Navigating the Jericho Lands Development: Key Updates for Our Community

 

As noted in recent communications, we appreciate that there will continue to be questions regarding the future Jericho Lands development and its impact on WPGA. Below are answers to those recently posed in our Q&A forum—thank you to those who submitted questions. If you have further enquiries, please indicate them here. We will provide another update in a future Howl.

Q1: What are the plans for a SkyTrain, and is [the station] under WPGA?

A1: A new SkyTrain station is a proposed component of the broader UBCx transit extension, which will serve the Jericho Lands development. The Jericho Lands Policy Statement is the primary policy framework that guides the preparation and review of rezoning and development permit applications. The Policy Statement (p. 108) notes, “The proposed UBCx SkyTrain alignment and station location are not yet finalized and may be subject to change.”  Funding sources for the transit extension are pending confirmation.

However, the most probable location for the station is near the current 4th Avenue parking lot. The Policy Statement (p. 57, 5.3.12.1) affirms continued operation of West Point Grey Academy during any such development.

Note the planning and execution of the SkyTrain project fall under the jurisdiction of TransLink and provincial authorities in collaboration with UBC and the broader Jericho Lands development stakeholders.

Q2: Regarding the current lease (extended to 2040), what early termination rights does the landlord hold?

A2: Our lease agreement, consistent since the school's inception in 1996, includes a 24-month exit clause for either party. We are fully aware of this provision and our planning consistently accounts for this clause to ensure our future stability.

 

Q3: Roughly how much funding will be needed for the full campus relocation project? What will be the sources of funding for relocating the campus?

A3: Based on an estimated requirement of 300,000 square feet for a new WPGA campus, the projected cost, in current dollars, is approximately $250-$300 million. The primary funding sources will be fundraising through a comprehensive capital campaign and strategic financing. We are also exploring opportunities for government support, particularly where our new facilities could offer enhanced public access and community benefits.

 

Q4: Can you help us understand how to reconcile the phasing plan as presented to council showing Phase 1 as Watchman Hill with the MSTDC's letter to WPGA stating they may start on the eastern end of the property? Do they mean the eastern end of the Watchman Hill section, or the eastern end of the Jericho Lands?

A4: We acknowledge the varying information regarding the development's initial phasing – it will continue to vacillate given shifting variables. To note, the most recent iteration of the planning documents in the Official Development Plan (ODP) replaced the term “Phase” to “Area” (e.g. Area 1, Area 2). This is to reflect that areas may be developed in a different sequence.

ODP (p. 11, 3.2): “The anticipated sequence is to be subject to review from time to time, always in light of the objectives set out in section 3.1, but taking into account factors such as the considerable length of the development process and market conditions prevailing at the time of the review and, as a result of any such review, the sequence of phasing may change.”  

Although earlier presentations indicated Watchman’s Hill as the starting point of development, the most current understanding is that the development is projected to begin at the northeast corner of 4th Avenue and Highbury Street OR at the very northwest edge of the property line on 4th Avenue west of NW Marine Drive. Development of this area, comprising the wooded section just northwest of our current campus, would not impact school programs.

Future WPGA Location: Regarding the future site for WPGA, our understanding is that our facilities would be developed across from Jericho Park East, along 4th Avenue and just west of Wallace Street.

 

As always, we are committed to providing our community with timely updates as more definitive information becomes available. Our Board and Leadership Team are actively engaged in ongoing discussions, prioritizing WPGA’s future and the continued vision for our school. This commitment will be further solidified as we begin our strategic planning process in September.