City sells IODE Hall and Butler Building

The City of Iqaluit has sold off two historical buildings to be demolished: the IODE Hall in Apex, and the last remaining Butler building, found behind the Capital Suites near Iqaluit’s downtown.

Qudliq Investments purchased the IODE Hall and the property it stands on for $5,000. The company plans to demolish the building and build two 1,600 square foot houses on the lot during the summer of 2007.

The Imperial Order of the Daughters of Empire built the hall during the late 1950s or early 1960s. It served as a community hall for many years, until the Abe Okpik Hall replaced it during the late 1990s. Since then the building has sat unused.

Qudliq Investments also purchased the Butler Building and the property it sits on, for $81,500. The company plans to build in its place a two-story building, zoned for commercial space on the bottom floor and holding two bedroom apartments or condominiums on the top. Construction for that project is also scheduled for the summer of 2007.

The Butler Building is among the last of many prefab buildings like it brought to Iqaluit by the United States Air Force during the 1950s. Originally used as military barracks, the building was later used as staff housing for the Government of the Northwest Territories. The Butler Building is currently used by the city as archive space.

The city received two proposals to turn the Butler Building into a historic site, but city staff dismissed these plans because their proponents offered no money for the building and property.

The city’s insurance premiums have risen in recent years because these old buildings were considered high-risk liabilities.

No bids were received to purchase the air base garage near the Four Corners.