SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - City councillors were impressed by the extra attention paid to affordability in a proposal presented to them Monday for multi-family dwellings in Niven Lake Phase VII.

David Wind: city councillor is happy with the price tags put on proposed developments for Niven Lake Phase IIV. - NNSL file photo

Highstreet Ventures Inc., the developer working on a similar residential development at the foot of Tin Can Hill, submitted a proposal for three eight-plex units, 11 three-plex units and a 64-unit apartment building.

During the Municipal Services Committee meeting Monday, city councillor David Wind said he was impressed by the low price tags, with 12 of the homes priced under $200,000, and 50 homes priced between $200,000 and $300,000.

"To me, the fact that this whole development seems to be priced at a level which will make them affordably attractive to residents in Yellowknife is a big, strong plus," he said.

When seeking proposals for the lots in Phase IIV, city council stressed the importance of the development being affordable and even had administration rewrite the request for proposals twice.

The first draft was sent back when council found the affordability section included nothing more than an incomplete sentence. It was returned to administration a second time to add 15 per cent for affordability in the proposal's evaluation criteria, a request made by Coun. Shelagh Montgomery and supported by Couns. Bob Brooks, David Wind, Mark Heyck and Amanda Mallon.

In its proposal, Highstreet Ventures has requested a smaller parcel of land than was included in the city's request for proposals.

"The developer wanted to take a part of the development that they could conceivably develop in a reasonable time frame," said Jeff Humble, the city's director of planning and lands.

If the city is to accept the proposal, as administration has recommended, the unsold Lot 12 will be put back on the market.

But if a buyer were to come forward, Highstreet Ventures would have the opportunity to buy the lot at market value first, said Humble.

The developer has even suggested three options with respect to non-market affordable housing for the city to consider, two of which concern Lot 12.

One option for the lot is to build one or two eight-unit buildings that will have been pre-sold to the NWT Housing Corporation or the city. Another is to build any number of homes, in any design, at cost plus 18 per cent to be pre-sold by the city or the housing corporation.

The final option presented is to build an 11-unit building comprised of 1,000-square-foot homes in the downtown area for the housing corporation at $280,000 per door.

"I certainly appreciated how flexible they are willing to be and I also appreciate the city being flexible as well," said Brooks in response to the proposal.

If approved, the developer will begin work in the summer of 2011, with the expected completion date of spring 2013.

"It's good to see positive development in the community over the last year when there was considerable non-development going on for a couple years prior to that," said Coun. Cory Vanthuyne.

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