Set along the western edge of Vancouver in the heart of Coast Salish territory, the Marine Drive Townhomes represent a turning point in the story of Indigenous-led development in British Columbia. This project, led solely by the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (MST), marks the first time the three Nations are advancing a major real estate initiative without a private-sector partner. Located at 4165–4195 Marine Drive, the site will be transformed into three three-storey buildings featuring approximately 150 townhomes, each grounded in a deep respect for place, culture, and community.
More than a residential proposal, the Marine Drive project is a living expression of self-determination. Its form draws directly from traditional MST artforms, flowing lines that evoke the contours of salmon and orca, sacred creatures in coastal lore. Working with cultural language keepers, the development team is crafting an Indigenous name for the project, ensuring that its identity speaks not only to the land it occupies, but to the legacy it honors. The architecture balances contemporary design with sustainable materials and detailing that reflect both modern aspirations and ancient teachings.
Equally thoughtful is the landscape design: green terraces are woven into the site’s natural slope, while native, edible, and medicinal plantings form ecological corridors and gathering gardens. Open spaces throughout the site are designed to encourage connection, among residents, between families, and across generations. The project is also a response to the district’s call for “missing-middle” housing: it aligns with West Vancouver’s Official Community Plan, which encourages denser, transit-oriented living along Marine Drive.
The development process has been grounded in meaningful community engagement. Public consultations held in late 2021 and spring 2022 guided the vision, centering feedback around four core themes: architectural expression, cultural storytelling, environmental stewardship, and the creation of shared social space. Still in its early zoning phase, the Marine Drive Townhomes embody a new era, where Indigenous leadership shapes not just land use, but legacy. Here, architecture becomes a vessel for memory, land becomes an inheritance retold, and housing becomes a way forward.
