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Yukon government sells 5th and Rogers lot to private developer for $1

Lot expected to be developed for residential and commercial use
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Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker, left, chief operating officer Tiffany Eckert-Maret of West End Developments and Premier Ranj Pillai announce the sale of the 5th and Rogers from government to the private developer. The press conference took place March 14 in the government’s media room at the legislative building. (Dana Hatherly/Yukon News)

The Yukon government has agreed to sell the 5th and Rogers site in downtown Whitehorse to a private developer for a dollar.

The goal is for the space to be used for residential and commercial purposes, according to a joint press conference with representatives from the Yukon government, the seller, and West End Developments, the purchaser.

The parcel of land located by the clay cliffs at 5th Avenue and Rogers Street has been sitting empty for years and has been a political football. The size of the lot for building development is 2.12 hectares.

Chief operating officer Tiffany Eckert-Maret of West End Developments told the media room at the Yukon legislature during the announcement on March 14 that she looks forward to seeing kids playing, elders walking and people reclaiming the land there.

“I’m really excited about the laughter that’s going to be filling those streets,” she said.

Eckert-Maret indicated the project will eventually bring online more than 300 homes including affordable units, market rentals and rent-to-own. An exact breakdown wasn’t available.

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A design concept for the empty lot at 5th Avenue and Rogers Street in downtown Whitehorse, as rendered by Kobayashi + Zedda Architects Limited. (Supplied/Government of Yukon)

The premier previously said he wants to see 300 units built there.

Premier Ranj Pillai, who is the minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation, noted it’s been a “long-time coming.”

Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker said his department estimated the government would’ve spent $12 million to $14 million on potential land development costs.

Pillai and Streicker indicated the Yukon government won’t be putting any more funding towards this project.

As part of the sale, the developer is taking on liabilities and costs tied to developing the land such as dealing with slope stability, managing contaminants, removing existing buildings and relocating power lines.

Building a berm will be required prior to constructing any housing.

“That’s them taking that on and we think this is a win-win,” Streicker said.

The property value is estimated at around $4 million to $5 million, according to officials.

Currently, building height limits are between 15 metres to 25 metres throughout the site, per a joint press release.

Yukon-based company West End Developments consists of Ta’an Kwäch’än Council’s Da Daghay Development Corporation, Northern Vision Development LP, Kobayashi + Zedda Architects Limited and Ketza Construction Corporation.

They are renaming the site Kèjän + Rogers. Kèjän means five in Southern Tutchone.

The Yukon Party Caucus issued a statement to the News that indicates it’s hopeful to see more housing available soon, blaming the governing Yukon Liberal Party for the “housing crisis.”

The sale closes what the caucus referred to as an “embarrassing chapter” for the premier.

“The territorial Liberals promised to sell the lot for housing development during the 2016 election, and the Liberals held a press conference on the lot during the 2021 election campaign,” reads the statement.

“It has been a long-time coming after numerous delays and false starts.”

Yukon NDP housing critic Lane Tredger, the MLA for Whitehorse Centre, said that while this should’ve happened a decade ago, they are pleased to see the partners involved.

Private development should be funded privately, Tredger said.

“I’m really happy to see downtown being a place where people want to live and want to work and be because it’s a wonderful, wonderful neighborhood. But if people are going to live there and it’s going to be attractive for people who live downtown, then we need to think about infrastructure that supports downtown,” they said.

“Where are those families going to send their kids to go to school? So, I’m hoping that with this will come a commitment from the Yukon government to a downtown elementary school.”

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Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com



Dana Hatherly

About the Author: Dana Hatherly

I’m the legislative reporter for the Yukon News.
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