Glass-blower first to build on Whitehorse's Motorways land

Yukon glass-blower Luann Baker-Johnson and her partner Mel are the first to break ground on the city of Whitehorse's 'Motorways' lands.

The high-priced commercial properties have sat vacant since they were put on the market almost four years ago.

"Mel and I are spending our children's inheritance," says Baker-Johnson of their dream project, "because the Yukon doesn't have one."

The couple spent $540,000 to purchase the property last year.

Baker-Johnson says they could have saved a lot of money by simply expanding their existing studio north of Whitehorse at Little Fox Lake.

"But location, location, location," she says. "No teenager would ever wander by and walk through those doors.

"It's not community. This is the ideal lot and location so it was worth the money."

The couple has spent the past year designing and planning the commercial space which will house a large viewing area, and all the equipment for glassblowing.

"Any Yukoner who wants to will be able to sit down at those benches and play with 2,000 degree glass," says Baker-Johnson.

 Glass-blowing clients are lining up for space 

Baker-Johnson recalls a painter dropping by while they were just surveying the property who offered to paint her studio for some bench time blowing glass.

"Isn't that fabulous? Great trade." 

She says their website is operational and glassblowers from Skagway have already called wanting to reserve studio time on winter weekends when it's too cold in Alaska.

Baker-Johnson envisions broadening the attraction by putting on a concert night the last Friday of every month.

"What would happen if we put an opera singer together with glass making...and people can just come in and watch that happening and be entertained.

City finally recovering multi-million dollar development costs

Development on the refurbished former railway yards is welcome news for the City of Whitehorse.

"It's prime real estate," says Land Development Supervisor Cathy Small, acknowledging sales agreements the last few months recouping more than $2 million in development costs.

"Certainly the development of the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre, the library and now the seniors' housing (under construction) in the neighbourhood is significant."

Meanwhile, owners of the $1.5 million properties facing Second Avenue say they'll be breaking ground soon on their mixed development 'Mr. Mikes' restaurant and pub.