While it would be pretty sweet if the Squamish did a smaller version of the Walled City of Kowloon, they have to find the right balance to maximize the return. 3,000 units could be right, but one hopes they'll push it up further. From a public policy perspective (if maybe not a financial one), 8,000-10,000 people living in that area, with rich amenities and available commercial space, that would be another pole in Vancouver and would have great knock-on effects. Namely, such a development could well force a vital re-think of the current 1990s era planning approach that dominates the region, break the boomers' vice-grip on maintaining the artificial land shortage, with the result of restoring the pre-planning 'build everywhere' ethos so that rents can get back to tracking incomes. With boomers starting to die off, dam could break if there's a project to rally round, who knows?
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