Site selected for family housing project

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Cost overuns and site selection continue to dog Yukon government plans to construct a 30-unit affordable family housing project in Whitehorse.

On Wednesday, Marian Horne, the minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate, announced that a block of territorial government land on Nisutlin Drive in Riverdale has been set aside for the project.

Don Inverarity, the Yukon Housing Corp. critic for the Liberal opposition, faults the plan on two fronts.

“My biggest single issue is the cost per unit is almost double what private industry can build them for ... and there doesn’t appear to be any discussion with local Riverdale residents over whether they feel they want it in their area,“ Inverarity said in an interview today.

“I think there should be some public consultation but there doesn’t appear to be any consultation with the city or certainly with the residents of Riverdale.“

According to government officials, the plan to build the 30-unit building will cost between $9 million and $11 million, with $960,000 in this year’s budget earmarked for design and planning.

However, a Kwanlin Dun First Nation issued “request for expression of interest” lists a Women’s Housing Project at $13 million.

As single women comprise the largest segment in need of low-cost accommodations, it’s likely the majority of tenants would be women. But from the beginning, the government has touted the project as affordable housing catering to men or women.

Mayor Bev Buckway told the Star the matter was presented to the city’s development review committee on Tuesday. Because the proposed building meets current zoning in that area of Riverdale, public consultations or city council involvement are not required, she said.

“Certainly, everytime there’s something new built now, there’s extreme opposition,“ said Buckway. She called the affordable housing unit “very positive, because we know there is a demand for it so that’s a plus.“

“It doesn’t matter what it is, people are opposed to it; that’s just a given these days,“ she added.

Before construction can begin, the site must be surveyed, plans must be registered and submitted to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board for review.

Design features in consideration include barrier-free access, child care facilities and a common area.

Funding is being provided by the Northern Housing Trust, a federal program to build affordable housing in the North.