Victoria is expecting its first new hotel in about two decades.
Councillors have approved a project by developer Merchant House Capital to build a triangular-shaped tower at the corner of Fort and Blanshard streets that would house a 20-storey hotel and commercial and office spaces.
Hotel plans call for 128 units with kitchenettes and flexible living spaces suited to working travellers and long-term visitors.
The plan includes heritage designation and renovation of the neighbouring property, the three-storey 1912 Montrose Apartments at View and Blanshard streets. The developer has offered to preserve the building’s 21 units as rental for 60 years and intends to retain its street-level commercial spaces.
Paul Nursey, CEO of Destination Greater Victoria, said the “architecturally beautiful” building will be the first new hotel built in the city in about 20 years.
The Oswego Hotel, Magnolia Hotel and Spa and Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour are among the most recent hotels built in the city.
“What this allows is for us to really bid on more off-season major conferences and sporting events knowing that we’ll have the capacity to host them. So it was needed,” Nursey said.
There is no hotel operator confirmed or timeline for construction yet, said David Fullbrook, CEO of Merchant House Capital.
regan-elliott@timescolonist.com
— with files from Carla Wilson
