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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Habitat for Humanity is right back where it started in its fight to recuperate losses from the purchase of what it calls substandard lots from the city, but that may not be such a bad thing.

Don Gillis, first vice-president for Habitat for Humanity, and Sandra Turner, chair of family services, make a presentation to council during Monday's municipal services committee meeting. They managed to convince council to reconsider a proposal to offer a discount on a lot Habitat purchased from the city, while returning $30,000 in infrastructure costs it invested into a second lot. - Cody Punter/NNSL photo

Habitat first approached council several months ago with a request to forgive the cost of two lots which were sold by the previous administration.

Earlier in the spring, Habitat initially requested council forgive the cost of both lots but it agreed to pay the $57,000 local improvement charge included in the price of each lot.

During a previous municipal services committee, council proposed a counter-offer to have habitat return one of the lots while the $30,000 the organization invested in site infrastructure would be discounted from the price of the remaining lot and the $4,000 deposit returned.

However, during Monday's municipal services committee meeting, representatives from Habitat merged the two proposals.

Habitat has now requested the city take back one of the lots and refund the organization's infrastructure investments on the property. Additionally, Habitat would retain the lot where it has already started construction for the original proposal of $57,000.

Despite councillors' concerns with the original proposal, the Municipal Services Committee voted in favour of the amendment.

"On our initial request to council, there wasn't full support from some of the councillors," said Don Gillis, first vice-president for Habitat for Humanity. "Now it appears after some thoughtful consideration of the situation we are in, some people have changed their minds.

"Obviously there appears to be favourable support to our initial recommendation."

Council's decision to bring forward the motion as amended was not unanimous, councillors Niels Konge and Cory Vanthuyne both expressed reservations.

Vanthuyne had previously said he was against offering the lot to Habitat for the price of the local improvement charge.

However, because Mayor Mark Heyck is on vacation, Vanthuyne was acting as Deputy Mayor and was unable to vote. Councillor Phil Moon Son, who also supported Vanthuyne's previous motion, was also not in attendance during Monday's meeting.

"Today the mayor was not here and so I sit in the chair in those instances and I'm not really in a position to vote. We also have another councillor who was on vacation who has expressed support for what I had proposed originally," said Vanthuyne.

Vanthuyne said he is concerned offering a discount to Habitat after it had signed a purchase agreement would set a dangerous precedent for the city. He also maintained his original proposal was a generous compromise.

"That in itself was a considerable contribution from the city," said Vanthuyne.

Sandra Turner, chair of family services for Habitat, said Habitat was the only organization in the city aligned with the city's objective of offering affordable housing.

"Some of these organizations don't focus nearly as close to the goals and objectives of the city," said Turner. "So it may be precedent-setting, but we are the only organization that is actually producing affordable housing."

The amended recommendation still needs to be brought before council and Vanthuyne said he was not sure whether he would be in favour of it or not.

He added that the process of engaging with Habitat was about gathering as much information as possible.

"That way we can make a full, balanced decision," he said.

Vanthuyne said he would be willing to reconsider his position and plans to speak further with representatives from Habitat before making his final decision.

The framing for the house on the first lot was completed last week and Habitat hopes to have a family living there by this Christmas.

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