On Tuesday, Tippy Mah cut the ribbon on what could become Whitehorse’s first six-storey building.
Called Mah’s Point, the proposed condo development will tower over Second Avenue at Jarvis Street.
But before breaking ground, Mah has to make some sales.
“We have to wait until we sell half of it,” he said.
The $18-million apartment complex will have 52 units selling from $287,900 to $385,900.
On Tuesday afternoon, a crowd gathered around a small portable unit in the empty lot beside the 202 Motor Inn.
Inside the showroom, a miniature condo mock-up displayed quartz and stone island countertops, stainless steel appliances, glass tiles and “Swiss-coffee-white” walls.
“We are going for a clean, modern, bright, finished look,” said Marilyn Mah, who’s selling the units for Coldwell Banker.
The ground floor of the building will be commercial space, with condos on the top five floors.
There will also be underground parking, said Marilyn.
The building will be the first concrete-and-steel residence in Whitehorse, she said.
The goal is to have half of the units sold by September.
“We already have seven spoken for,” said Marilyn.
Ketza Construction will build the condo complex, and owner Peter Densmore’s son Sam has his eye on the best unit in the building - the top apartment in the Southeast corner overlooking Grey Mountain and the Yukon River.
He’s fighting Tippy for it.
“You can have it,” said Tippy.
“I will take any one.
“Of course I am going to live in it,” he added.
Marilyn is hoping to attract a lot of first-time homeowners.
“We wanted to make it easier for the 30-somethings,” she said.
“So people only have to put five per cent down, not 10,” she said.
“That’s because we got great financing from Royal Bank.
“In Vancouver everything is a straight 10 per cent down.”
Living on a busy street like Second Avenue isn’t really a drawback, she added.
“You’re close to the river and trails and shopping and restaurants.”
People sipped bottled water chilled in the demo fridge as they leafed through the glossy Mah’s Point brochure, titled Inspired Urban Living.
It promises: triple-glazed low-e windows, laminate flooring, baseboard heating, kayak and canoe storage and porcelain and glass tiles.
“It’s going to be beautiful,” said Tippy, offering more bottled water.
“I hope you brought your own booze,” he said with a laugh, before cutting the red ribbon in front of the showroom.
Contact Genesee Keevil at
gkeevil@yukon-news.com