First Nations plan 5,000 homes and film studio next to BCIT Burnaby

On Friday, November 19, the plans were unveiled by Musqueam Indian Band, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and Aquilini Development.

 

Their plan details how they will transform the development site immediately west of the BCIT campus – on the southwest corner of Willingdon Avenue and Canada Way on shared Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh territory – into a community of close to 5,000 housing units, a massive film studio, and a childcare center.

 

Through artwork, native plants, a medicine garden, and wayfinding signage in both h?n?q??min??m? and English – the entire design of the site will incorporate elements inspired by the nations’ culture and history.

 

At the heart of the development, there will be a Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh cultural centre and an outdoor hearth – a gathering place for the nations and the local community.

 

“Our vision for the Willingdon Lands is to create a contemporary Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh urban village that provides a cultural experience, is interconnected with nature, and allows us to tell our stories through placemaking and design,” said Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow in a release.

“This is an opportunity for us to continue our legacy as land developers and economic forces within the modern landscape. With this project, we will continue to advance reconciliation and accommodation and create a positive legacy for future generations.”

A key component of the master plan is its connection to the lands and waters.

“The landscaping will use native plants, trees will be selected for longevity and shade, gardens will feature edible and medicinal plants and rain gardens will naturally capture stormwater,” reads the release.

The project also plans to daylight, or unbury and restore, part of Summer Creek to help bring the waterway back to its natural state.

“Storytelling is an integral part of Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh oral tradition and culture,” said Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief Jen Thomas in a release.

“In reimagining this site, we wanted to embed storytelling into the space in ways both big and small – from the film studio, the cultural centre and the community hearth to the use of native plants, h?n?q??min??m? placenames and educational signage.”

The development will include 5,000 residential units that will have wide appeal.

The variety of housing forms is a direct response to the recommendations made by the Mayor’s Task Force on Community Housing in Burnaby, which called for the creation of sustainable and accessible communities plus an increase of affordable rental housing.

Housing types will include leasehold strata, market rental, moderate-income rental, affordable rental, and live-work units.