The Musqueam Community Rental Complex (MCRC) is a multi-family affordable housing project located at 6390 Crown Place, Crown Place in Musqueam Reserve. The project will create 37 new rental units for Musqueam members and their families, and a new daycare centre for up to 28 children.

This development presents Musqueam with an historic opportunity to help ease overcrowding, welcome home Musqueam members living away from home and continue our Musqueam cultural teachings and traditions in our community.

Addressing housing needs

The MCRC housing project addresses Musqueam’s Comprehensive Community Plan Objective #2: Addressing Our Housing Needs, which includes Actions 4) Build Member Housing and 5) Build Higher Density Housing.

Community Update 2023

In spring 2023, the MCRC project team released a community update newsletter to share the new project design and inform community members about the permitting process.

The newsletter was mailed out to households off reserve and delivered to households on reserve. This section of the website includes the same update as the newsletter, and some additional details that we couldn’t fit into the newsletter.

Click here to read the spring 2023 community update newsletter (PDF)

After technical review, site assessments and community engagement, and in-line with the Land Use Plan (LUP) 2014, and the Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP) 2018 designated for multi-family, Musqueam Council selected 6390 Crown Place (Lot 95) for the MCRC. Currently the site has four buildings, including the old gymnasium, that are no longer structurally fit for use.

The design follows best practices for storm water management, protecting the proposed development from flooding, protecting the creek and not exposing neighbours to a risk of flooding.

What has changed?

The original design concepts contemplated up to 74 units. After reviewing feedback from the community survey in 2020, community engagement sessions in 2019-2021, and considering input from the neighbours, the proposed density was reduced to a total of 37 units. The daycare will still have space for 28 children.

Additional design changes to reflect community feedback include increased use of colours to reflect Musqueam sunset theme, using traditional Musqueam weaving patterns in balcony grates and sun shades, changes to window orientation to increase privacy for neighbours, and roof overhangs for rain protection and exterior drainage.

See the pages below for more details about the community engagement throughout the project:

• Community Engagement 2021 – including selecting a site design concept
• Community Engagement 2020 – including community input on site design concepts

Next steps

hay ce:p q̓ə, thank you to all community members who have participated in this project since it began in 2018. The MCRC Project Team is excited to continue working to bring Musqueam members home and support our on-reserve community to feel informed, comfortable, and excited about the project.

Opportunities to learn more

The MCRC Project Team will be hosting an open house. All community members are invited to learn more about the new design and ask any questions you might have.

When: June 19, 2023
Where: Cultural Centre
Time: 5:30-7:30pm

You can also find us at an info booth at Musqueam’s Indigenous Day celebration!

When: Wednesday June 21, 2023
Where: Musqueam Reserve
Time: 11am-2:30pm

For members who cannot attend the open house or info booth in person, all of the information that will be shared is also provided on this website. Please use the quick links and pages to explore the information.

If you’d like more information or have any questions or concerns, please contact Grace Ulu (MIB Housing Manager) at 604-364-7589.

Permitting process

The MCRC will be the first major project to be developed on reserve under Musqueam Land Code. The project is now following the development procedure outlined in the Musqueam Subdivision, Development, and Servicing Law. Any questions about the development process can be directed to Kim Guerin (MIB Lands Governance Officer) at [email protected].

Recent steps in the permitting process:

• September 22, 2022 – Development Permit with updated design was re-submitted to MIB Lands Department for review and presentation to Land Code Committee.
• October 4, 2022 – Land Code Committee recommendation to Council that the Project move into the permitting phase.
• October 17, 2022 – Musqueam Council approved the Project in Principle. Musqueam Council required a report back to community on the project before proceeding.
• March 20, 2023 – Land Code Committee recommended the Development Permit to Council for their review and decision.

The next step for the MCRC Project is for Council to review and approve the Development Permit.

What is a development permit?

A development permit is the first permit in a series of permits required for the project. All of these permits are issued by Musqueam Indian Band, as per the lands governance authority set out in the Musqueam Land Code. A development permit is for approving the overall site layout and plans (architecture, landscaping, engineering, and civil). A development permit does not allow any construction to occur.

The development permit is valid for 12 months from the date it is issued. During this time the applicant will submit detailed plans for further design confirmation, engineering and safety review, servicing agreement, and approvals.

Before any construction begins, the project will require a building permit. No clearing, site preparation, construction, or other work will occur on the site until the building permit is issued by Musqueam Council.