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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The second development to take up the panoramic view of Back Bay previously blocked by the botched Bayview Estates development, has been launched.

A mockup of the Waterfront Townhomes, currently being built at the old Bayview Estates site in the Niven Lake subdivision. - photo courtesy Century 21 Greenway Realty

Yellowknife residential property developers Jordan Harker and Mark Avery, principals of Redcliff Developments Inc., launched the high-end Waterfront Townhomes condominium offering last week.

The 16 three- and four-bedroom waterfront units, priced at about $600,000 and up, opened to some fanfare at the Century 21 Greenway Realty headquarters last Wednesday evening.

"I'm always looking to upgrade," said homeowner Darrel Marshall, who was among the curious crowd that attended the Oct. 17 open house.

Sales of the units launched Oct. 18, with three of the units already previously reserved following three weeks of site tours by Century 21 realtor Adrian Bell.

"My phone has been ringing," said Bell. "We've had a very busy schedule.

"We're very optimistic about the reception that we've had so far and Yellowknifers' understanding of this project and appreciation for what Redcliff is trying to do here."

Redcliff had been eyeing the property since 2010 Bayview Estates plans by the past developer, Mike Mrdjenovich of Nova Builders, fell through, leaving the partially-built eyesore for a number of years.

"I lived in Niven for a few years, so I drove by that site daily," said Avery. "Just living in Yellowknife, it's hard not to notice what happened there, what was going on. It was just too bad that it didn't get pulled through to what it couldn've been because the site is prime and there just isn't a better location in town."

After the land was sold to the City of Yellowknife, two parcels were purchased.

Summit Circle Developments Ltd., a company which includes Yellowknife architect Wayne Guy, launched its 36-unit Cavo condominium development in July.

The Redcliff Developments Waterfront property launched last week is located closest to the bay.

"When these lots came along everybody got excited, and now finally, after all these years, they've basically been liberated and they're in good hands so it's very exciting for everyone," said Bell.

The location of the units, as close to the waterfront as development is zoned for, was a major factor in the company deciding to construct a high-end product, said Harker, as opposed to the number of affordable apartment-style condominiums that have recently been offered on the Yellowknife market.

"It being such a prime piece of real estate, to do it justice, I think you have to offer the high-end town home with a high-end design in mind," Harker said.

The high-end finishing and quality goes down to the hardwood flooring of the units, Avery added.

"We're not trying to build something and have a bunch of additional options that you can upgrade to," he said. "For example, these units don't come with standard laminate that you can upgrade to hardwood, this is going be hardwood flooring for example, right off the bat."

Waterfront Townhomes construction is scheduled to continue on site until summer 2013, when the units are targeted to be complete.

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