First Nation home build doubles in Vancouver

June 22, 2023


Image: FN Build

Three B.C. First Nations, with the approval of the City of Vancouver, have more than doubled the number of homes they will build on a 90-acre site in the city’s Point Grey area.
The Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (MST Nations) and their partner, Canada Lands Company, now plan to complete 13,000 new homes.
This is up from 6,000 rental units when the MTS Nations received a record $1.3 billion loan from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. in 2022.
The massive project will include various household types, community gathering spaces and amenities throughout the neighbourhood, as well as designs that support transit and bike lanes, according to a press release. 
Approximately 2,600 homes will be affordable and social housing, with approximately 1,300 homes designated for moderate-income rental housing. Housing opportunities on the Indigenous-owned land would be limited to leasehold tenure, making home ownership more affordable than freehold. 
Buildings range from eight storeys up to 45 storeys with three “sentinel” buildings at 49 storeys to represent each of the First Nations. 
The project is on former federal military land that was purchased by the MST Nations with funding support from the B.C. government. It is expected to take at least a decade to complete the project.