Indigenous-led Jericho Lands housing proposal endorsed by Vancouver council

An Indigenous-ledproposal to build a mixed-use development on Vancouver's Jericho Lands passed its latest hurdle after a policy statement was approved by city council on Wednesday.

TheJericho Lands proposalfirst revealed in 2021afterwork began in 2016 includes a large housing project featuring dozens of buildings, a mix of community centres, park land and wilderness spaces, along withpotential for a SkyTrain station if theMillennium Line is extendedto the University of British Columbia.

It's set to be built over 30 years on a 36.4-hectaresite in West Point Grey, an upscale neighbourhood of around 13,000 people, bounded byWest 4th Avenue, Highbury Street, West 8th Avenue and Discovery Street.

The project, which had begun public consultations last year, would more than double the area's population.Vancouver councillorsunanimously approvedthe policy statementanddevelopers will now move towardcreating an official development plan and applying for rezoning permits.

The Jericho Lands area is currently home to a former garrison, several dozen homes leased to military families, and a private school. The site itself is owned by the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations whose unceded territories Vancouver is built on in partnership with the Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation.

Squamish Nation spokesperson Khelsilemsaid in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the latest approval constituted a "historic and monumental moment in the history of Vancouverand for the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples."

The approval of the policy statement was also praised by B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, who has pushed municipalities to add more housing densityas part of provincial targets.

Around 20 per cent of the housing on the site approximately 2,600 units will be set aside for social housing, with a further 1,300 units for secured-market and below-market rental housing.

The projectis called y almx (ee-yal-mugh) in the hnqminm language, and Iy lmexw (i-yal-mugh) in the Squamish language.

Advocacy group Abundant Housing Vancouver praised the development proposal.

"When it's done it will be one of the best neighbourhoods in the city,"Abundant Housing director Peter Waldkirch said in a statement. "In the 2050s, people will be asking why we don't have more neighbourhoods like it."

The Jericho Coalition, a group of Point Grey residents,have previously spokenout against the proposal. Over 30 people signed up to speak at Wednesday's council meeting, nearly all in opposition.

"Despite the emphasis on consultation, very little input from the working group was allowed to influence the proponents' plan," saidSusan Fisher, who opposed the project.

"The proposal was developed in isolation from, perhaps even in contradiction to, concerns that were expressed throughout the community."

Vancouver councillors, however, said the proposal satisfied many of the city's needs around transit-adjacent developments, climate goals and housing densification.

"It's a historic project," said OneCity Coun. Christine Boyle. "I'm excited about these badly needed homes in a beautiful neighbourhood."