The Kitsilano (Senakw) project is one of the key projects being incubated at our Project Negotiations & Land Development department.  Just under 10 acres of Squamish Nation reserve land in Vancouver was considered by membership in April 2010 to lease over 1.8 million square feet of commercial and residential space.

This project would include acceptance by membership to accommodate leasing, with construction of the leasehold space to be build over a phased period spanning 7 years.  Benefits to membership would include leasehold revenue, after construction costs, of over $3 million annually.  On April 8, band members voted 991-196 in favor of designating the 8.67-acre parcel for lease and development.

As Bob Mackin reports in 24 Hours, Mayor Gregor Robertson signed an “historic” agreement with the Squamish Nation Monday May 17 at city hall.  The memorandum of understanding and protocol agreement will cover economic and environmental issues to the band’s desire to capitalize on land it owns around the south end of the Burrard Bridge.

“They’ve got big plans for development,” Robertson told 24 hours. “We’ll take that as it comes. This is about committing to a stronger partnership … to work through issues like development.

To read Bob Mackin’s article in 24 Hours click here

The Memorandum of Understanding can be viewed at the City of Vancouver website

Below are two videos explaining the Senakw Designation Vote posted July 2009: