First announced in 2019, the nation continues to move forward with Sen̓áḵw housing development. It will see around 6,000 homes, built on 11 acres of land, on either side of the southern end of the Burrard Street Bridge by 2027. A road, Vanier Park Lane, will be constructed as part of the project, crossing the eastern edge of the park to provide access to the development. But the group No Sen̓áḵw Roadway says the road is outside the boundaries of the Sen̓áḵw site. “Let’s insist that the City of Vancouver does not sacrifice Vanier Park land, but requires the developer to use land within their property boundaries to access the site,” the group says on its website. Alex Currie, left, and Jeremy Braude, right, take part in a rally to protest an access road to be built through Vancouver’s Vanier Park on Saturday. The road is part of the Squamish Nation’s Sen̓áḵw residential development at the end of the Burrard Street Bridge. (Janella Hamilton/CBC) In 2003, the Federal Court of Canada returned control of a portion of the original 80-hectare reserve land in that area to the Squamish Nation, meaning the project does not need city approval to proceed. This year, the city agreed to connect the buildings with infrastructure to make them sustainable. He says the construction of the road will result in the loss of about 4,000 square meters of parkland and 2,000 square meters of forest. The park as a whole has a size of 169,500 meters. Map of Squamish Nation land around the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge. (City of Vancouver) People against the access road also say the decision was made without public consultation. The rally drew a crowd of about 100 people, including city councilor and mayoral candidate Colleen Hardwick. “It was a failure on the part of many different levels of government … that there wasn’t proper consultation about this loss of green,” Hardwick said. “We’re talking about losing half an acre of green space, while we’re thinking of adding 10,000 residents next door.” Large turnout of concerned citizens against building a road through Vanier Park. The people have spoken and we must listen! Photo of me & Jeremy from pic.twitter.com/1bf25onQLW —@parksboardfacts While much of the frustration has been directed at the city of Vancouver and the park board, the city says it has no jurisdiction over the decision. The federal government owns Vanier Park, but it is under a long-term lease with the City of Vancouver until 2064. In late July, the federal government granted the Sen̓áḵw project permission to build the road, after “due diligence and consideration .” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is photographed with Squamish Nation member Khelsilem during a ceremony at the Squamish-led Sen̓áḵw housing development on September 6. The federal government has given the nation a loan to help with the project. (Ben Nelms/CBC) “The government is committed to making the most informed decisions that benefit all stakeholders and Canadians,” a Public Services and Procurement Canada spokesperson said in a statement. No public consultation is required for this type of permit, according to the spokesperson. However, many residents would like to see the permit revoked. The group has proposed creating direct access to the site via existing streets such as Chestnut Street, First Avenue and Fir Street. Kitsilano resident Alex Curry supports the development project and the nation’s right to pursue economic opportunities, but says it shouldn’t encroach on the park’s public space. “They should do what they want to do on their own property. They should not try to annex parks next door [the project] because they themselves have limited space,” he said. CBC News reached out to the Squamish Nation for comment, but they declined to provide one by press time.
“bad government”
Jeremy Braude has lived near the park for the past 28 years. He says the park feels like part of his home. Braude agrees the development is an important project to bring much-needed rental housing to Vancouver, but says the road is unnecessary and imposed on the public. “It’s bad government,” Broad said. “I think the PR opportunities … for this project are being lost. Unfortunately. There’s a lot of goodwill here, but it’s being lost because of this bad idea.” Braude says 371 people have signed an online petition against the new road. But with planning permission already granted, the City of Vancouver says it will work with “residents on how best to integrate potential transportation changes into the surrounding community.”
