Former Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»city councillor Jim Green is downplaying his split with the developer of B.C. Housing's controversial Little Mountain housing project.
Green was a community relations consultant to Holborn Properties and quit last week, citing a lack of autonomy from president Joo Kim Tiah.
"A difference in philosophy, a difference in strategy on how we move forward," Green told the Courier. "I thought it was best that I be no longer associated with the development. I resigned. I wish them all the best of luck, it was a good project, I just felt my tenure there was over."
Holborn spokeswoman Maggie Wen said Tuesday the company would issue a news release on the matter, but on Thursday she said there would be no such news release. She did not fulfill a request by the Courier to interview Tiah.
"This is a private matter between Holborn Properties and Jim Green and Associates," Wen said via email. "We have no further comments to the media and we wish Mr. Green all the best in his future endeavors."
On Green's blog, he described the site as an L-shaped, 15.2 acre parcel of land between Main and Ontario streets, from 33rd Avenue to 37th. B.C. Housing is to retain ownership until it is rezoned and a development permit is issued. Holborn wants to include 234 units of social housing among the total 2,000.
The development is to replace the 1950s era complex which had 224 units. Residents were evicted and the buildings were mostly demolished before the 2010 Winter Olympics. Holborn has pledged to offer a right of first refusal for the new non-market housing to the ex-residents who were relocated.
City manager Penny Ballem said she expects a report to council early in 2012.
"It's a complicated project, it's another project that the deal was cut when everything was booming," Ballem said. "The province and developer continue to work together to find a formula that they can come forward and make it work."
