First Nation inks services agreement for 11 Vancouver towers

May 31, 2022



Senakw towers planned for Vancouver. | Submitted

The Squamish Nation signed a services agreement May 25, 2022 with the City of Vancouver for an 11-tower, 6,000-unit residential project that is the largest First Nation-led development in British Columbia’s history.
The Senakw development will be built in partnership with major B.C. developer Westbank on an 11.7-acre site flanking the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge. It is a giant rental housing project, including 1,200 “affordable homes,” 250 of which are reserved for Squamish Nation members.
Since it’s on Squamish reserve land, the development does not require any approvals from the City of Vancouver.
This may be fortunate for the affordability factor because the city recently passed new building bylaws which, among other significant changes, will require all new homes to have air conditioning.
Squamish Nation council chair Khelsilem (who goes by a single name) said municipalities have often used service agreements to limit development on reserve lands and deny First Nations the ability to generate wealth.
Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart said the agreement moves the project closer to reality.
“It’s a key step in moving this development forward so this provides all the water, utilities, electricity, fire, police services to this community,” he said.
Meanwhile, Metro Vancouver First Nations—led by a development company of Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations—are also forging ahead with the development of social and rental housing on a 20-acre site in South Vancouver. And, Vancouver is considering two additional proposals for mixed use and high-rise towers—mostly condominiums on the 80-acre Jericho Lands in West Point Grey.