is starting to flourish.”

Download Summer 2019

For more on developing inclusive communities, read Boffo’s “Inclusive Communities with Social and Market Housing” in the Summer 2019 edition of Input. Download Summer 2019

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