Developer pitches 4-storey building for downtown Iqaluit
Public hearing on plans for former Big Racks site set for April 19
The former site of Big Racks Barbecue in Iqaluit’s downtown core could be the future site of a four-storey mixed-use building if a development permit is approved. (File photo)
The City of Iqaluit is seeking public feedback on a development application for a new mixed-use building in the downtown core.
If approved, 810 Aviq St., the former site of Big Racks Barbecue, would become a four-storey building with commercial space on the ground floor and 30 apartments on the floors above.
According to the request for decision document presented to the city’s planning and development committee on March 16, the ground floor will be office space and the residential units will be split between 18 one-bedroom apartments and 12 two-bedroom apartments.
Development plans for the site were previously contested by nearby residents when the property owner, Matt Wilkins, sought to build a new restaurant lounge on the premises.
A public hearing for the increase to the permitted maximum building height to four storeys from two storeys will take place on April 19 at 6 p.m.
Those who wish to speak at the hearing must register with the city clerk by email or by phone at 979-5634.
The deadline for registering is April 15 at 4 p.m.
Any questions related to the development permit application can be directed to City of Iqaluit development officer by email.
Correction: This article has been updated to indicate that the public hearing is for the permitted maximum building height and not for the redevelopment of the site itself.
Bring back
Big rack
If approved, would the apartments in this building be open for rentals to the public, or would they be slotted for staff housing like the other new buildings?
There are so many empty staff units in Iqaluit, and so many people looking for a place to call home. The building permit shouldn’t be approved if the apartments in this building are slotted for staff housing.
The units would not be staff apartment’s. They would be public rentals.
for those who are worried about “ the units being for staff housing“
Please try to finance any project in Iqaluit without the financial backing of a very solid lease with an agency deemed vlaid for the banks.
There is just no way around it.
If you want social housing, the Housing corp would have to sign a blanket lease and then sub-lease to individual tenants while being responsible for payment of rent and damages.. No such thing, no housing !!!!!
Thanks
I was not suggesting that the apartments be for social housing, just that they be available for anyone to lease, and not strictly set aside as staff housing provided by employers.
I have been on waiting lists for private accommodations for a few years now and have seen new buildings go up, only to find out that my spot on the wait lists hasn’t budged all because the new apartments were scooped up to be used as staff housing units.
If the private companies who own the buildings choose to rent their units to NHC (who then sublet to GN staff) rather than to private tenants, that’s their decision.
Welcome to the free market.
Yes its a free market which is not the greatest option out there for Nunavut, there are much better options that would work better for Nunavut if our governments would take the initiatives.
Who is the developer?