Photo by Dan Davidson
ON BORROWED TIME – The Korbo Apartment building in Dawson City will be torn down to make way for new housing lots.
Tender issued for controversial demolition
Despite widespread protests in Dawson City, the Yukon Housing Corp. is bulldozing
Despite widespread protests in Dawson City, the Yukon Housing Corp. is bulldozing ahead with the demolition of the town's Korbo Apartment building.
The government has issued a tender for the removal of hazardous materials and the structure's demolition.
A lottery will be held soon for the sale of the residential lots which will be developed on the site.
"Due to the environmental concerns and the age and condition of the building, the best way to provide housing on the Korbo site is to demolish it and build fresh,”
Steve Nordick, the Klondike MLA and minister responsible for the housing corporation, said Wednesday.
"Yukon Housing Corporation is addressing its environmental responsibility and creating solutions to increase housing options in Dawson City.”
Approximately 22,000 litres of fuel leaked from a ruptured fuel line into the ground at the Korbo site in 2010, the corporation has said.
The housing corporation will work with environmental and municipal authorities during the building's teardown and the cleanup of the site.
"If Yukon Housing chose to leave the building in place, it would take approximately five to six years before the site is remediated,” Nordick added.
"In addition, the Korbo Apartments would have to stay vacant during this time, and that's why we have chosen a quick, cost-effective solution to this issue.”
Critics of the plan have said it's irresponsible to knock down the building when Dawson is in the throes of a serious housing crunch.
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Dan Davidson on Sep 2, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Two problems here. 1) This is basically the YTG press release with a bit of material added. I didn't write it or submit it, so it shouldn't have my byline, although I did take the photo back in July. 2) The Korbo property is not part of the coming land lottery. See my story at "http://www.whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/slinky-mine-area-roads-to-be-realigned" for the actual disposition of the Korbo land. The land lottery is a separate issue.