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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Residents are up in arms over a proposed boarding home for patients from Northern communities travelling to Yellowknife for medical care.

The proposal for the 28-bed medical boarding home at the corner of Matonabee Street and Franklin Ave. will need council's approval to re-zone part of the property.

A rendering of the proposed medical boarding home at the corner of Matonabee Street and Franklin Avenue. - Graphic courtesy of the city of Yellowknife

Two Matonabee Street area residents who showed up to a city council committee meeting Monday to voice concerns over the building agreed such a facility would be a boon to Yellowknife, but they each said the residential area is not the place for it.

"I'm not saying don't build it. Build it - fine," said Deborah Remnant, president of the Yk Condo Corp.

A better place for the facility, however, might be closer to the hospital, she suggested.

"We're tired of construction in our neighbourhood," she added, saying construction has been going on for three years in the area. "This is our home."

"A lot of residential neighbourhoods have deteriorated in the past few years," added Gabrielle Decorby, a Matonabee area resident of 22 years.

"I really think a transient centre at this location is extremely inappropriate," she said.

People - like out-patients - who are transient don't have a vested interest the neighbourhood, Decorby explained.

"There isn't interest in the community as a community," she said.

"I understand the question of transient," acknowledged building architect David Wong, who spoke on behalf of the property owner, Larga Kitikmeot of Yellowknife. "The name carries a lot of stigma: boarding home."

However, patients who stay at the boarding home come for medical attention and as soon as they finish they leave, he said.

"A large number of people who (will) attend this facility are awaiting the birth of a child," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem. "They aren't into wild parties," he quipped.

That didn't seem to sell to either of the two Matonabee residents.

"Nobody is saying it's going to turn into a drunken brawl every night, but what we don't know is what it is going to turn into - or not," said Decorby.

The nature of patients at the facility will change day-to-day, she added. Another concern raised was the use of shuttles for patients going to and from the hospital - and whether it would impact parking and traffic in the area. Councillors questioned Wong and both Matonabee residents - notably city councillor Bob Brooks asked Decorby if she would have a problem with development on the property if it were an apartment complex - but gave little indication whether they would support the move once it was brought to next Monday night's council meeting.

And while both Decorby and Remnant said this Monday's meeting didn't satisfy their concerns, they'll be back next week.

"It's only the first step," said Remnant.