HAVAN’s Legends of Housing: Reaching new levels

HAVAN’s 2023 Jan. 25 Legends of Housing event put a new spin on the 11th annual panel discussion. This year, trailblazers in the housing industry took the stage, a trio of “legends in the making” according to moderator Kirk LaPointe, publisher and editor-in-chief of Business in Vancouver (BIV) and Glacier Media VP Editorial.

People-centric outlook

Collaboration, social conscience, and integrity soon emerged as central themes.

Mike Mackay, CEO of Strand, noted early in the evening that he sees an increasing focus throughout the housing industry to think beyond profits as the primary measure of success. Rather, it’s about seeing people – both those who are directly employed and their families – thrive and grow. “Without them, we have no ability to do what we do,” he said.

Mindy Wight, CEO of Nch’kay Development Corp., acknowledged it was leaders of the past who paved the way for today’s trailblazers, adding the Squamish Nation’s values of honesty, transparency, collaboration, and social and environmental responsibility, remain deeply embedded in how life and business are conducted. “We have a responsibility, a duty, and an obligation to give back and uplift others.”

It was an outlook Evan Allegretto, president of Intracorp Homes, echoed, adding he considers himself fortunate to have had some of the best mentors in the business. He believes that as people find values in common, a mutual commitment to those values automatically transforms teams into more coherent, functional groups.

Political landscape

Allegretto and Mackay agreed David Eby was the most engaged and accessible Minister of Housing the province has had in a quarter century. However, Mackay expressed concern that the premier is facing a confluence of issues such as housing, overdose deaths, and a failing healthcare system, and tackling them all at the same time could result in watered down results for all three.

But as Wight pointed out, finding a solution needs a coordinated, thoughtful approach, since all three are interrelated. “For example, you can’t address the opioid crisis without finding a place to house these people.”

Message to municipalities

With almost two dozen municipal counsellors present, LaPointe wanted to know what message the three panellists would most like local governments to hear.

Top of Wight’s list was examining with fresh eyes the infrastructure requirements for long-term densification, including better transit and cleaner, more integrated public spaces. “Change is in the air,” she said. “People are willing to embrace a new way of living. We need to be able to talk in a collaborative, open, and respectful manner to achieve this.”

Mackay was quick to say he believes this is a “real opportunity to effect distinct change.” At the heart of it is how counsellors and government officials interact with city staff. “Be open and willing to disagree with your staff,” he suggested. He acknowledged there are some profiters in the industry, but he said the majority of builders are trying to develop affordable housing and enrich communities.

It was a sentiment Allegretto echoed. He’s said he is thrilled every city appears to have moved into a pro-development phase, but noted staff at the ones he’s visited in the last few months were increasing fees, community amenity contributions (CAC), and bonus density. He proposed to instead lower the heavy fees that are a significant part of the lengthy delays in the permitting and approval process. This would have a far greater, more immediate impact on affordability. For example, if shovels could be in the ground within a year rather than five or more, municipalities would reap the benefits of four additional years of increased property taxes as an on-going source of income significantly greater that a $10 or $20 increase on CACs.

Who will build?

The three panellists predicted labour shortages will continue to pose challenges into the foreseeable future.

“Employee retention is our number one priority,” Allegretto noted, adding all Intracorp meetings are once again face-to-face. “We’re thriving. People are having fun at work again. It makes for better collaboration and it’s more efficient than on Zoom, where people can get distracted.” And he believes it’s impossible for young people to build a career if they work exclusively at home without the camaraderie and collaboration of these interactions.

For Wight’s small but growing team – the company opened in 2018 – it’s working together to achieve the long-term objectives that help create the respect and loyalty she predicts will continue to propel Nch’kay forward into a “game-changing” year in 2023.

“Until we destigmatize the trades, until we tell our children that being in the trades offers a real possibility of higher wages than going into liberal arts, we’re not just conning ourselves, we’re conning next generations,” Mackay stressed. “Being a plumber, for example, you have the potential to not only make more money than 95 per cent of the people who graduate with a four-year liberal arts degree, you can have your own business. If people understood that, I think we would see more people going into trades.”

Opportunity knocks

Despite the challenges and uncertainty, a distinctly positive vibe permeated the evening’s discussion, which once again reinforces the notion that Metro Vancouver’s builders, developers, and other industry insiders are a resilient group who refuse to let a mere pandemic or economic downturn stop them.

For information about HAVAN and the local residential construction industry, visit havan.org.