Squamish band wants to develop land near Burrard Bridge

The Squamish First Nation is planning a massive multi-million-dollar development on the band’s traditional lands at the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge.

Once the Squamish village of Senauq, the land is an undeveloped green space bordered by the Molson Brewery to the southwest, Whyte Avenue and Vanier Park to the north, and False Creek and a row of condominiums to the east.

The Burrard Bridge cuts through the middle of the oddly shaped 11-acre tract, an allowance that Squamish Chief Gibby Jacob said his 3,600-member band intends to uphold.

The development could include a mix of high-density residential and commercial use such as condo and office towers. “We’re looking at creating the highest and best return on the use of our land for our membership, but it hasn’t been clearly defined yet,” he said. “We’re just in the due-diligence phase right now.”

He noted more details will be made public in 10 months to a year. “We still have to go back to our membership with a business plan.”

The band hasn’t determined whether it will be an investor in the development or sell the lease rights. But Jacob wants to maintain most of it for the band’s own development. “It’s time that we move from leasing land to becoming a developer,” he said.

The chief has already identified some band members with direct ties to the village of Senauq. “We still have descendants of the families that come from that village and I’m sure they’d like to, in some form or fashion, have their bloodlines reattached to the land where they come from.”

Some nearby residents, however, would rather see the area kept as an urban green space. “They shouldn’t do it because we’re losing all of the green spots here,” said Kitsilano resident John Van Ingen, 73. “Have trees and a park but not houses.”

It is a refrain that Jacob has apparently heard too often before.

“All the trees outside of our property can stay,” he said jokingly. “It’s quite the thing: The majority of the green spaces still left in Vancouver are where our people used to live. At Stanley Park, our people had several villages in the park and that area has all been kept green. Where the Spanish Banks are, our people had a village there that is now a public beach … Our people have given a lot, irrespective of whether we wanted to or not.”

Adina Rosen, whose home borders the land, said that although she was surprised to hear the forest and grassland would be developed, she respects the wishes and rights of the Squamish. “There’s already a high building there and it’s noisy,” said Rosen. “As long as they keep a path for me so I can go to Granville Island.”

Mayor Gregor Robertson’s office confirmed Tuesday that he had seen a sketch of some possible development for the area a year ago, but has not yet received any formal proposals. Although the Squamish do not require the city’s approval to build on the land, they need city utilities like water and sewers.

On Monday, Jacob signed a memorandum of understanding and protocol agreement with Robertson. The memorandum is not connected to the band’s plans for development under the Burrard Bridge.

tcoyne@vancouversun.com

with files from the Vancouver Courier

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