Plans unveiled for Twin Pine Hill hotel in Yellowknife
3-storey hotel will feature 31 rooms, more than previously contemplated
Plans have been unveiled for a hotel near the base of Twin Pine Hill in Yellowknife, close to the border dividing the city's Old Town and downtown area.
Prolific Northern developer Nova Builders has submitted a proposal to the City of Yellowknife for a three-storey, 31-room hotel next door to the Arnica Inn.
"Due to the prominent location of this site within Yellowknife, the city is aware that greater neighbourhood consultation is appreciated," city administrators wrote on the PlaceSpeak page for the proposed development, where photos and plans can be viewed.
PlaceSpeak is a website the city uses to garner feedback on proposed projects. People must sign up with the website if they want to post comments on a project.
"We have extended the opportunity to comment until May 1 and have opened up the consultation to the community," the city recently wrote on the page.
Developer asking to reduce back buffer
Nova Builders is asking for the allowable distance between the rear of the building and the Twin Pine Hill rock wall facing it to be reduced to four metres from six metres.
"If...the rock outcrop behind it will be preserved (i.e. no blasting of the rock), this development will be a good example of working with the landscape," wrote one commenter on PlaceSpeak.
According to the city, the hotel proposal is in line with Yellowknife's design standards for projects in the Twin Pine Hill area.
Those standards require a project to "blend into the natural landscape by minimizing terrain disturbance" and "utilize natural features." They also require projects to incorporate link-ups to the trail system.
Nova Builders has pledged $15,000 to help pay for a Twin Pine Hill trail system, which the city has sought public feedback on in recent months.
Proposal grew from earlier incarnation
A Facebook group called "Friends of Twin Pine Hill" has been following the evolution of the Nova Builders project since January.
Trail enthusiast and group member Jamie Bastedo remarked Sunday on the apparent growth of the project compared to a previously contemplated version of it.
"Early concept plans suggested a two-storey, 19-room 'boutique hotel,'" Bastedo wrote. "The revised plans now show a three-story, 31-room hotel."
"Please feel free to share your concerns or comments about [Nova Builders owner Mike] Mrdjenovich's proposal on this Facebook page to help keep the public conversation going," Bastedo added.
Nova Builders is currently building a 146-room hotel in downtown Yellowknife next door to the city's largest hotel, The Explorer.
A summer 2016 opening is eyed for that hotel.
