Jack Danylchuk and Erika Sherk
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - After a two-year delay, Nova Builders is moving ahead with plans to construct an office building on 52 Street, next to the federal government's Greenstone Building.

Workers excavated the site last week and began placing footings for a four-storey, 53,000 square foot building that Nova president Mike Mrdjenovich says will be ready next spring.

A foundation permit has been approved by the city, said Fandrich Bill, manager of building inspections with the City of Yellowknife. This means Mrdjenovich was able to start construction despite the fact that building and mechanical permits have not been approved.

"Oftentimes due to the short building season here we'll allow a developer to put a foundation in on a separate permit," he said, "so they can get an earlier start."

The office building was originally slated for completion in fall 2005.

The original plans called for an eight-foot, 100,000 square foot building, worth an estimated $12 to $15 million.

Mrdjenovich estimates the cost of the current proposal at $10 to $12 million and says he delayed the project because "I don't think the demand was there, but it's there now."

There were also delays early on because of a need for additional spending, it was reported in 2005.

"I don't have any tenants lined up; I'm building this on spec," Mrdjenovich said last Wednesday.

The City has yet to receive applications for the building and mechanical permits from Mrdjenovich, said Bill.

Bill could not say how long it would take to consider the permits once received.

"We try to expedite it as quickly as we can," he said. "It does take a while."