A stop-work order was set to be issued today for the vacant lot at Second Avenue and Strickland Street that will see the building of Mah’s Point 2, an eight-storey condo structure.

The building is dependent on at least 60 per cent of the units being pre-sold.

However, a small structure that is planned to serve as a showroom was placed on the site Wednesday morning, along with work being done on a wood-framed sign planned to advertise the development.

Pat Ross is the city’s manager of land and building services.

He explained in an interview Wednesday afternoon that without a development or building permit in place, no work can be done on the property, even to establish temporary structures.

While the applications have been submitted with the city, he said, they have not been approved.

“It’s a fairly involved review,” Ross said of such applications.

The city typically tries to do the review and give the developer a yay or nay on proceeding within two or three weeks of submitting the application, he explained.

The application was submitted Monday.

This morning, realtors and developers involved in the project said officials with Ketza Construction – which has been tasked with building the tower – were meeting with the city today about the matter.

It’s not anticipated a stop-work order will have any major impact on the project.

Realtor Marilyn Mah pointed out the structure placed on the site Wednesday was the same one they used a few years ago, when the Mah’s Point condo development at Second Avenue and Jarvis Street was built, though it now has a minor addition to it.

There is already a lot of interest in the 40 residential units in the new building, with three of the four penthouses “already spoken for.”

As well, interest has been expressed in another four of the condo units on the lower levels even before the website for the project goes live.

It’s anticipated the website detailing floor plans will be online by the end of the business day Friday.

The units on the lower floors will all be two-bedroom/two-bathroom units with six on each floor.

The top floor will feature four penthouse units with two or three bedrooms and two bathrooms depending on the unit.

Prices will range from $369,500 for some of the standard condo units on the lower floors to $681,000 for the largest penthouse.

Developer Tippy Mah said this morning the project is expected to cost about $24 million to build, with the 40 residential units and five commercial units on the ground floor all to be sold. The commercial spaces will be priced at $375 per square foot.

Tippy Mah noted much of the work on planning for the building began about a year ago.

With the area zoned to allow mixed-use commercial buildings of up to 25 metres, it just made sense to use the allowable height limit to build the eight storeys, as demand seems to be there.

Tippy Mah and Glenn Munro, who’s representing him on the project, pointed to the success of Mah’s Point in noting that this is the type of housing many are looking for.

“I think it’s a lifestyle choice,” Munro said.

He pointed to the convenience for many in the project’s central location.

Another advantage is being able to simply “walk away” from the unit without a lot of security or maintenance concerns if residents are out of the territory for extended periods.

“We think this is the right project at the right time,” he said.

Mah’s Point was built after a low-rise hotel and bar were demolished during the summer of 2009.