70 social housing apartments proposed for Iqaluit waterfront

JACKIE WALLACE

A proposal to replace 10 old houses with 70 new social housing apartment units would drastically alter the appearance of Iqaluit’s downtown waterfront, but Deputy Mayor Glenn Williams fears the project won’t do much to improve the city’s appearance.

“How can people start to feel like it’s their home and take pride in their community if there is no effort made to improve their surroundings,” Williams said Tuesday night during a presentation to city council by the Nunavut Housing Corp. “We need more than boxes to put people into.”

John Corkett, who appeared on behalf of Nunavut Housing, said the main concern is providing the maximum number of units, adding that the corporation cannot afford to spend extra money on design.

But inside the units, he said, efforts will be made to ensure that the amenities are as comfortable as possible.

Money for most of the project will come from the $200 million the federal government has allocated for housing in Nunavut.

The one- and two-bedroom apartments would be in seven 10-plexes along the beach across from the museum.

Peter Scott, president of the housing corporation, said in an interview that the first building could be finished by January 2007 if arrangements can be made to get construction materials on the sealift by late September.

When and if the other six 10-plexes will be built “depends on land and money,” Scott said.

Federal funds could be used to build five of the 10-plexes, but Scott said it is unclear when those buildings would go ahead.

“At this point we know we have 57 units that will be built in Iqaluit,” he said.