Whitehorse Daily Star

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Council poised to vote on incentive

City council will vote Monday on whether to provide an incentive for a 32-unit housing development at 65 Gleaner Ave. in the Whistle Bend subdivision.

By Whitehorse Star on November 25, 2021

City council will vote Monday on whether to provide an incentive for a 32-unit housing development at 65 Gleaner Ave. in the Whistle Bend subdivision.

The matter was presented to council at its meeting last Monday.

The project proponent is planning on four separate buildings, each with eight two-bedroom units.

The administrative report presented to council notes the proponent has already provided the appropriate site and development plans, and has been issued a development permit.

With a housing density of 79 units per hectare, the project density exceeds the minimum density of 50 units per hectare required to qualify for an incentive.

The amount of the incentive being proposed is $69,920. The incentive is being provided through the reduction of fees normally applied by the city as development cost charges.

“In response to council’s strategic priorities on housing, this policy is meant to encourage smaller, denser housing forms in targeted areas,” says the administrative report.

“Under this policy, developments that meet the specified criteria are eligible for a reduction of development cost charges (DCCs).”

City administration was asked Monday whether the proponent is planning to build the four apartment buildings all at once or in stages.

Administration indicated officials are not sure, but noted projects of this type are normally built in stages so the developer can begin earning revenue before moving on to the next building.

Comments (7)

Up 3 Down 1

Josey Wales on Nov 30, 2021 at 10:32 am

Hey DTD...not really that odd, just optics.
The room has been rife with flaming socialists for a long time now, matters not who warms the chairs...same message.

We need your money to fund our fantasies and grease the wheels of cronyism to gentrify this place.
Hug a thug is always present, as are the race hucksters, the perpetual victim propagation, the we hate the free world commies...
So yes you are correct, the people look a tad different but the tone and deafness of said tone...is as constant as gravity with that hall of entitlement and nobility.

Oh yeah, y’all notice we are clearly in a class war?
No...hence the decomposition and epic polarizing suppose?

Up 1 Down 0

Deborah Turner-Davis on Nov 29, 2021 at 10:54 am

This is a photo of the previous mayor and council. Odd choice.

Up 9 Down 0

moe on Nov 26, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Who is the developer? That is basic information that has been left out of this article.

Lots of free money for developers these days. It's up to $100,000 per unit for 'affordable' (median rent) shoe boxes. That's grant money straight into their pocket from the Yukon Government, then they show up at the door of the city to get some more. I'm getting a little tired of this and at the very least, these individuals can stand up to the scrutiny of the public.

Up 11 Down 0

Markus Freedman on Nov 26, 2021 at 11:17 am

How about an incentive for the hefty property taxes? That is money well
spent dear Mayor and Council.

Up 12 Down 3

Stop throwing money at it on Nov 26, 2021 at 8:11 am

The housing affordability issues isn't going to be fixed by any form of government spending, be it municipal, Territorial or federal. In fact, government spending and the debasement of our currency is inflation, rise in costs is just a symptom of this. Open more lots, scrap the land lottery and let free enterprise step in and start building. More lots available for development is all you need to do. If you want to increase affordability you can lower the cost of your lots so regular people can actually afford a construction mortgage, not just developers.

Up 14 Down 0

Max Mack on Nov 25, 2021 at 11:32 pm

More free stuff for developers. Of course, council will approve it.

Up 34 Down 2

Thomas Brewer on Nov 25, 2021 at 12:39 pm

So - who is the proponent? Given the current housing market, it seems absurd to be gifting developers with taxpayers dollars.

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