`Ambitious` proposal still in its early stages

The Squamish First Nation’s proposed multimillion-dollar development in the heart of Vancouver will include a mix of apartments, condos and office towers at the south end of the Burrard Bridge.

Nothing’s been finalized, but the towers could be as high as 35 storeys, according to renderings obtained by The Vancouver Sun, potentially changing the city skyline, altering traffic flow and reducing urban green space.

The sketches were designed by Kasian Architecture, Design and Planning, the same firm that designed the YVR Airport Canada Line station.

The Squamish would be building on ancestral land that was formerly a fishing village. Since the land is owned by the band and regulated by the federal government, the band does not need to follow city regulations over building height or density the way other land developers do.

Mayor Gregor Robertson’s office has examined the initial designs and said that what the Squamish are proposing is “very ambitious.”

“It is difficult to determine what implications these buildings will have on the urban landscape or public transit at this time because these designs are just illustrative,” said David McLellan, the city’s senior general manager of community services.

“But you can tell that it’s a lot of development when you look at the height of their buildings compared to the buildings around them.”

Squamish leadership will reveal more development details later in the year. The city will be offering advisory groups to provide comments and to encourage the first nations band to work with community members who will be affected by this development, said McLellan.

vluk@vancouversun.com

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