Munirul-Haq Raza | News Editor
Featured image: The York University Development Corporation was set up in 1985. | Basma Elbahnasawy
The development and management of the Quad residence was given to Forum Campus Suites (FCS) by the York University Development Corporation (YUDC). FCS collaborates with Campus Suites, a private company that manages and develops student housing and Forum Equity Partners Inc., a private real estate development company.
According to Janice Walls of York Media: “The agreement that led to the development of The Quad was signed in 2013. There was a competitive Request for a proposals process, after which York signed an agreement with a private company to design, build, finance, maintain, and operate a new student housing and mixed use project. A group was set up including students, faculty, and staff to create a final agreement that would reflect student housing needs and preferences.”
This has raised concerns about third-party management of housing for York students. Among those concerns was that FCS will have its own private security not bound by York guidelines, thus will not be as accountable as York security.
Walls says: “The Quad is responsible for providing security services within their building. Students who are tenants of the Quad should speak to the building management if they have concerns about security within the building, as they would with any other landlord.
“We are committed to working cooperatively with the Quad to support students. A Quad Advisory Committee with members from the Quad and the University meet on a regular basis to review a variety of operational issues, including community safety.” Walls adds students with outstanding safety concerns should contact York security.
“Staff from our Office of Student Community Relations and Security team have also met with staff at the Quad to ensure that they are aware of the services and supports available to students at York.”
Jody Berland, a professor in the Department of Humanities, submitted a Freedom of Information request: “Our FOI request for disclosure was regarding how the Shoppers Drug Mart made a deal to be the destination store at the end of York Lanes. This decision came after the termination of the lease of the existing pharmacy.”
Berland, whose request is in mediation, adds: “The problem is that YUDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of York, but as a private for-profit entity; it is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act legislation.”
Regarding transparency concerns surrounding YUDC, York President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton says: “I think it’s my job as president, if there is an interest in greater transparency, I bring that information to Senate.
“I have no problem answering question around YUDC at the Senate, because York is the only stakeholder for YUDC—we are the client; nothing is done at YUDC that the senior management would not approve, therefore I need to be accountable to Senate in that process.” Lenton also adds YUDC has a specific mandate driven by York.
Berland, when initially submitting the FOI request, says: “I think we were still thinking of York Lanes as part of a public space.” York Lanes was not only developed, but is also managed by YUDC.
Berland sees the decision that moved the Shoppers Drug Mart to the bookstore’s old location as primarily a commercial decision.
What level of transparency a private entity (whose only shareholder is a public institution) must provide raises challenging questions.
