If there is any interest in developing a city-owned lot in downtown Nanaimo, the city isn’t saying.
Nanaimo was seeking expressions of interest in the hopes of finding a buyer for 100 Gordon St., a 0.4-acre property. The deadline closed last week.
“The City cannot release any further information as it may compromise negotiations,” Kim Fowler, Nanaimo’s chief sustainability officer, said in a Tuesday statement.
“When information can be made public, the city will be releasing a news release and have a spokesperson available to answer media inquiries.”
The Gordon Street lot has long been part of a city plan for a hotel, but efforts to see the site developed have failed.
This time, Nanaimo said it would like a hotel, but is open to other uses as well.
Developing the property is viewed by city council as a way to bring more vitality and economic benefits to Nanaimo’s downtown core.
Nanaimo is planning a March borrowing referendum to build a new events centre and arena. Supporters of the project hope to attract a Western Hockey League team.
The city is also in talks with a company to provide a passenger-only ferry service to Vancouver.
