Construction has commenced on a hydrant vault for the Nest building in downtown Yellowknife. The City of Yellowknife has confirmed that it is not responsible for funding the project.
The Nest, a newly transformed residential apartment complex in downtown Yellowknife, was developed from the former Bellanca building that housed federal government offices. Before welcoming tenants to its 72 new units, the building must fulfill the hydrant requirement, as outlined in a presentation to the city council by the developer’s attorney, Scott Parker, in September.
Borealis Development, the local developer behind the project, had requested that the city council contribute 75% of the $750,000 estimated cost for the hydrant. Parker informed the council that Borealis had only become aware of this requirement after securing financing. He emphasized the urgency of finding a solution, citing that the vacant building was incurring substantial monthly expenses for Borealis and putting them in a challenging situation.
Despite the developer’s plea, city council rejected the funding request during a meeting on September 22. Concerns were raised about setting a precedent of using city funds for private developments, regardless of the pressing need for more housing.
The city recently issued a permit for the construction of the hydrant, with work beginning on October 15. The process will involve a temporary water shutdown to connect the vault to a water main behind the building, although a specific date for this was not immediately provided.
City Councillor Rob Warburton expressed the need to reassess how fire hydrants are integrated into downtown Yellowknife. He suggested that the current financial burden of hydrant requirements could hinder smaller developers from pursuing projects in the area. Warburton is pushing for a strategic plan to identify optimal locations for hydrant installations to facilitate downtown development.
While the plan may not be ready for the upcoming budget cycle, Warburton emphasized the importance of initiating discussions to enhance city planning for the future. He stressed the significance of efficient infrastructure layout to ensure long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness for the city.
