Ghiai Moving Forward With Metropolis

Thursday, April 24, 2008 03:59 AM

Prince George, B.C. – The plans for Metropolis are still on the books. The developer, Yves Ghiai says he remains optimistic he can start construction this year. “I have done everything I can, the finances are in place, the plans have been drawn up, everything is ready for a permit and all but one of the sub-trades have been lined up.” Ghiai says he is just waiting for a mechanical sub-trade to sign on and once that is done he can move forward.

Ghiai first announced the Metropolis project in the fall of 2005. Since then, the property which is supposed to be the site of the project (lot at 5^th and Quebec) has been sitting idle.

Ghiai put a down payment on the property in 2005, but has yet to purchase it. The City’s Real Estate Division says there is a clause in the contract which will see the price of the property increased to current market value. When asked about the escalation of the price, Ghiai said he couldn’t comment as he didn’t have a copy of the agreement in front of him.

The Metropolis project calls for a mix of condos and retail.

Ghiai says the delays are a result of a labour shortage “None of us could predict there would be a labour shortage.”

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Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 03:59 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: szd on April 24 2008 5:23 AM

Holy Crap is it an election year already ???

Posted by: lunarbase on April 24 2008 5:52 AM

This is one development that just shouldn't go ahead. Scale down the condos to maybe a 250,000 dollar range and then they will sell, assuming the people who buy them can't smell.

Posted by: Eagleone on April 24 2008 5:53 AM

I guess Colin must be running this year. I bet they find a way to dig a hole on the property with a small security bond or something just in time for the election.

Posted by: Moses on April 24 2008 7:01 AM

If is wasn't so funny, it'd be sad.

Every 6 months or so someone sticks a quarter in the Ghiai Magic Metropolis Machine, the lights come on, he comes out and say 'we're almost ready', then goes back inside.

What an absolute embarrassment for City Hall

Posted by: He speaks on April 24 2008 7:38 AM

Moses, your right with the quarter.

He wants 75% sold before he will go with it. Wheres the risk. Hayer Homes, and Fortwood goes forward on projects without anything presold.

Hey I guess Colin gets to recycle to the project for this election also.

Posted by: metalman on April 24 2008 7:53 AM

Guy says "none of us could predict there would be a labour shortage"
I have to assume that city hall is telling him what to say, because only a government could come up such an asinine statement. Anybody with the power of observation, and a modicum of common sense could see the "labour shortage" coming. Gimme a break! This condo project is political, with a base of greed supporting it. Don't believe everything the press feeds us.
metalman.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on April 24 2008 8:08 AM

This reminds me back in the days when the Pine Beetle was just getting started. Despite what the forestry people were saying, "know" one thought it would be bad enough to wipe out every pine tree in PG.

Now real estate people are saying start building for the grey boomers - it is going to be big. Forget about real estate that used to be in demand, things are going to change. I wonder where Ghia House fits in with what is going to happen?

Posted by: Yamchargers on April 24 2008 9:11 AM

There is still plenty of risk with 75% presales. In Van projects are failing that are 100% presold due to the increase in costs of raw materials and labor.

Posted by: owl on April 24 2008 9:17 AM

"When asked about the escalation of the price, Ghiai said he couldn�t comment as he didn�t have a copy of the agreement in front of him."

That says it all to me in one telling sentence. A real business man, eh?

Posted by: owl on April 24 2008 9:25 AM

Labour shortage? You mean at $20/hr .... yes then there is a labour shortage.

It seems to me that during these labour shortages we get to build a $20 million retrofit for CN transmodal operation, a controversial berm on top of River Road, a UNBC building, a parkade and Casino, a plaza at Riverview, several more buildings at "box store heaven", one or more car dealerships, a really stupid smart development at Hill Street, etc. etc.

It seems that the only "labour shortages" are associated with builders of places like the Sheraton and the new Sandman who are probably using home builders for commercial projects.

Posted by: owl on April 24 2008 9:25 AM

oh ... I forgot the airport and the runway expansion ...... and probably many others as well......

Posted by: owl on April 24 2008 9:28 AM

Maybe the Cameron street bridge and the police station will suffer from the same problem?

Who is this guy trying to kid? Bunch of hillbillies up there in the boonies of Canada is probably what he figures .....

Maybe he can pull the wool over the eyes of people in California.

Posted by: Harbinger on April 24 2008 9:43 AM

Just wondering if Mr. Ghiai has a brother named Carmen? Ha ha ha.

Posted by: wavoes on April 24 2008 9:53 AM

good thing Yves Ghiai or any other developer dont read the reader comments on this site...nothing but negative comments about something that could benefit the downtown...this is such a negative group of people...WAY TO SELL PRINCE GEORGE GUYS!!!

Why would anyone want to invest money in our town with supporters and winers like you all

Posted by: DPJ on April 24 2008 10:11 AM

Good point Wavoes. The only way to promote a product and its city is to be POSITIVE!!!!!!!!!

On the positive side of things, if anyone takes time to compare Prince George to other forestry towns and cities, the economy has not suffered dramatically with the slowdown in forestry as others have. Must mean that since the last recession (approximately 4 years ago), there must have been a big push in diversifying the economy (wich is evidence, for example CN modal project, airport, etc.) Most of you may put Mayor Colin down for his personal life (which is not a good example if the "rumours" are correct) but he does a damm good job bringing the city around in the right direction economically. As for this project, lets hope for the best that it will get go ahead. At least he is still thinking of Prince George.

Posted by: thereasonableman on April 24 2008 10:29 AM

I call bullsh*t.

Posted by: owl on April 24 2008 10:30 AM

I see you have put your $25,000 down on a unit in the Ghiai project wavoes ...

Let me just put it this way, there are those who do and those who don't. Majors, the group putting together the project in the Gateway, UNBC, Sandman, the developers of Box Store Heaven, Riverview Plaza, the Brick, Starbucks, Marios', even PBEC, are those who fit into the first category, Ghiai is one who fits into the second.

I am a strong believer in actions speaking louder than words.

So, let's act to clean up the air and downtown !!! Are you with those of us who want to do that??

How do you want to start other than bitchin' about the bitchers???

Posted by: wavoes on April 24 2008 10:49 AM

well owl...maybe we can start by having you run for MAYOR.

Then as your first act of business, you can shut down the remaining mills and polluters to correct the air quality and then move all the homeless people into the Ghiai project to clean up our streets.

Posted by: wavoes on April 24 2008 10:50 AM

what do you do for work Owl...

Posted by: DPJ on April 24 2008 11:04 AM

His work is to bitch about everything

Posted by: lmorg on April 24 2008 11:06 AM

They should have placed it somewhere else...I mean right next to the homeless shelter on dominion of all places???!!!

Posted by: Death to Socialism on April 24 2008 12:05 PM

Screw it. Let's just give up on everything.....

Posted by: Buzz on April 24 2008 12:15 PM

While I scan this site from time to time, I find it really difficult to read the same old shallow and ridiculous CRAP that many people spew forth. How can you slap a guy like this developer around in the face repeatedly, then whine and cry about how horrible PG is because nobody wants to do business here. I hope like hell that business people outside PG avoid reading these comments...I'd stay away too if I read this junk.

Posted by: Moses on April 24 2008 12:29 PM

'How can you slap a guy like this developer around in the face repeatedly, then whine and cry about how horrible PG is because nobody wants to do business here.'

That's the point exactly Buzz.

The City has a quality piece of land in their inventory, and (until recently) a marketer in the form of City Centre Ventures.

The best they could come up with is some 'developer' from California (that hasn't completed a single construction project, apparently) that the mayor met on a toodle.

The City should pull the plug on this ridiculous charade, and actively market that property to a real developer, with a real interest, with real money.

Ditto for a raft of other (currently) crapped-out pieces of land in the City's inventory.

Get on the phone, jump on a plane, spend some money and get the shit-hole called 'Downtown Prince George' under the noses of some REAL developers.

Posted by: DPJ on April 24 2008 12:53 PM

Hopefully Ben doesn't kick a bunch of us off opinion250 for the language we have been using (including me)

Posted by: wavoes on April 24 2008 1:02 PM

i dont think Ben is a fan of censorship

Posted by: Buzz on April 24 2008 2:07 PM

Keep pointing fingers Moses if that works for you. Maybe if you're critical enough that will really help develop our city further.

Posted by: Moses on April 24 2008 2:15 PM

Ok Mr. Lightyear.

Be sure to give me a call when you've moved into one of these space-age styrofoam models.

http://www.ghiai.com/

Posted by: Ben Meisner on April 24 2008 2:17 PM

Hi folks remember the rules , no personal attacks, you get in libel trouble.. want to argue the information, fire away, you won't have 250 on your back. We had to pull one comment.. can't make personal comments unless you know them to be fact and can prove it. The prove is sometime very hard to come by. Indeed we don't like to censor, because it them becomes who are the censors ?

Posted by: Buzz on April 24 2008 3:12 PM

Okay Moses, you win. Damn those bastard developers....lets drive them out of town and wait for some "real" guys (as defined by you, I suppose) to arrive.

Posted by: diplomat on April 24 2008 3:21 PM

I wish the gentleman all the best, may he be successful!

In the meantime: Yawn.

Posted by: johncameron on April 24 2008 3:22 PM

I'm all for positive attitute, and there has been much new development in PG that has been great for the city.

But come on, unless you've got the blinders set on full strength, you can poke a hole through this project without even trying.

I can't believe they're trying to get TWO elections out of this one!

Posted by: owl on April 24 2008 3:52 PM

'How can you slap a guy like this developer around in the face repeatedly"

Just so that you know, one of the primary cahracteristics of a developer is that the developer has the money. If the company or individual does not have the money or the credit to obrain the money, then they are not a developer. They are simply a visionary.

If they cannot put the project together over a reasonable length of time, they are not even an effective project manager.

Posted by: owl on April 24 2008 3:53 PM

Bang on Johncameron

Posted by: DPJ on April 24 2008 4:07 PM

Its funny that Buzz coments broke 2 of Bens rules (language and personal comments) right after Bens reminder

Posted by: owl on April 24 2008 6:18 PM

"what do you do for work Owl..."

And how may this be considered to be pertinent to the discussion on here wavoes?

Why would what you do for work, for instance, add anything to the thoughts expressed by you?

Is every thought you have and every move you make in the community defined by the work you do?

I am a more complete person than that which may be defined by my so called "work".

So let's get back to the issue. As I and several others have now stated, there are many projects in this community that have been successfully started and even completed over the past three years by some true "developers". Ghiai's has not had such success. From what I, and many others in the community, that goes far beyond those posting on here, say, his honeymoon time is over. It's time to produce. Until he has a hole in the ground, and concrete is being poured for the footings, I won't believe a word he says.

Posted by: Ben Meisner on April 24 2008 7:51 PM

May I say for the final time, if you can't keep the language clean or reasonably clean and you can't post without trying to destroy any opposing comments? It won't be censorship, it will be common sense, and you will be removed from posting.
My God what do we need to do to impress this upon you, if you can't live by the basic rules of this site start your own venue.
Ben Meisner

Posted by: Free Enterprise on April 24 2008 8:37 PM

Beware of this guy. He has never built a thing....

Posted by: DPJ on April 24 2008 9:20 PM

I hope "Free Enterprise" wasn't talking about Bens comment. Either he doesn't know who Ben is or he is in danger of being removed from posting anything. Hopefully he gets the hint and warning (like the rest of us should abide by). As one of the postings said in the "ten digit calling" article, this is becomming extremely childish.

Posted by: thereasonableman on April 25 2008 11:46 AM

I stand with owl and johncameron on this one.

Project Management - One of the things I do for work. This is not smelling like a bona fide project at all. In my opinion and experience.

Grow up you guys, this is the first time I have seen Ben have to crack the whip twice on one article. People are entitled to be believers.