Construction is well underway, but the formal groundbreaking on a social housing project in the new Ingram subdivision didn't occur until Friday morning.

On hand at the event with shovels in hand were Yukon Senator Dan Lang, representing Diane Finley, the federal minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.; Ray Webb, a councillor with the Kwanlin Dun First Nation; and Jim Kenyon, the minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corp.

The ground-breaking was held to announce the construction of the six townhouses that will be used as affordable housing units, with the shell of the building sitting directly behind where the dirt was turned.

The $2.1-million project is being funded by federal stimulus dollars.

"Our government is taking action to help ensure our economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth,” Lang said in a statement. "Year two of Canada's Economic Action Plan will continue to create jobs and stimulate the economy here in Yukon and in all corners of the country while also supporting Canadian workers and families.”

The six-unit structure is being built by the Kwanlin Dun First Nation Development Corp. 42135. It will include two four-bedroom townhouses and four three-bedroom units for eligible social housing clients.

As Doug Caldwell, a spokesman for the Yukon Housing Corp., explained this morning, the cost of the housing units will be based as all social housing is, on 25 per cent of the household's gross annual income for eligible clients.

Those eligible for the housing are approved through the Whitehorse Housing Authority. There are currently 34 seniors and 48 non-seniors on the waiting list for social housing, with this being aimed at the non-senior population.

"(The) Yukon Housing Corporation is pleased about this new housing project,” said Kenyon.

"Six Yukon families will find affordable and comfortable homes here, and the project is providing beneficial SuperGreen training to the construction industry.”

The homes are being built to Yukon Housing's SuperGreen standard. That is a higher energy efficiancy level than the newly adopted standard for buildings in the city that took effect last year, and mirrors the housing corporation's GreenHome standards.

Along with the $2.1 million the federal government is putting into the new housing project, officials also noted Ottawa is joining the Yukon government in retrofitting buildings throughout the Yukon to higher energy efficiency standards.

The federal government has put $3.3 million into the retrofits, with the territory contributing $430,000.

More insulation has been added to some units,16 older furnaces have been replaced with new, more efficient models, three boiler systems have been upgraded, and 12 Heat Recovery Ventilation systems have been installed.

As well, 42 steel fuel tanks have been replaced with dual containment fiberglass tanks, and there have been upgrades to lighting and air sealing.

Two housing corporation apartment buildings in Whitehorse are also set to receive major exterior retrofits that include super-insulating the buildings.

"Investing in our existing social housing stock helps extend the life of the buildings and the retrofits will result in better, more comfortable housing for our clients,” Kenyon said.

Work will continue on both the retrofits and townhouse development, with the townhouses expected to be finished in the fall, though no firm date has been set.

As Caldwell said this morning, while the shell of the building is up, there remains a lot of work to do on the structure.