Larga Kitikmeot applies to build new 75-room medical travel lodge in Yellowknife

Larga Kitikmeot has applied to build a new four-storey, 75-room medical travel lodge in Yellowknife. 

At city council's governance and priorities meeting Tuesday, councillors heard that if approved, the new travel lodge would be built on 346 Borden Drive, close to commercial spaces like Mary Brown's Chicken, as well as residential buildings. 

Larga gives people from Nunavut's Kitikmeot region a place to stay, meals and a ride to and from the airport as well as medical appointments when they travel to Yellowknife for health care.

It currently has a 28-room medical lodge on Franklin Ave., but Larga Kitikmeot president Casey Adlem said the facility no longer has enough room for the amount of clients they are receiving. This has prompted them to look at a new, larger building as a solution.  

Yet letters from community members to the city indicate that there are concerns about the effect the medical lodge would have on the area. In a report to council, city staff said they have received 13 letters from people citing concerns including a rise in traffic, compatibility and the visual impact of the building on the area.

Since transportation is provided for all clients at the lodge, a rise in traffic should not be an issue, said Coun. Ryan Fequet, who added he believes the lodge is "a great use of the vacant land." 

City manager Stephen Van Dine said while Yellowknife doesn't have design guidelines, there have been discussions around creating buildings that fit into the neighbourhood and that builders are encouraged to "be proud of the piece that they're building and investing in."  

Larga Kitikmeot's current medical lodge in Yellowknife has 24-hour security and quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day. These rules would transfer over to the new building on Borden Drive, said Adlem in an interview with CBC. 

Many councillors who attended the committee meeting voiced their support for the project. 

"This is the type of facility that contributes to Yellowknife's ability to serve as a hub for our neighbours and it works towards greater sustainability," Fequet said. "While I empathize with the neighbours whose view will undoubtedly change, I do believe allowing this discretionary use under these circumstances is in the best interest of the city."

Coun. Steve Payne echoed these sentiments. 

"I'm very happy to see this come forward," he said. "I'm very happy to be able to live in an area that's supporting people from our closest neighbours in their medical adventures down here." 

The city recommended that council approve the application. If approved, there is still no clear timeline on when construction of the new building would begin. 

The proposal will come forward to council at a later date for a vote.