CREDIT: Les Bazso, The Province Squamish natives arrive at Portside Park in support of Millennium proposal.

The war canoe arrived, the drums rolled and the battle to rebuild the old Woodward’s sitebegan.

Yesterday was the deadline for proposals and three developers are now in the running to redevelop the former department store.

One of the bidders, the Millennium Group, symbolically wrapped its proposal in an old Woodward’s box and bag. Members of the Squamish First Nation paddled from West Vancouver to Portside Park in Vancouver with the proposal, then ceremonially delivered it to City Hall.

The $100-million redevelopment includes social and low-cost housing, retail and community space — and possibly a Simon Fraser University arts campus.

Millennium has enlisted numerous community groups — for natives, the elderly and disabled — in support of its proposal.

All proposal details will remain under wraps until they’re unveiled on July 9 at the Woodward’s site.

The Westbank Group says it has the Portland Hotel Society as part of its support network.

“[The proposal] is green. It’s inclusive of the community,” said Westbank spokesman Damon Chan. “We have tried to preserve as much as we can of the heritage.”

Paul Williams of the Concert Properties/Holborn Group was dotting the i‘s on what he called “an absolutely spectacular” proposal.

“It’s going to blow your socks off,” he said. “To lobby in advance is not what the city wants us to do.”

City staff will recommend one of the proposals to city council on July 20. Area residents will then be able to comment at open houses and meetings.

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THE SHORTLIST

– Concert Properties/Holborn Group: Powerhouse alliance of two giant Vancouver developers. Pension-funded Concert worked on the Arbutus condos and has been hired to redo the downtown YMCA. Holborn has real estate in Vancouver and Whistler valued at $250 million.

– Millennium Properties: Building condos on the University of B.C. Endowment Lands and at Simon Fraser University. Has built a seven-tower complex in Burnaby, as well as apartments in West Vancouver.

– Westbank Projects/Peterson Investment: Westbank is building the 42-storey Shaw Tower at Coal Harbour. It was behind the Palisades highrises in the West End and has a 57-floor highrise planned for Georgia and Thurlow.

Ran with fact box “The Shortlist”, which has been appended to the story.

© The Vancouver Province 2004