New details are available on the redevelopment of the Heather Lands on Vancouver’s west side — a 21-acre site located between West 33rd Avenue and 37th Avenue at Heather Street.
Canada Lands Company and the MST Development Corporation plan to transform the former federal government-owned site into a mixed-use community with approximately 2,600 homes, including a mix of social housing, market and non-market rental, and strata condominiums.
Highlights of the Heather Lands plan include:
Housing
- 1,672 market residential units
- 400 secured market rental units, including 100 moderate income rental units
- approximately 540 social housing units
- maximum tower heights of 92.5 metres (304 ft.) with the tallest tower at 28 storeys.
Commercial
- 62,287 sq. ft. of retail space
- 62,994 sq. ft. of office space
Amenities
- A 2,095 sq. m (22,549 sq. ft.) Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh (MST) Cultural Centre
- A 74-space childcare facility
- A new Conseil Scolaire Francophone (CSF) French elementary school
- Four acres of park and open space
Renderings: Heather Lands rezoning application
The architect on the Heather Lands is DIALOG, who states “through urban design, landscape, public art, architecture and the signature MST Cultural Centre, the Heather Lands will connect people to the traditions of the MST (Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.”
The new neighbourhood will be constructed in five phases, with first phase situated on West 35th Avenue at Manson Street. The development has been in the works since 2018.
The development is one of three high-profile, Indigenous-led projects currently in the planning process in Metro Vancouver.
The Squamish Nation has partnered with Westbank Corp. to build up to 6,000 homes — most of them rental — on their land adjacent to the Burrard Street Bridge.
Further west, the MST Development Corporation and Canada Lands Company are working with the City of Vancouver on the future of the Jericho Lands.
