Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 26/04) - Developer Mike Mrdjenovich says come hell or high water, he is going to build some sort of building next to the hospital.

Mike Mrdjenovich: "They cannot stop me anyway."

The Edmonton-based developer with Nova Builders suffered a setback last week when city council refused to allow him to change his plans for a hotel for an apartment complex on the site.

They want him to provide more information on the number of units and parking stalls he wants to build before they'll make a decision.

Nonetheless, Mrdjenovich said he plans to get his idle development project up and running by next week.

"I got a permit to build a hotel," said Mrdjenovich.

"If they don't let me have an apartment I guess it's going to be a hotel."

Last week, Mrdjenovich said he had trouble obtaining financing for a hotel from the banks, but he can't afford to leave the project unfinished.

"You're going to call it a hotel or an apartment, it won't make no difference, it will look the same," said Mrdjenovich.

"They cannot stop me anyway."