The Musqueam First Nation’s protests over a Marpole condominium project could threaten developer confidence to invest in projects, Century Group president Sean Hodgins told Business in Vancouver June 8.
Construction work revealed an ancient burial ground and the Musqueam have succeeded in having all work stopped.
Costs from the stoppage are racking up and prompted Hodgins to write an open letter to Mayor Gregor Robertson and Premier Christy Clark.
He blames government inaction for Century Group’s project being at a standstill.
“We are asking you both for real action,” he wrote in his letter. “Without action the protests will escalate, our expenses and losses will mount and public confidence in government’s respect for private property and First Nations’ rights … will be irreparably compromised.”
Following Hodgins’ letter, the provincial government, on June 8, amended Century Group’s heritage investigation permit to no longer allow any further alteration of the site and requires that the site be returned as close as possible to its original condition.
Business in Vancouver has reported on Musqueam protests over what they say is a project that will destroy a 4,000-year-old native village and burial site.
“Government has to decide if they want to designate the site under the Heritage Conservation Act and compensate us for the value of the land, they should do it,” Hodgins told BIV. “Or they should stand by the permits and let us go forward.”
The project is on land that Vancouver’s Hackett family has long owned. The Hacketts decided to redevelop the site to include affordable housing – something that the Hacketts believe is in scarce supply.
The City of Vancouver issued a development permit in January 2011 even though it knew, or should have known, according to Hodgins, that the land was rich in cultural deposits that are a legacy of First Nations use of the site.
Century Group also worked with the province for permits under the provincial Heritage Conservation Act to undertake an archeological investigation because the city’s development permit approved an underground parking lot.
The province issued those permits in December 2011.
“We have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on development and archeological work, over and above the other more typical costs of development,” Hodgins said.
