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by emptybits·2y ago·view on hn ↗
Our provincial and city governments are shuffling around papers, probably to some benefit, but the Senakw development is most interesting recent change to watch IMO.[1]

The Squamish Nation's bet is essentially: economics (demand) should drive development, not legacy urban planning and legacy zoning and bylaws.

This is testing an important hypothesis IMO. It's 10 acres of prime downtown real estate in one of the most expensive markets in the world. So if this wasn't self-governed indigenous land, the experiment would never be allowed to happen.

A cluster of 11 towers, some over 50 storeys... A good outcome is not guaranteed, so grab your popcorn, Vancouver. My fingers are crossed for them.

[1] https://senakw.com/vision

1 comments
What negative outcomes do you foresee? Surely they will build the first tower, ensure it is adequately utilized, then build the next one etc?
Nimbys in the neighbourhood have their usual negative predictions ... traffic will be worse, parking will be impossible, precious views will be lost, transit will become strained, etc. This is all possible. The latter is, I think, solvable.

OTOH, thousands of much-needed rental homes will become available in the center of the city. That positive outcome seems highly likely.