Plans announced in April for a 3,000-unit development on First Nations-owned lands in Kitsilano have doubled in scale and now feature a 56-storey signature tower. An updated version of the Senakw development envisions the transformation of Squamish Nation traditional lands south of the Burrard Street Bridge into a highrise neighbourhood with 11 residential towers and 6,000 homes.

View of the multi-tower development from the Burrard Street Bridge, image via Revery Architecture

Expected to cost billions, the 4.7-hectare project would be one of the largest First Nations projects in Canada if realized in its current form. The Squamish Nation will decide in a December referendum whether to split profits with Vancouver developer Westbank, which would be responsible for the buildout of the project.

The proposed 56-storey tower, image via Revery Architecture

Since the project is located on federal reserve land, the property is not subject to local zoning bylaws, limiting the City of Vancouver to an observer role. The Senakw development does not need the City's approval to forge ahead, meaning shovels could be in the ground much quicker than traditional development proposals.

The towers have been designed without podiums, image via Revery Architecture

Plans eschew the City's minimum parking standards by providing spaces for only ten percent of the units, passing on the savings to residents. The typical podium and tower design that dominates Vancouver has also been disregarded. The towers instead rise from small footprints, freeing up the ground level for parkland and public spaces. The development would be comprised mostly of rental units to address a severe lack of affordable housing in the city.

The space below the Burrard Street Bridge will be activated by recreational opportunities, image via Revery Architecture

The City would still have to hook up the development to water, sewer and waste services, but taxes collected by the Squamish will cover these costs long term.

Revery Architecture remains in the design stage, and the nation has promised to consult with the public on the plan as it progresses. It could start construction as early as 2021 and finish work in just five years.

Additional information and images can be found in our Database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.