The University of the Fraser Valley is planning to develop land on its Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses as a way of generating long-term revenue and building more vibrant communities around its campuses.

The initiative, known as the UFV Properties Trust or Campus Communities, was launched in 2023. Rather than selling land, UFV will retain ownership and arrange 99-year ground leases with developers, who will then build on and lease the properties. Revenue generated will flow to UFV and the UFV Foundation, funding capital projects, research, scholarships, and bursaries.

"There are not a lot of opportunities for us to generate the kind of investment funding that we want to build out our campuses," says Jackie Hogan, UFV's outgoing Vice President Administration, who has been central to the initiative. "What we have is land, and it comes with the added benefit of building community near campus."

In Abbotsford, development would focus on land at the north end of campus adjacent to King Road, complementing the existing U-District plan, a long-running collaboration with the City of Abbotsford to create a more liveable, mixed-use community around the campus. New parking will be built at the south end of campus before any construction begins, so no spaces will be lost.

The model follows a well-worn path in BC, with UBC, SFU, and Thompson Rivers University all operating similar property trusts. UFV's trust is led by CEO Gary Morrison and has already engaged with the provincial government, Indigenous partners, and local governments as it works toward rezoning on both campuses.