Hay River (Apr 03/06) - It looks like a proposed seniors housing project in Hay River is back on track.

Proponents of the $3.4-million Whispering Willows complex had recently expressed concern that political interference was holding up the project.

However, developer Duncan Cooke, president of Arcan Construction, says things have been clarified following a March 23 meeting in Yellowknife with government and other officials.

"We brainstormed and all left with the understanding the project was going ahead," Cooke said, describing the meeting as positive and productive.

Besides Cooke, the meeting was attended by Hay River Seniors Society president Eileen Collins, NWT Housing Corporation acting president Jeff Anderson, and officials from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. David Krutko, the minister responsible for the housing corporation, also dropped by.

Cooke said all parties are looking for the most viable approach to advance the project, which would be co-owned by Arcan Construction and the seniors society.

"We still have to decide on the number of apartments," he said, adding it is now possible that the three-storey complex could be built in stages and eventually expand to a maximum of 27 units.

"We're still hoping to start this summer," he said.

The housing corporation's Anderson agreed that the March 23 meeting went well.

The corporation is waiting to hear back from Cooke about dollar amounts, Anderson said. "Then we'll have to take a look at it."

Anderson said the issue remains whether the project is appropriate for the size of the community and the number of seniors interested in living at Whispering Willows.

Cooke and the society learned last month that MLAs had expressed concerns the GNWT budget review about the NWT Housing Corp. operations, including support for the Whispering Willows project.

During the Yellowknife visit, Cooke said he had good conversations with ordinary MLAs and believes he alleviated their concerns.

The NWT Housing Corporation plans to put $450,000 into the not-for-profit project to see 18 of the units subsidized. That figure includes the donation of $190,000 worth of land.

In all, $850,000 is needed to start construction. The rest of the project cost will be raised through a mortgage.

The seniors society has raised $100,000 in donations, which will be matched by $100,000 from the estate left by a deceased Hay River woman, Alice Cambridge. Arcan will also invest $200,000.