Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 20/01) - Residents of the Niven Lake subdivision want the city to stop building any duplexes or other attached housing in their neighbourhood.

Residents of the Niven Lake subdivision fear the building of duplexes and other multi-unit dwellings will drive the value of their property down. - Merle Robillard/NNSL photo

Last June the city replaced the neighbourhood's single-houses-only designation with one that allows duplexes and other types of attached houses.

But residents of the neighbourhood said they didn't know it happened and found out only after a development officer approved an application for a duplex for the neighbourhood in May.

A group of 17 residents appealed the decision on June 21 to the development appeal board, but it was thrown out.

A letter dated June 18 to city council and signed by 17 Niven Lake residents demands the city change the neighbourhood's designation back and stop any multiple housing development until a review of its development scheme is done.

Niven Lake resident, Kim Mulders, said the city is so concerned with kick-starting stagnating sales of lots it's forgetting about the needs of the people living there by trying to make restrictions more flexible for development in the area.

"We put a lot of money into our homes and properties," said Mulders. "Now they're sort of changing things to suit their needs."

She said residents are concerned the value of the lots could suffer with the development of row housing and duplexes.

Monte Christensen, director of city planning and lands, said the city always intended to develop a restricted number of duplexes and attached houses as outlined in the Niven Lake development scheme, which all new lot owners received as part of a package.

"We didn't go through it word for word with them," said Christensen. "It's 30 pages long."

The city has been struggling to sell Niven Lake lots for six years and recently handed over the sales job to Coldwell Banker.

"We're rethinking Niven Lake," said Max Hall, senior administrator with the city, during Tuesday's public services committee.

"We want to see if there is a more efficient way ... to reduce development costs per unit," said Christensen.

But lot owners maintain their expectations at purchase are at odds with the city's intentions now.

"We just want to maintain the integrity of the neighbourhood," said Leanne Tate, Niven Lake resident.

"We want to ensure the initial intent is maintained."

The matter will go before city council on Monday.