Yellowknife approves $1.4M parking lot purchase

Yellowknife city councillors approved a motion last night to buy an unused parking lot for $1.4 million and turn it into a new public square.

The city also decided to sell three empty lots, also downtown, for $1.3 million.

That will go towards the purchase of the parking lot located on the corner of 50th Avenue and 50th Street adjacent to the Centre Square Mall.

Jeff Humble, the city’s director of planning and development, told the CBC that buying the lot will allow the city work with the owner of Centre Square Mall on making improvements to the mall and provide a public gathering space downtown for outdoor events.

It’s part of the city's plan to revitalize the downtown core.

Mayor Mark Heyck told CBC last week that if the lot is purchased, consultations will happen with the public and the business sector to decide what will be developed on that lot.