The Grand Vision of Vancouver's Sprawling Jericho Lands Project

In Vancouver, the ambitious Jericho Lands project stands as one of the most extensive and intricate real estate developments to date.  Expected to span a vast 90 acres, this transformative endeavor is set to host a staggering 13,000 homes, eclipsing projects like Oakridge and Sen̓áḵw in terms of scale. 

The project is a collaborative effort involving three First Nations groups, MST Development Corporation, and the Government of Canada through Canada Lands Company.  Nestled within the West Point Grey neighborhood, the land has a storied history, formerly belonging to the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh families.

The concept of redeveloping Jericho Lands was initiated in 2011, when the provincial government engaged Altus Group to evaluate its 38-acre holdings.  Subsequently, Coriolis Consulting was brought in to assess the development potential.  In 2014, the federal government divested its 52-acre stake to the three First Nations and Canada Lands Company for $237 million, with MST and CLC sharing ownership.  The remaining 38 acres were acquired by MST from the Province in 2016 for $480 million.

Notably, the land, not being a part of a reserve, fell under local government jurisdiction.  In response, the City of Vancouver launched the Jericho Lands planning program in 2018 to create a comprehensive policy statement for guiding the project.

A governance structure was established as part of the joint venture, composed of leaders from the three First Nations and the CLC, resembling a board of directors.  Urban Strategies, a Toronto-based design and planning firm, was enlisted to develop the project under the guidance of the City of Vancouver.

The project acknowledges concerns from local groups about heights and densities, particularly the Jericho Coalition, who advocate for "human scale design," favouring low-rise and mid-rise buildings over high-rise towers.  Regarding the density of the area, the project maintains a floor space ratio of 3.5, consistent with other transit-oriented projects in Metro Vancouver.

The plan allocates approximately 900,000 sq. ft for retail and office space, schools, childcare facilities, light industrial areas, and hotels.  It aims to be a bustling employment hub in addition to a residential community, embracing a variety of building forms, from low-rise to high-rise.

Revised concept plans revealed the introduction of three striking 49-storey "Sentinel" towers, set close to the future Jericho Lands Skytrain Station of the Broadway Skytrain Station.  The project is expected to unfold gradually over the next 25 to 30 years, with the phasing intricately tied to the development of the Jericho Lands Skytrain Station and subsequent rezoning processes.

The team anticipates the policy statement will receive due consideration from Vancouver City Council before the year end 2023, setting the stage for the transformation of the Jericho Lands.

Read the full article here by Howard Chai: https://storeys.com/vancouver-jericho-lands-mst-clc