Our history · 1982 – today

It began with four women and an idea.

In 1982, four women set out to build a housing co-operative in North Vancouver. Four decades later, the community they imagined is still here — 26 homes under the same tall trees, owned and run by the people who live in them.

Two original members standing at the freshly cleared site, land-clearing fire burning behind them — Two original members on the site as clearing began.

1982

Meetings in living rooms

Four women wanted to build a housing co-op in North Vancouver. After many meetings with municipal council, plenty of research, and funding secured through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's co-operative housing program, land was obtained at the foot of Mount Seymour.

Eighteen more meetings followed — held in people's homes — as membership grew to 26 families who planned every option available to them within the CMHC guidelines. There was no developer selling units: the future residents designed their own neighbourhood before a single tree was cleared.

1983

Plans on paper, ground broken

Architect Gary Nielsen drew up 26 dwellings set in the forest, arranged so that every home had as much privacy as possible — no one looking into anyone else's living space. Machines moved in among the firs and cedars; slash was burned on site and foundations were dug.

Nielsen Architect elevation drawings for the co-op, dated September 1983 — Typical elevations from Nielsen Architect's drawings, September 1983.

Excavator clearing the forested site, smoke rising from a burn pile — Clearing the site, keeping as many trees standing as possible.

Workers on the freshly poured foundation slab — Footings and slabs going in.

1984

26 homes take shape

Through 1984 the frames went up — built around the standing trees rather than over them. Construction was completed in December 1984. As our resident historian's write-up puts it: “What a celebration for everyone.”

Framed houses with the Indian River Housing project sign in front — The project sign goes up: “Indian River Housing — 26 Dwelling Units.”

Houses with fresh siding rising from the still-muddy site — Siding on, mud still everywhere.

The finished houses seen through snowy trees — The finished homes under an early snowfall.

After completion

An award-winning design

The complex earned architect Gary Nielsen two building awards: first place for design and innovation in small townhouse construction, and a second for blending the homes into the trees — leaving a small footprint on the environment. Boulders unearthed during excavation became part of the landscaping, and old cedar stumps still anchor the gardens.

Finished grey houses along a lamplit path with new gardens — New gardens along the lamplit paths.

The clubhouse and common green shortly after completion — The clubhouse and common green — and one very at-home dog.

The years between

A community grows in

From the start there was a unique mix of families and incomes, and everyone had a space and yard of their own to look after. The playground and the members' clubhouse became the heart of the place — and the forest occasionally reminded everyone who was here first, sending trees down in winter windstorms.

The original red playground framed by two giant cedar stumps — The first playground, framed by old-growth stumps.

A member standing in front of huge uprooted trees after a windstorm — After a windstorm — living in a forest keeps you humble.

25 years on

The 25-year refit

After 25 years, the complex got a full refit: new siding, roofs, windows and doors, new colour schemes for the buildings and carports, and new heat pumps and furnaces where they were needed — the co-op investing in its own future, the way co-ops do.

Crews on scaffolding rebuilding a roof during the refit, playground fenced off in the foreground — New roofs going on, with the playground safely fenced off below.

Workers wrapping a gable in building wrap before the new siding — Wrapping the gables before the new siding went up.

Today

Still quiet under the trees

Forty years on, children still play beneath the trees the builders worked around — and those trees now tower higher than ever.

The playground and homes today, beneath the mature forest — The playground and homes today.

“We are all proud to live here. The gardens are beautiful but kept natural, and many visitors comment on how quiet and peaceful it is.”

— Elfie Redpath, resident historian

With thanks to our resident historian, Elfie Redpath, who wrote this history and gathered these photographs over the years. This page exists because she kept the story safe.