Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Nov 22/99) - For those who decide to take the plunge and lease the Road to Nowhere lot they have a hand in choosing, a fee of 10 per cent of the total lot price is due within 10 days.

Potentially, 19 first-time homeowners have a stake in landing a lot when the drum rolls tonight, Monday, in the town's council chambers.

Four ballots qualify for the second category of "all others" -- those ballots will be thrown into the drum after the first 19 hand-pick what are presumably the "choice" lots.

"All of the lots have great views, some look onto both the bay and the river," said Town Land Administrator Carl McLean of the Road to Nowhere lots.

"I was hoping to have 25 ballots returned, but 23 is pretty good for this time of year."

Out of the 73 lots available, five of them are in other locations and not in the new subdivision that received a considerable amount of public criticism last summer when heavy equipment began tearing up what was a popular recreation area for residents.

But for now the trucks have disappeared and most of the lots, ranging in price from $47,000 to $62,000, are complete.

"The subdivision is pretty much complete -- there aren't any power lines yet and they will finish topping the road in the spring," said McLean.

However, not all 23 entrants are expected to buy a lot and a member-at-large on the Development, Works and Public Safety committee says he's concerned that the prices are getting too high.

"There were more ballots returned than I thought, which is encouraging," said Keith Irving.

"The thing to watch will be how many people stick in after the cheap lots outside of the Road to Nowhere subdivision are gone.

"My concern is the prices are getting too high, but times change and time will judge if they sell or not."