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The Elks share of the Yellowknife Ski Club building is up for sale for $295,000. The club itself is looking at options to own the whole building. - Chris Puglia/NNSL photo

Ski club looks to buy

Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 16/04) - The Yellowknife Ski Club is deciding what to do with a building that they call essential to their operations.

The club currently shares ownership of its clubhouse with the Elks Club.

The shared tenancy agreement gives both organization rights to usage. Time is shared between skiers and cadets with the rest of the open slots are rented out for a variety of uses.

But now the ski club is looking at a way to purchase the entire building since the Elks have announced their intention to sell their portion.

The price tag is $295,000.

Ski club president Karen Johnson admits that figure is a bit out of their price range, but the building committee is looking at options.

Do a feasibility study

"We've sent our committee back with the specific focus to do a feasibility study on what it would take for us to acquire the building," said Johnson.

If the club does determine they can purchase the building, Johnson said marketing its use will be of paramount concern.

"At this point the committee that has been looking after the building wasn't aggressively marketing it," she said.

Under full ski club ownership that would have to change.

"We're going to have to cover our costs," said Johnson.

That means maximizing the revenue potential of the ski club.

Owning all the building would also give the club an option to more effectively use the space for its members.

Johnson said ideas to create space to allow skiers to wax their own skies and other member services have been tossed about.

But there is no question that the building is essential to the club.

"It is used to house our jackrabbit program. There are over 80 kids in that," said Johnson.

But whatever happens, the club will not lose use of the building even if they have to go with a new co-owner.

"Other buyers would still have to abide by the co-tenancy agreement," said Johnson.

"The membership just felt it would be in our best interest if we could own all of the building and then we could do what we want with it."