Members of the Squamish Nation have voted overwhelmingly in favour of building approximately 400 new affordable housing units over three locations on the North Shore and in Squamish.
Location 1: Orwell Street tower, North Vancouver
The proposal is for a residential tower where the Nation’s CH’ICH’ÉX̱ WÍ7ḴW village once stood, north of the Phibbs transit Exchange on Orwell Street. It will consist of approximately 280 units, including studios, one, two and three bedrooms. HCMA is working with the Nation on the project, which is in its early design stages. The Squamish Nation says the tower format will allow them to deliver the equivalent of three blocks of low-rise apartment units on one site.
Location 2: Mathias Road, North Vancouver
This affordable housing development will be located next to the Elders Centre on Squamish Nation lands next to the Lions Gate Bridge. It will include 94 units, targeted at independent elders, families and youth. It will include a CO-OP grocery store and a community garden. Urban Arts Architecture is working with the Squamish Nation on the project.
Location 3: Government Road, Squamish
This development will be located on Government Road in Squamish, west of Government Road, between Brackendale and Garibaldi.
The four-storey, modular structure will contain approximately 30 units. DIALOG Architects has recently completed the concept design for the site and construction could begin as early as 2022.
Goal to house every Squamish Nation member within 25 years
The non-profit Hiy̓ám̓ Housing Society was founded in 2019 by the Squamish Nation, with the goal of housing every member of the Squamish Nation within a generation, or 25 years. In addition to three projects approved this week, the society will bring forward three additional sites in 2022. For more information, visit bringsquamishhome.com
The vote is the largest since the Nation voted to approve the Sen̓áḵw Lands development next to the Burrard Street Bridge. That development will add over 6,000 new homes, with a focus on purpose-built rental.
