UBC Reports | Vol. 50 | No. 8 | Sep. 2, 2004

Co-Development Helps Campus Community Build a Sustainable Future

The brainchild of UBC Properties Trust, the innovative approach stems from UBC housing policy, which makes leased university land available to qualified employees when they come together in groups of at least ten owners. Faculty and staff co-developers can realize savings, depending on market conditions, as high as 30 per cent through the elimination of typical project management and marketing costs.

Logan Lane homes, scheduled for completion in June 2005, start at $356,200 for a 2-bedroom garden home.

Co-development housing initiatives are a key sustainability strategy in UBC's University Town plan, whose goal is for 50 per cent of new residential market and non-market housing to serve faculty, staff and students.

For Judith Hall, professor of pediatrics and medical genetics, the chance to live within walking distance of work and diverse cultural, social and recreational venues -- in UBC's extraordinary natural setting -- was too good to pass up. She is one of 10 faculty and staff who developed Hawthorne Green, the first co-development housing project of 10 homes, which were completed last month.

"For me working on campus has been a life-long pursuit. This co-development gave me the chance to be part of what I consider to be a great experiment in building community," said Hall.

Faculty and staff interested in hearing more about joining or starting a co-development group are invited to contact UBC Properties Trust.

Please e-mail: jhindle@ubcproperties.com or call 604-731-3103.

For more information on University Town please visit www.universitytown.ubc.ca.