It was only last Christmas when Rob Warburton could finally get a mortgage on a property he purchased years ago, he said. "We literally just wrapped this up."

Warburton bought the property, formerly known as the Northern Lites Motel, in July 2022, with the goal of giving it a significant makeover. Two-and-a-half years and $2.5 million later, it seems Warburton has accomplished what he originally set out to do, and, metaphorically at least, has put his money where his mouth is.

Back in 2023, when SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ previously spoke to him about this project, he said his plan was to transform the property into new homes for 26 Yellowknife residents.

On Feb. 12, he told SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ that there are 26 suites on the property, now known as Outpost, and close to 30 people living there.

Of the money put into this initiative, Warburton said none of it came from GNWT grants. There were other private financiers, however.

"That was my life savings, a line of credit on my house SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” we were all in on this," he said of his part in paying to build the housing units.

Outpost's units meet Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's definition of affordable, Warburton explained, which means less than 30 per cent of a household's pre-tax income income. In this case, rent is $1,650 per unit, which includes all utilities and internet, he said.

Warburton, who is also a city councillor, said his experience as a real estate developer adds needed insight into the policy side of council.

"I'm bringing reality into a policy conversation," he said. "We do a lot of talking about housing in the North. We have symposiums, forums and oftentimes no one in those conversations actually builds anything or actually invests any of their own money into that."

Warbuton said his ability to add real-world experience in policy discussions was one of the reasons he ran for council in the first place. On the developer side, he said he has made money from this project, being that it is a business, but he added that he also pursued it because he loves the city.

"We keep talking about revitalizing downtown and development, but that requires you to actually do something. Not talk about it, not to do more roundtables SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” actually take your money and put it where your mouth is."

Warburton also described housing as a core need, asserting that neither the city's economy nor territory's will grow until the issue gets solved. And all it takes is one step at a time.

"Everyone assumes it's big projects that fix a community. It's not. It's things like this. You chip away over a long period of time, one building at a time, and you chunk away. Over time it gets better," he said. 

"It's really easy to be negative," he said, noting that downtown is still far from perfect. "But doing things like this is how you start addressing those issues. You actually have to do something to improve your environment. You can't just complain it's horrible and not do anything."

The 12-person wait list to get a unit at Outpost is full, said Warburton, noting that demand for housing in the city is currently higher than its supply. The city has a homeless population slightly exceeding 300 people, according to a count conducted late last year.

There's plenty more housing work happening both within the downtown core and city at large.

Not far from Outpost, Housing NWT has confirmed a mixed-use, 50-unit dwelling is underway in the vacant lot next to The Raven Pub. 

Housing NWT spokesperson Jeanne Yurris said foundation work on the new building will begin this spring. 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. It is currently on track to open by fall 2026.

There's also the Bellanca building on 50 Street, which is going to be a 72-unit apartment complex with two commercial units on the main floor.

"That's tens of millions of dollars, just on one street," said Warburton of the various developments. "There's a perception that nothing is happening SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” it just it doesn't happen fast. It takes a lot of time and effort and capital to do it, but we're chipping away."

The city also completed 273 new housing units in 2024. This year, it has approved permits for 312 more units.