The Raven Pub will be getting some new neighbours in the coming months.

Construction for a mixed-use 50-unit dwelling is underway in the vacant lot between the pub and the Gold Range Hotel. 

In an email to SA国际影视传媒, Housing NWT spokesperson Jeanne Yurris said foundation work on the new building will begin in spring 2025.

The mixed-use units are on 5016, 5018, and 5022 50 St., according to the city. The dwelling will have 25 barrier-free studio units for seniors, people with mobility challenges, as well as 25 two-bedroom units for small families, according to Yurris. 

Eleanor Young, president and CEO for Housing NWT, said the dwelling will cost around $22 million with most of that money coming courtesy of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

"There will be 50 apartments in it," Young explained. "The first floor with have the Yellowknife Housing Authority office, which is where all of our tenants in Yellowknife pay their rent or where homeowners can come in and apply for repair programs."

Young added that Housing NWT's North Slave district office will also be on the first floor.

"We put the retail components to housing, where all of our tenants come in and do their business with us, on the main floor," she said. "And then there will be a separate entrance for the occupants of the building and there will be a laundry room for their use in that as well on the main floor."

Housing NWT has not been in contact with The Raven to hear what they have to say about the development next to it, said Young, but they haven't heard any complaints either.

The people who will end up living at this dwelling are likely going to be the same people currently staying at other public housing units, Young added. 

"We lease a number of spaces throughout Yellowknife right now, and part of the goal here is for us to own our own building for our tenants so we have a little bit more control on things like day-to-day operations and maintenance," she said. "It will also free up the units that we currently lease to be available for other people needing units in Yellowknife."

For the most part, between the new dwelling and Aspen Apartments' renovation, there will be about 100 leases that will become free to others in need, said Young, and no one has been notified yet that they'll be getting moved at some point.

As for when people will be notified of their move, Young could not say.

"We're still two years away from this building being complete," she said. "They will get notice ahead of the actual move."

The new dwelling is scheduled to be finished by fall 2026.