Hotel Project Still Idle
Crane sits idle as hotel project has been quiet since March of this year – photo 250News
Prince George, B.C.- It’s been several months, and still no return to work on the Delta Hotel project on Brunswick Street in Prince George.
Rod McLeod, the person behind the development company River City Hotel Management Corporation says the project is still on the books “We ‘re still working on the same sort of thing, trying to get the final design done to tie in with another project, but with holidays and getting approvals, it has taken some time, so we’re still at the same point as we were before.”
250News has contacted Delta Hotels to find out when they might have the new designs ready, but our call was not returned by publication time.
When 250 News spoke with McLeod in April, he had expressed a desire to have the project back up and running by June 1st. At the time he said the construction had gone as far as it could go until new designs had been developed to incorporate the addition of a commercial development to tie in with the hotel. He said “Any changes that are made have to be approved by Delta, they have a design team there, and of course the City has to approve any changes we make too.”
The changes, said McLeod, included civic services, and creating new entrances and exits to the property.
But there were other problems with some contractors saying the work stoppage had more to do with a lack of cash flow. McLeod admitted in April there were some money issues among the contractors, but was confident the issues would work themselves out.
He now says he is hopeful construction can resume in “about a month.”
The hotel project, which was touted to be a $35 million dollar investment, was initially planned to have 170 hotel rooms, nine extended stay suites, a hospitality suite, a full service restaurant and lounge, fitness centre, indoor pool and spa, business centre and 6,600 square feet of meeting and conference space.
Comments
I’m worried that this project is dead. If they wait much longer, all that exposed re-bar will start to rust. Once that happens, the re-bar will expand and weaken the concrete. The foundations are in jeopardy.
With over $1 million in liens on the property (still there since March), that means that almost no one has been paid.
No work is likely to continue until everyone has been paid up. The trust level with the current developer and the trades is likely poor meaning that it would probably mean a new developer would have to take over.
But why would a new developer want to inherit someone else’s mistakes and their bills? Better to start from scratch if it costs the same.
The question should be, what do we do with this eye-sore?
Just another eyesore in what is a very ugly town.
Reminds me of all those unfinished projects in Mexico – exposed rebar everywhere. It’s all politics.
Graffiti it and call it art! No worse than that hunk of iron at the entrance to the city by Gateway!
Axman, if this town is so ugly to you. Perhaps its time you push off to a better place.
I am sure there are a lot of things we don’t know on this project. Most of the main issues have been picked up by O250
Too bad, that the construction halted and is having problems finding traction.
Cut the rebar flush, pretty it up with some banners, voila … New awards ceremony plaza for the winter games.
Posted by: He spoke on August 21 2014 7:28 AM
Axman, if this town is so ugly to you. Perhaps its time you push off to a better place.
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Already have. This is 250News.com not PGnews.com.
I am curious what the other project is that they are tying into which holding up the show. In preparation for the upcoming November elections, could the tax payers of PG soon see a design and price tag for a Performing Arts Centre?
I hate the welcome to pg sign coming in from the north – just a white board that says welcome to PG. Tiny comunities have way nicer signs
There are some lovely places in PG, downtown is not one of them
If there really was another project, then the developer would fork out the $200 to have someone coat the re-bar with epoxy. A couple of cans of epoxy and a couple of days labour and the re-bar would be protected.
This isn’t about another project. The project is dead. This is about saving face.
this could be the Green legacy to the city and the downtown. Why pay 700 grand to fix up a property next to this? Maybe put some ribbons on the contractor fencing to pretty it up, or the school kids can make a few fish… Or skier outlines to hang on the fence?…
not to worry it matches down town , just another spot wasted this was in the wrong place at the wrong time .
the amount of negative nancy’s around 250News is incredible.
It should be called WTFPGnews. get a life.
It really is unfortunate to see so much negativity regarding our city. Yes, it has seen some bad days, but if you’re from this city, you can see the improvements happening day by day. Our downtown is much better than it was 10 years ago. Change takes time, and perhaps if everyone took a more positive approach, and had pride in our city, it would attract more dollars.
As for this project… I’m unfortunately very skeptical of whether it will proceed or not. It appears they skipped too many steps to rush this along. Fingers cross for a new hotel, or at the very least maybe another investor picks it up and uses it for something else.
This is not the full story. I have heard that they poured the wrong concrete for the original design. 25mpa was poured but supposed to be 32mpa. The foundation can no longer support the # of floors in the original design. Delta didn’t like the reduction so developer is trying to develop a plan B to try to get delta to come back to the table. Just what I heard and it makes sense if you ad this to the story above.
I hope monkeyboots is right. Also, if an error like this occurred, isn’t someone liable for the damages? Seems like someone should have to pay for the removal and the new concrete if they made the mistake.
It reminds me a bit of New York ground zero in 2003. It is not the end of the world, and they can turn it into a shallow pool or another parking lot. But its location is very good for one of these car dealerships. VW can be relocated there from its current position, or how about bringing Benz or Safeway to the city on that spot.
Thanks drfun. Thats good info.
I am not sure why people continue to be screwed by liars,cheats and more often than that incompetents.
Not sure why some posters are unhappy at other posters for negativity. That doesn’t mean that there are not good things in/about Prince George, just that this particular story is not about one of them. This monstrosity is a huge negative on our City. I have little hope that it will be dealt with before the Games this winter. So we will be left with a huge eyesore in the center of it all. For this we closed and sold off a street?
Closing your eyes to the negative sides of things doesn’t make them go away. I appreciate the update, even if it isn’t the whole story.
The City is involved in this process, and they should (as the representatives of the citizens of PG) be telling us what the hell is going on, and how much it is costing us (if any).
The All-West Glass building is taking shape and looks really good!
The CN centre project was Best Western
monkeyboots:”I have heard that they poured the wrong concrete for the original design.”
If true who goofed? If it was the architect she/he is insured (should be) for errors and omissions. Ditto for the contractor! City Hall knows or should know. They do still make equipment for demolishing concrete! Why wait for spring, do it now!
Rumours are not worth the paper they’re printed on.
That being said, “Over promised and under delivered” is a phrase that comes to mind.
I knew the developer was out to lunch when they first announced this project and the expensive condos that there was no market for.
First off…I agree with you JB, off the bat this project seemed a little pie in in the sky….
Second off….any foundation of that size (or magnitude) would have an engineer type person constantly checking the strength (mpa) of the concrete being poured…. (Rolling Mix by the way)
Third off, JB, as much as I enjoy your posts, slow down, do you have a day job…..or does 250 posting pay well..?
Anyone remember the Dude from San Francisco a few years back that was going to re-invent the downtown ? That went away before a shovel hit the dirt at least. This fiasco is yet ANOTHER addition to Mizz Green’s resume. And she thinks she can win the Federal seat? God help us if there are enough stupid or manipulated people still in this City/region to let that happen. And the once respectable Mr Zurowski has the same people pulling his strings. Seems to this voter that Lyn Hall is our only, albeit an indecisive one, choice. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the COURAGE to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference
An announcement will be made within three weeks…………….BIG ANNOUNCEMENT…….
What credentials does Lyn Hall bring to running a municipality besides ego?
Oh do tell!
…About the big announcement.
Too bad the Best Western pulled out from their development. I stayed in the one in Langley and I give them top marks for value. As it stands now PG won’t have anymore rooms come games time, than we did when the Winter Games was first announced.
Big announcement I heard in the rumor mill is that a big Alberta oil company is planning to announce a drilling program for 2500 oil wells in the PG area. Apparent the announcement is eminent from guys that work there….
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