The Yukon government has a significant role to play in making affordable housing available downtown, says NDP Leader Liz Hanson.

Whatever comes of the city's planning exercise for the south end of downtown Whitehorse, Hanson said today in an interview, the government needs to act now on its large vacant property between Fifth Avenue and the clay cliffs.

It must not allow the land to get into the hands of private developers simply interested in maximizing profits with high-end condo developments only the wealthy can afford, she said.

Hanson pointed out the issue of social housing units in the south end, and what should happen when the units reach the end of their lifespan in 10 to 20 years, has been raised during the city's planning charrette this week.

The exercise being conducted by city planners and other professionals from Outside is good, and it needs to run its course between now and the report to city council next month, she said.

Hanson said one of the questions being asked surrounds the future of the social housing units along Taylor, Drury and Jeckell streets, and how a greater mix of social and private housing might be a better fit.

And that's OK, said the Whitehorse Centre MLA.

Hanson, however, said whatever happens in the planning exercise needs to include a government-driven initiative to make the vacant land available for affordable housing.

Affordable housing, she said, is not just social housing provided by the Yukon Housing Corp., but includes housing for first-time home buyers who aren't able to crack the current market conditions.

It's housing for employees of the service sector who work downtown, for the junior government workers, with a blend of regular social housing, she said.

As the owner of the land, she said, the Yukon government is in a position to broker a deal with developers and put housing along Fifth Avenue on the market for the cost of development, and not the heated market value that exists these days.

Not only is the government in a position to leverage a deal for affordable housing, it has a responsibility to do so, she said.

"Government has a job in my mind to make land available for those who need it right now,” she said.

She's talked to employers in both the public and private sectors, and their ability to attract employees is being dragged down by the price of housing.

"Not everybody can afford to live in Copper Ridge.”

An NDP government, she said, would push forward with the initiative to make the vacant land available for the cost of development.

Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell told a gathering of community leaders last week his party is committed to selling residential lots developed by the Yukon government for the cost of development, and not the escalating market value.

The Yukon Party government, he told those in Haines Junction attending the annual meeting of the Association of Yukon Communities, has let the price of land and housing get out of hand over the last 10 years.

Housing corporation vice-president Dale Kozmen said today there's been discussion during the south-end planning exercise about providing a greater mix of social and private sector housing.

The value of real estate in the south end has been emphasized in the process, he acknowledged.

Kozman said regardless of what comes of the planning initiative, nothing is going to happen for 10 or 20 years down around Jeckell Street and the surrounding neighbourhood.

Those townhouses, built in 1971 and 1972, have a shelf-life, but recent renovations have pushed that shelf life out another 10 or 20 years, he said.

Kozman said if and when a decision is made to reduce the amount of social housing in the south end, the units will simply be replaced with ones built elsewhere in the city.

And therein lies one of the NDP leader's greatest concerns, Hanson said.

Hanson said the downtown has always been a healthy mix of residents struggling to get by, some not getting by and those living quite comfortably.

Allowing social and affordable housing to be squeezed out of the downtown to make room for high-end condos with a view will change all that, she said.

Hanson said dedicating the tract of land along Fifth Avenue to a mix of affordable housing will ensure those service workers and junior government employees can still live in a place of their own.

Otherwise, she asked, where are they going to go?