Iqaluit (Sep 06/04) - Residents of Iqaluit have watched the Inuksugait Plaza structure rise since September of last year.

Phase one of four in the estimated $45 million project should be ready for tenants to move in by Nov. 1.

Tenants should be able to move into the first phase of the Inuksugait Plaza in Iqaluit by Nov. 1. Work on the plaza began last September. - Brent Reaney/NNSL photo

The building has definitely created a buzz in the community.

"As the building progresses, with the siding and the balconies coming in, the interest seems to be increasing," said Sheldon Nimchuk of the Nunavut Construction Company.

The Nov. 1 move-in date is less than eight weeks away, and workers are busy putting the finishing touches on the building.

Ladders sit in the hallways. Drills, staple guns and saws can be heard operating throughout the building. Construction workers move from room to room, completing a variety of tasks.

One-bedroom apartments are renting for between $1,800 and $1,900, while two bedrooms start at a cool $2,300. Water and heat are included, but electricity is the responsibility of the tenant.

The high rates are standard in a rental market where the vacancy rate has been estimated at just above zero.

Ten one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom apartments out of the 57 total units are still available for rent, Nimchuk said.

Floor one of the four storey building is slotted for office space with the rest being residential units.

Plenty to offer

Nimchuk says the first phase of Iqaluit's newest rental property will have plenty to offer.

Five appliances, including a washer, dryer, fridge, stove and dishwasher will be included in every apartment. Most buildings in Iqaluit have one common laundry room, Nimchuk said.

Getting out of bed on those frigid winter mornings will be made a little more bearable with an in-floor heating system composed of plastic tubing laid out underneath the floor.

"This gives a more consistent heat throughout the building and it warms objects instead of just warming the air," Nimchuk said.

Each unit will have its own private balcony. Security cameras will be installed.

An on-site property manager will be available to help tenants with their leaky faucets.

Hallway colour themes

The hallway on floors two through four will have a coloured theme of either blue, red or green, Nimchuk said, but the apartments will remain a neutral beige colour.

There is also a plan to install sidewalks around the building to eliminate the need for ramp access, Nimchuk said.

Each floor will have its own garbage chute and Nimchuk said he is working with the City of Iqaluit and the Iqaluit Recycling Society to determine how best to set up recycling services in the building.