Sen̓áḵw (Squamish Nation) | 11 Towers | 171m | 58fl | U/C

[whatnext]

I searched and couldn't find a thread on this. I remmeber it was discussed here somewhere a long time ago, but it looks like the Squamish are finally getting ready to move forward. Great to see this will likely be rental, a smart decision that will ensure long-term, stable cash flow for them.

The Squamish Nation plans a massive housing project encompassing as many as 3,000 apartments on prime land next to a Vancouver city park, marking the first large-scale urban development by an Indigenous group in Canada.

The ambitious project next to the Burrard Bridge and Vanier Park on the False Creek waterfront in central Vancouver would occupy the last of their reserve land in the city. It is likely to spark controversy in the tony Kitsilano neighbourhood nearby, where in recent weeks residents have been protesting the development of a couple of low-rise apartment buildings.

Development of so many apartments, which the Squamish are considering restricting to all rental, could help Vancouver alleviate its housing crisis, but the city does not have jurisdiction over the Squamish land.

As a result, the city will have little legal authority over the project, unlike the relationship the city will have with two other Indigenous-led megaprojects in a more long-term roll out. The Jericho lands in the west and Heather lands in central Vancouver are being developed jointly by the federal government and a consortium of the three local First Nations...

....Squamish leaders are favouring the idea of building all rental apartments in the project, he said. That’s not decided, though. The development, which could potentially be almost the same size as the Little Mountain housing site in central Vancouver, would also include commercial spaces, public squares and arts spaces, he said.

Khelselim said the council doesn’t want to name the developer partner yet, but that the company was chosen from five proposals after the nation asked 16 local builders to apply.

He did confirm that the Aquilinis, the powerhouse local family-run developers who have developed strong relationships and built projects for both the Tsleil-waututh and Tsawwassen bands, are not the partners.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/cana...velopment-for/

[Vin]

Let's hope for some progressive Squamish Nation leaders to speed up this development. I wouldn't consider Kitsilano "tony" in its current state. Expensive place but rather run-down or mediocre at best, as compared to the rest of the world.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

Let's hope for some progressive Squamish Nation leaders to speed up this development. I wouldn't consider Kitsilano "tony" in its current state. Expensive place but rather run-down or mediocre at best, as compared to the rest of the world.

Your comment was appropriate until you threw that hyperbole in.

I hope this development turns out as planned, though a lot of these first nations/federal government plans are slower than traditional local development.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Your comment was appropriate until you threw that hyperbole in.

I hope this development turns out as planned, though a lot of these first nations/federal government plans are slower than traditional local development.

If I'm reading it correctly, the Feds have no stake or say in this, unlike Jericho or the Heather lands. The Squamish are doing it on their own.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Great news. That part of the seawall's been about as useful as kosher bacon.

I wonder if this'll affect the streetcar plan?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Your comment was appropriate until you threw that hyperbole in.

I hope this development turns out as planned, though a lot of these first nations/federal government plans are slower than traditional local development.

Obviously your standard of a plush, fashionably wealthy neighbourhood is very different from mine. Let's agree to disagree on that.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by whatnext

If I'm reading it correctly, the Feds have no stake or say in this, unlike Jericho or the Heather lands. The Squamish are doing it on their own.

I love it when Nimbys have no say in something like this. Let's hope for something more creative in the future development of this area.

[officedweller]

Here's the old rendering from 2010 showing the site layout:


https://www.kitsilano.ca/2010/05/22/...urrard-bridge/


https://www.kitsilano.ca/2010/05/22/...urrard-bridge/

[jlousa]

Originally Posted by Vin

I love it when Nimbys have no say in something like this. Let's hope for something more creative in the future development of this area.

Citizens not having a say in things will not lead to anything better, As much as we complain about nimbies they ultimately lead to a better city. All the best cities to live in have strong citizen voices. Sure it slows things down and adds costs, but the alternatively is evern worse.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Here's the old rendering from 2010 showing the site layout:


https://www.kitsilano.ca/2010/05/22/...urrard-bridge/

Interesting. For some reason I was thinking the bulk of the development was on the other side of the bridge. Look for some deals on units at Harbour Cove once this picks up steam, that's a lot of construction to live with! Given the proximity to Concord's holding at the Molson site, what are the chances they are the development partner?

[SpongeG]

it's more granville island than kitsilano.

So without city restrictions are they still under the strict height limits?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Given the proximity to Concord's holding at the Molson site, what are the chances they are the development partner?

Concord would certainly be arguing for more density on the Molson site to be "in context" with the neighboring Squamish project.

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

it's more granville island than kitsilano.

So without city restrictions are they still under the strict height limits?

https://vancouver.ca/home-property-d...cted-view.aspx

Not according to this.

[Feathered Friend]

Kitsilano residents hope First Nation will consult them on massive development plan
BY MARTIN MACMAHON AND HANA MAE NASSAR

Posted Apr 10, 2019 11:20 am PDT Last Updated Apr 10, 2019 at 11:28 am PDT

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Imagine three thousand apartment units built right by your neighbourhood.

Groups in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood are bracing for that reality as the Squamish Nation plans a massive development...

Larry Benge with the West Kitsilano Residents Association won’t go so far as to say the First Nation is obliged to consult with people who live in the surrounding area, but he’s hopeful it will offer people in the area a chance to have their say about this project, which could introduce thousands of people to neighbourhoods just south of the Burrard Street Bridge.

“We, on the other hand, are people who live here already in the surrounding neighbourhoods — not that the Squamish don’t live here already, they’ve been here for thousands of years. Hopefully there’ll be some back-and-forth in discussions of it and we’ll keep an eye on it and see what develops.”

https://www.citynews1130.com/2019/04...elopment-plan/

As one might expect, that last quote is making the rounds on social media.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Citizens not having a say in things will not lead to anything better, As much as we complain about nimbies they ultimately lead to a better city. All the best cities to live in have strong citizen voices. Sure it slows things down and adds costs, but the alternatively is evern worse.

Everything needs moderation. What we have today is bordering extremism. Take the example of that rejected project in Chinatown.

The best cities all started without nimbyism, or with limited voice of the citizenry. Authoritative regimes were able to carve out beautiful parklands, boulevards, grandoise structures which still exist today. Extreme Nimbyism eventually leads to progress and creativity slowing down, and eventually allowing others to catch up and exceed the pace of creative development. Nimbyism only works with objective, far-sighted, and level-headed citizens, not like many of the closed minded, selfish and entitled residents we have here. These people live with a "siege mentality" and are instrumental in handicapping the creative voice of the city.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

it's more granville island than kitsilano.

So without city restrictions are they still under the strict height limits?

Hope not

Here's an awesome chance for the Squamish Nation to leave a legacy: plant an 80 storey here would be ideal.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

https://www.citynews1130.com/2019/04...elopment-plan/

As one might expect, that last quote is making the rounds on social media.

LOL, that's hilarious.

I'm sure the overentitled residents of Kits Point are wetting themselves in frustration over the fact that no amount of their bitching and whining can influence what the Squamish want to develop. Never have so few been able to twist city policy to get their own way.

[logan5]

There's a pretty wide buffer between this development and Kits, and in fact, this development is happening in Fairview, an entirely different neighbourhood. No "consultation" required.

I put consultation in quotation marks because consultation is code for "you're going to do everything our way". I hope they are politely asked to talk to the hand.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Citizens not having a say in things will not lead to anything better, As much as we complain about nimbies they ultimately lead to a better city. All the best cities to live in have strong citizen voices. Sure it slows things down and adds costs, but the alternatively is evern worse.

Yes, exactly. Obviously there are some extreme NIMBYs who want nothing to change, but they don't generally get their way (except in the District of North Van). More often it's people who have legitimate concerns, and sometimes the City makes a developer change a proposal based on those concerns. It's a compromise, often a reasonable one.

Anyways, it's not like Vancouver has particularly strong community opposition to projects compared to many other cities in North America. Clearly the City of Vancouver hasn't been hindered from densifying due to citizen opposition. It's more densely populated than the City of Amsterdam or Copenhagen, let alone other Canadian cities...

[logan5]

All of our densification is concentrated in tower clusters on former parking lots and industrial land, precisely because of nimby's. The City has left neighbourhoods mostly untouched. People don't even want row-houses built in their neighbourhood (see Marpole). As it stands now, nimby's have way too much power, and the result is a land use policy that can't meet the needs and demands of the local population.