Katie May
Northern News Services
Published Friday, August 22, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The city's downtown enhancement committee is ready to formulate a plan to redesign part of 50 Street - and has informed city council it will need up to $75,000 work out the details.

Formed in 2002 to work towards improving the downtown, the committee has decided to start with an upgrade of one block of 50 Street, from 49 Avenue to 50 Avenue. The redesign of other blocks on the street will follow in other phases of the project. Based on a concept plan developed in July, the committee's proposal for the first phase of 50 Street includes putting in widened sidewalks with decorative concrete, planting trees along the street, installing light fixtures and adding garbage and recycling bins and benches.

Councillors present at the committee meeting - including Lydia Bardak, Paul Falvo, David McCann, David Wind and deputy mayor Mark Heyck - seemed supportive of the basic streetscaping concept and suggested some details would have to be tweaked in the final designs, such as potted trees that might block drivers' sight lines.

"We're still in a position in Yellowknife where, with the right action, we can improve our downtown," said Falvo.

In May and June, the downtown enhancement committee held public input sessions about the designs, at several residents suggested the city close "Range Street," the block of 50 Street from 50 Avenue to 51 Avenue, to traffic. The committee has decided against this idea after area businesses, including the Gold Range Hotel, expressed concern that the move would cut down on parking availability and hurt their businesses.

City councillors will decide whether to approve the allocation at its next council meeting on Monday night.

Council asked to keep fieldhouse project moving

The fieldhouse development committee has asked city council approve a request for proposals from contractors to design and build the fieldhouse.

No money was set aside in the 2008 budget for fieldhouse contracting services, which the city estimates will cost between $25,000 and $30,000, but administration reported the funds are available in the major community facilities reserve.

Council is expected to decide whether to approve this process, though some councillors, including Coun. David McCann said they thought the city should seek out interest from more contractors before approving a bid because of concerns the project could come in over budget.

"$16 million is the limit," said McCann. "It's still not somehow getting through."

The three contractors under consideration for the project are Clark Builders, Doycan Northern and Dowland Construction.

The fieldhouse committee held a public pre-design consultation in 2006 but there haven't been any consultations since then. City administrator Max Hall said at a Monday committee meeting there will be "no correlation" between the feedback already received and the process now going forward.

"We're now starting from a clean slate," Hall said.

Land transfer proposed for home expansion

A homeowner on Con Road wants the city to sell him a portion of unsurveyed land beside his property so he can build an addition onto his house.

The lot, located on Con Road and 55 Street, is Commissioner's land, so the city first has to survey the land, then acquire the land title before it can transfer it to the homeowner, Magnus Bourque. Bourque's home expansion, if approved with a development permit, would measure 4.88 m by 6.10 m and extend onto the unsurveyed lot.

At the committee meeting on Monday, Coun. Paul Falvo expressed concern that the proposed home expansion would obstruct the scenic views for some nearby residents.

"On the one hand I don't want to rain on someone's parade," said Falvo, but on the other hand he said he doesn't think it's in the city's best interest "to lose more green space so someone can build a bigger house."