Construction on AVENS Pavillion, a 102-unit seniors facility, is set to begin early this month after a development appeal made by a group of 14 neighbours was dismissed.

The expansion is intended to fill gaps in affordable senior housing by providing a wider range of independent and supportive housing options, and is slated to open in 2023.

Daryl Dolynny, CEO of AVENS, said this has been a long process, but he’s excited about getting the project started.

“This has always been a community-based project,” said Dolynny. “I think the one thing that I heard loud and clear in my role as CEO here was that I think everyone agreed that the need for affordable housing for seniors is great.”

Dolynny said construction has been delayed for nearly a year because of permitting issues, but “we should start seeing activity on the property as early as late this week or early next week.”

AVENS received $33.7 million from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to support the AVENS Pavilion project last October.

Concerns from neighbours

The group of 14 residents neighbouring Matonabee Street started expressing concerns about the development earlier this year. They said the City of Yellowknife hasn’t considered how they’ll be impacted by the development.

Residents complained the development cast shade over some homes for much of the day, its close proximity would hinder their privacy and a narrow access lane could pose safety risks.

They also said the city’s decision-making process was biased because Councillor Niels Konge didn’t disclose his friendship with AVENS CEO Daryl Dolynny.

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