Located on the edge of UBC’s east part of campus in the University Endowment Lands is lelǝḿ, a relatively new development built by the Musqueam Capital Corporation.
The 8.7 hectare development currently consists of several apartment buildings with a plaza in the centre surrounded by street-level shops, and hopefully soon, the lelǝḿ community centre.
Although construction of the community centre finished in the summer 2024, it still hasn’t opened to the public. In summer 2024, an advertised grand opening including a grand unveiling and traditional blessing ceremony was scheduled for July 18, but never materialized.
Before the community centre can open, a qualified person is needed to operate it, said a spokesperson with the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs. Once that person is found, the centre will be closer to opening to the public.
“No date has been set for opening the facility to the public,” the spokesperson said. “We are hoping to share more soon.”
One lelǝḿ resident told The Campus Resident she had reached out to the Musqueam Capital Corporation and the University Endowment Lands (UEL) administration. Only after repeated inquiries did she receive a response via email in late May from a UEL administrator, who said they are targeting to open the centre to the public this summer. As of May 28, no official announcement has been made.
The resident said trying to get information has been “a rather frustrating experience”.
When it opens to the public, the community centre will have 15,000 square feet of space for the community to gather. This includes meeting spaces, a fitness centre, and a daycare facility which is currently under construction on a site immediately south of the community centre.
“Primary services will focus on a fitness centre, studio-based fitness classes such as yoga and step, recreational sports, camps, special events, and any other programming as requested or needed by the community,” the spokesperson said. There will also be space available for community events or event rental.
All residents of lelǝḿ and visitors to the area will be able to access and use the facility. It is located at 5490 Shortcut Road, within the lelǝḿ development. The UEL is responsible for the community centre’s long-term programming, operation, and maintenance. Nearly 4,000 people currently live on UEL lands, which are located on Point Grey between the city of Vancouver and UBC.
UNA communications manager Glenda Ollero said the UNA will not be a part of running the community centre, and that there aren’t any plans for collaboration between the UNA and lelǝḿ’s community centre at the present time.
Meanwhile, development in lelǝḿ continues with plans for more housing. Last September, the provincial government approved an amendment application by developer Townline Developments Inc. for an increase in residential density on vacant parcels of land in lelǝḿ where construction work has yet to begin.
Previous plans for the parcels of land included a variety of townhouses and four to six-storey apartment buildings, plus two 18-storey towers. The approved plan now allows for a substantial increase in density with five residential towers ranging from 22 to 34 storeys, up to a maximum height of 107 metres. If built, it would result in an additional 31,150 square metres from the 55,000 square metres of housing previously allowed – an increase of 57 percent.
AMIE BERNAERDT IS A THIRD YEAR STUDENT AT UBC, MAJORING IN CREATIVE WRITING AND ANTHROPOLOGY. SHE LIVES IN WESBROOK PLACE.