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That’ll be the day
Wildcats finish fifth
... that Buddy Holly, at least a convincing imitation of him, comes to Richmond. Zachary Stevenson, who’s starred in the Buddy Holly Story, brings his tribute show to Country Meadows.
McMath Wildcats turned in a solid showing as co-hosts of the 24-team provincial junior girls volleyball championships last weekend.
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Santa and his crew head to their boat before setting out for Fisherman’s Wharf where they were greeted by hundreds of kids of all ages Sunday. For a full photo gallery of the day’s events, which included rides in a horse-drawn carriage and a tree-lighting ceremony, look online at www.richmond-news.com.
HOUSING
Sod finally turned on ANAF housing project
‘We will be able to provide low to moderate income seniors with better access to quality, affordable housing’ It’s been almost two years in the making, but ground has finally been broken on the project to build a 144-unit seniors housing complex and new armed forces veterans club in Steveston. The Chatham Street site has been the source of much controversy since the landowners — the Army Navy Air Force 284 Club (ANAF) — became embroiled in February, 2009 in their own bitter internal power struggle. At several plot points along the saga, long-standing members were blackballed and banned, senior committee members resigned and a whopping lawyer’s bill, thought to be $
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several hundred thousand dollars, was run up as rival factions within the club fought for control. But that all seemed to be a distant memory on Friday, when a senior ANAF representative met with both provincial and federal politicians for an official sod-turning ceremony. ANAF provincial command president Bill Calvert was joined at the ceremony by Steveston MLA John Yap, Delta-Richmond East MP John Cummins, B.C.’s Minister Responsible for Housing Rich Coleman and Mayor Malcolm Brodie. The Maple Residences, as it will be called, is a 144-unit housing development with support services for independent seniors.
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The federal and provincial governments are contributing a combined total of approximately $3.9 million for 30 Seniors Rental Housing (SRH) units in the project. The province will also provide $34.4 million in construction financing. ANAF, which is getting a new clubhouse out of the deal, provided land equity valued at approximately $8.3 million. The Steveston 284 Seniors’ Housing Society (SSHS) will manage and operate the 30 SRH apartments as well as the remaining 114 seniors’ independent living apartments. “There is currently a shortage of affordable housing in this area and through this partnership we will be able to provide low to moderate income seniors with better access to quality, affordable housing in Steveston,”
said Mel Goodwin, president of Steveston 284 Seniors` Housing Society. Delta-Richmond East MP John Cummins said the construction of the Maple Residences will result in more seniors being able to live independently and to “contribute to their community they call home.” While B.C.’s Minister Responsible for Housing, Rich Coleman, said projects such as this one are built faster when forces combine. “Through strong partnerships, we get more accomplished, housing is built faster and seniors are able to enjoy affordable homes in their communities,” Coleman said. ANAF 284’s 300-strong membership has been renting out premises for a temporary club in Steveston until construction is finished in December, 2011.
8171 Westminster Hwy. (at Buswell, one block east of No. 3 Rd.) Walkway access also from Save-On Foods parking lot
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BY A LAN CAMPBELL
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