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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There is new life for the long-abandoned condominium development formerly known as Bayview Estates in the Niven Lake subdivision overlooking Back Bay.

Development permits are being finalized between two housing construction companies and the city and if all goes well, Niven Phase V will finally see some housing construction this summer.

Ryan McCauley (left) and Devin Hinchey have been working since Tuesday at Bayview Estates, cleaning up the area and removing scraps of wood. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo

After a request for proposal went out in March, four companies applied, with two companies bidding for two lots.

Since then, two companies have won the right to purchase two of the five parcels of land. One of those companies includes local architect Wayne Guy who has teamed up with Rod Hildebrandt, Jon Liv Jaque and Shawn Delaney to form Summit Circle Developments Ltd., which has been branded Cavo on its website. The team has put forth plans for a modern condominium residence on the city-made parcel farthest back on the Bayvew Estates property.

"We are currently going through the designs with the permits for the city and we are having our official sales launch on July 28," said Guy in an interview this week.

The team is also opening a sales centre at the 50-50 mini-mall at 4924 50th St., which be introduced to the public at 5 p.m. July 18 during a Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce after-hours event.

Construction is expected to begin in the not-too-distant future.

"We are looking for a construction start this summer and to get the units done fairly quickly, just because we want to accommodate the summer construction season," said Guy.

The company is planning for a 68,000-square-foot housing project which will include between 60 and 70 units, with one-, two- and three-bedroom suites ranging in price from .

The layout of the project will provide access to both Niven Drive and Lemay Drive and is already being marketed for its closeness to the downtown, nature, and Old Town as well as its stunning views of Back Bay and Yellowknife Bay. The company website goes more into depth of the benefits of the location and the specific characterization of the units.

"It runs against the rock so it will have the best view on that site," explained Guy, noting the high importance of nature. "Every unit is designed to have a view of Yellowknife Bay."

He says the company's plan includes having a 500-foot trail that runs through the development, connects to the ski trails and is easily accessible to the Niven Trail.

Townhouses close to bay

Mark Avery of Redcliffe Developments is the other winning bidder and is planning to construct 16 townhouses on the parcel closest to the bay. Unlike the Summit Circle parcel, Redcliffe will have to demolish the former Bond Street Properties structures which have stood abandoned since 2007.

Redcliffe has received a demolition permit to knock down the remaining structures.

"Right now we are just doing some site cleanup and obviously there was quite a mess left there," said Avery. "As far as our timing, we are going to hopefully start demolition in the next 10 days and take it from there."

The company has also applied for a development permit and is aiming to begin framing in August.

Avery consulted with about 15 Niven subdivision neighbours on Tuesday night at city hall and provided a general overview of the project. As opposed to the Summit Circle development, Avery says he is focusing on people that are looking for a bit more space.

"The development that was there would have been nice to start with and didn't work the first time," he said. "We're not doing condos, obviously, so we are looking at families that are looking for a little more square footage. It is a pretty prime piece of land and there is not a lot of waterfront areas available."

At this point neither developer is planning projects for the three remaining parcels and Mayor Gord Van Tighem says discussions are still taking place for developments there.

"At this point, not necessarily," said Guy when asked if he would be looking at other parcels. "We want to get this one off and running and we think it will provide a higher standard of multi-family housing in town. I think a lot of past developments haven't really dealt with the community as far as managing the occupants of the residents. That is why we are focusing on creating an urban space as well."

Similarly, Avery said Redcliffe is concentrating on the one parcel.

"Right now we are just focusing on this parcel," he said.

Van Tighem also appeared to be cautious about development getting too far ahead.

"They have to focus on the ones they are doing right now," he said. "One of the problems that happened with Bayview was that they weren't focusing on what they were doing. Developers start to diversify and then it becomes like transplanting a tree before the roots have taken off."

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