Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 30/00) - After city council voted down his proposal for the former Bartam trailer park, Mike Mrdjenovich vowed to never pursue another development in Yellowknife.

"I'm just fed up with all this," said Mrdjenovich, who stated during last week's Public Services Committee meeting that if he lost the Bartam site he "will not develop any more land in Yellowknife."

The owner of Nova Construction was clearly displeased with statements from the public Monday night urging city council to reject his plan to build an apartment complex at the former Bartam site.

Mrdjenovich angrily described public remarks about his proposal as "beautiful speeches," and said his credibility had been attacked. He called criticism of the location and rental cost for his proposed senior citizens complex unjustified.

"I called it a seniors complex. I named it myself because I intend it to be a seniors complex. I didn't plan to mislead anybody ... I don't have to defend my actions in this town," he said.

Mrdjenovich estimated he forked out at least $600,000 to draft the proposal. He has built several apartment buildings in the city already, he said, and does not want to build another one.

"I want to build a seniors complex, not an apartment building," he said.

Mrdjenovich said he did not anticipate public outcry when he submitted his proposal. "I was planning to spend lots of money in this town, but after this ... if this is the way you guys are going to welcome (developers) into this town, I hope this is a clear message for (them)."

All councillors present apologized to Mr. Mrdjenovich for the public scrutiny he had been exposed to since submitting his proposal.

Councillor Ben McDonald even referred to him as "an innocent victim" in the process, claiming council probably made a mistake when it approved a call for development proposals in the first place.