2 new apartment buildings to open in Yellowknife this fall

Two new apartment buildings are set to open soon in Yellowknife, but some say it's not enough to keep up with the city's growing housing needs. 

Yellowknife developer Milan Mrdjenovich, told CBC News one building, near Yellowknife's Chateau Nova hotel, will have 54 units that should open in September. 

The other one is in the Niven neighbourhood, which will have 70 units and is expected to open in November. 

According to the 2023 Northern Housing Report — the latest report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that looks at the housing market in Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit — about 28 per cent of families looking for rental housing weren't able to find it. That's despite the vacancy rate nearly doubling from 2022 to 3.5 per cent.

Lisa Thurber, founder of the Tenants Association Northwest Territories, said the new buildings are still not enough to fix the problem many residents are facing.

Thurber, who now lives in Alberta, said the rising cost of living made staying in the N.W.T. impossible for her. 

"It's not just about paying the rent — it's about then having to pay a utility bill, a power bill, a heating bill, insurance," she said.

Rob Warburton, a Yellowknife developer and city councillor, said in order to get more affordable housing in the city, more rental units are needed.

"You need to create more supply, and then that over time will create more affordability because there will be more units available," Warburton said.

"You'll never have affordable units that are built new — it's just not possible without heavy subsidization from the government."

Warburton said if the city wants to see more building happening, it needs to find a way to keep the development process moving. 

Thurber said she, too, thinks the city should get involved — but in respect to finding adequate housing for people.

"No matter the person, or person's situation, support needs to come from the city and government to address the problem at its core," Thurber said.