Concert Properties' History

Concert Properties is founded as VLC Properties Ltd. by Jack Poole and David Podmore with the mandate to provide assured rental housing in Vancouver. VLC starts as a "public-private-pension" venture with joint ownership from the Province of British Columbia, and the City of Vancouver, two Canadian banks, 26 individuals and 26 pension funds.

The agreement is signed to build Parkside Village, the company’s first assured rental housing property in Vancouver.

With the topping off of Fraser Pointe I, Concert Properties celebrates a construction milestone.

The company expands into affordable for sale housing, and construction begins with 24 townhomes at Wellington Mews.

The company transitions to become wholly-owned by Canadian union and management pension plans.

Company breaks ground on Collingwood Village, located adjacent to the Joyce-Collingwood SkyTrain Station, one of the first transit-oriented, master-planned communities in the city. CMHC called the completed community “a model transit-oriented development that has delivered on expectations for the developer, transit authority, municipality and the community”.

Company changes name from VLC Properties to Greystone Properties.

The First Annual Charity Golf Tournament is held to raise funds for trades training students through scholarships and bursaries.

 

Development begins on Concert Properties' second master-plan community, Arbutus Walk. Located on six acres in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood, Arbutus Walk contains 654 condominium homes and the first Tapestry seniors' community.

Company diversifies into commercial properties with several acquisitions including a 50% stake in a 100-acre industrial park on Mitchell Island and the 64-acre Fullerton Lands in North Vancouver.

Concert Properties Ltd. reveals its new name and brand. 

 

Concert Properties opens a Toronto office focused on developing new rental housing. Construction on Prelude, a 26-storey, 306-home rental development in North York. This project marks the company’s entry into the Toronto residential rental market.

Concert Properties forms alliance with the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) to develop multi-residential income properties.

Trades Discovery Program established with 14 other companies to address trades skills shortage. Concert Properties' annual charity golf tournament (see above, 1996) directs funds raised to trades training.

Concert Properties completes first commercial property acquisition in Alberta, expands income-producing commercial portfolio in BC. This expansion is in line with the companys focus on increasing its income-producing commercial portfolio.

Company signs co-ownership agreement with Sun Life Financial for three downtown Vancouver office buildings, expanding scope of commercial income-producing properties.

Concert Properties expands into Toronto’s industrial and commercial property market with the acquisition of four properties, totaling 438,000 square feet, located in Vaughan, Brantford, Mississauga and Markham. This strategic move secures Concert's position within the second largest industrial property market in North America.

The 164-home Astoria condominium development commences construction, marking the company’s entry into the Victoria condominium market.

Building on a well-earned reputation of bringing to life exceptional master-planned communities, company breaks ground on Village Gate West, Concert Properties' first master-plan community in Ontario, comprising 980 rental homes and Concert's first Ontario seniors community, Tapestry at Village Gate West

Tapestry at Village Gate West is completed, delivering 168 seniors’ living rental suites. This project’s completion marks Concert Properties’ entry into the Toronto seniors living market.

Founding Chair Jack Poole and founding Chief Financial Officer, Lionel Wazny, pass away.
David Podmore appointed Chair & Chief Executive Officer and Brian McCauley appointed President.

Concert Infrastructure Fund is created to invest in Canadian private-public partnerships. Company focuses on the development of social infrastructure assets.

Construction commences on Concert Properties’ first condominium development in Toronto. The Berczy, a 166-suite condominium development in downtown Toronto sells out in just over six months - a tremendous sales success.

Concert Properties is recognized with a Platinum Georgie Award for having received 25 Georgie Awards between 1997 and 2012.

88 Scott, the largest single development the company had undertaken to date breaks ground. The landmark 58-storey mixed-use development in Downtown Toronto stands as the company’s tallest building to date.

A groundbreaking was held on the first building to be developed at The Creek, Concert Properties' third master-planned community in Vancouver that is currently nearing completion with the development of TESORO.

The fund provides an opportunity for Canadian pension plans and qualifying institutional investors to participate in a high-quality portfolio consisting of over $1 billion in existing industrial and office assets.

Phase One of the Kip District master-plan community breaks ground in Etobicoke. The Kip District is a transit-oriented, master-plan, mixed-use community located less than a five minute walk from the Kipling Subway, and Concert Properties' second master-plan community in Ontario, Village Gate West. Phase Two broke ground in 2019 and includes a condominium and rental building. The latter is the first project approved by the City of Toronto's Open Door Affordable Housing program. Kip Three is expected to break ground in 2024.

Brian McCauley named President & CEO after 23 years with the company. David Podmore assumes role of Chair & Co-Founder. 

Achieving self-management in October 2018, self-management had been a long-term objective. With four communities (three in BC and one in Ontario as of 2023), Tapestry continues to meet the refined demands of today’s seniors.

Capital Park, Concert Properties' sixth master-plan community and first in Victoria, breaks ground on a six-acre site adjacent to the BC Legislature. The mixed-used co-development with partner Jawl Properties will reshape the face of Victoria, and incorporates 179 rental and condominium homes, 240,000 sq. ft. of LEED Platinum office space, 17,000 sq. ft. of retail space, pedestrian friendly plazas, parkettes, courtyards, water features and original public art.

Concert celebrates its thirtieth year in operation by giving back to the communities where we live, work and play. Concert staff and Tapestry residents raise $110,000 for Covenant house to support homeless youth and $150,000 for cancer research through the Ride to Conquer Cancer. over $350,000 is raised to support trades training across Canada.
 

Construction begins on Concert Properties' seventh master-plan community in The Heart of Burquitlam, a unique partnership with the City of Coquitlam and the YMCA. This transit-oriented, mixed-use master-plan community will result in a 60,000 sq. ft. YMCA family recreation facility, a 2.5 acre expansion of Cottonwood park, a new Community Police Station, a new park-and-ride facility, rental housing and condominium homes. Concert Properties has proposed 100 affordable rental suites through partnership with the City of Coquitlam, BC Housing, 43 Housing Society and CMHC.

CREC Commercial Fund LP acquires a Montreal distribution centre (with L'Oreal Canada the primary tenant), further expanding Concert Properties’ reach across Canada.

Concert Properties opens the doors on its first active aging community in Victoria and fourth across the country.

David Podmore renamed President & CEO. Continues position as Chair of Concert Properties and Concert Infrastructure.

Concert Properties celebrates the opening of its newest purpose-built rental building, 55One. Located at 551 Emerson Street in Coquitlam, BC, the 308-suite tower offers 100 affordable suites.

David Podmore, OBC was joined by guest speakers Premier David Eby, Minister Ravi Kahlon, Mayor Richard Stewart and the CEO of 43 Housing Society and SHARE Family & Community Services Society Claire MacLean, each reflecting the government, industry and not-for-profit organization that helped make this project a reality.

Christine Bergeron joins Concert Properties as President & CEO.

“Concert Properties has an impressive reputation, grounded by a culture and people-first values that resonate with me, and I am inspired by the company’s vision of building resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities." - Christine Bergeron

David Podmore, OBC resumes position of Co-Founder and Chair of Concert Properties and Concert Infrastructure.