Yellowknife will see a major addition to its social and transitional housing stock after PCL Construction Management was awarded a $55 million contract to build a 64-unit development on the former Rockhill Apartments site.
Site and scope
The project, called the 54th Avenue Housing Project, will be built where the Rockhill building stood before it was destroyed by fire in 2018. Housing NWT says the development will feature 30 transitional housing suites and 34 social housing units, alongside a new early learning and childcare space.
According to the release, the transitional suites will be private single units with a kitchenette and bathroom and will share communal program spaces. The social housing component will provide a variety of unit types and will include barrier-free units to accommodate residents with mobility needs.
Partners and funding
The project is funded jointly by the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada. More than $24 million of the financing comes from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the release states.
"We’re proud to be building in Yellowknife and to be part of a project that will have a lasting impact in the community. Together with our partners, we’re committed to delivering a high-quality housing complex that will provide welcoming places for residents to live." — Jason Portas, PCL Construction
Local impacts
The development touches on several local priorities: increasing the supply of affordable housing, creating transitional supports for people moving out of emergency or unstable housing, and adding childcare capacity close to homes. For residents who remember the Rockhill Apartments, the site’s redevelopment replaces a long-vacant lot with planned housing and services.
- Construction contract awarded to PCL Construction Management.
- Total of 64 housing units: 30 transitional suites and 34 social units.
- Includes an early learning and childcare space and barrier-free units.
Timing and next steps
Construction is projected to begin in the fall, according to the announcement. The release does not provide a completion date or a detailed construction timeline. Further details on unit sizes, rent levels, eligibility or program delivery were not included in the statement.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total units | 64 |
| Transitional suites | 30 |
| Social housing units | 34 |
| Project value | $55 million |
| Federal CMHC contribution | more than $24 million |
The announcement follows the project’s initial reveal in February and comes as jurisdictions across the North seek to address chronic housing shortages, overcrowding and limited supportive services. By combining transitional suites with longer-term social housing and an on-site childcare centre, planners say the development aims to offer more than just a roof — it intends to provide supports that help residents stabilise and move toward independent living.
Questions remain for local residents and service providers about how the transitional program will be delivered, which organisations will operate communal program spaces, and how placement priorities will be set. Housing NWT and PCL were the named parties in the release; further operational details were not provided in the statement.
As construction starts this fall, the project will also bring temporary jobs and contracts to the local economy. For a city where housing and childcare access are persistent concerns, the 54th Avenue development represents a substantial investment and a test case for combining housing supply with wraparound supports in Yellowknife.
