Artist's rendering of a substantial multi-use redevelopment of the Howard Johnson Hotel site near the base of the Millstone River. (City of Nanaimo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Substantial project

Significant overhaul of Howard Johnson Hotel site clears key hurdle

May 19, 2023 | 11:32 AM

NANAIMO — Despite opposition from Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN), plans for a transformative downtown Nanaimo development are destined to be approved.

City councillors voted 7-1 in favour of overhauling the dilapidated Howard Johnson Hotel site at the corner of Terminal Ave. and Comox Rd., following a Thursday, May 18 public hearing to approve the framework for a mixed residential and commercial development, including a pair of 16-storey buildings.

Coun. Paul Manly was the lone dissenting vote, while coun. Hilary Eastmure recused herself from the discussion.

One final blessing is required from councillors to establish the required zoning for specific aspects of the project encompassing six buildings on six lots to be developed over time.

Two members of the public formally participated in the hearing, both of which were in favour. A phone call submission and a representative on behalf of the project echoed support to Council prior to the clear mandate in favour of the project vision.

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Eight written submissions were supplied to councillors in advance of the hearing, portraying mixed views in support and opposed. Members of the public backing the project highlighted the opportunity to revitalize a deteriorating portion of downtown, while those opposed primarily stated concerns regarding increased density.

More than 750 residential units are included in the concept, along with a hotel and around 1,000 square metres of commercial retail space on the property bordered by Terminal Ave., Comox Rd. and Mill St.

Artist’s rendering of a view looking east of a proposed development vision for the old Howard Johnson Hotel site. (City of Nanaimo)

In a Friday May 19 statement, SFN outlined its disappointment and frustration with the project’s advancement toward a likely approval.

“Snuneymuxw First Nation condemns the advancement of a massive rezoning application by the City of Nanaimo on the site of a historical SFN village…Sxwayxum is protected by the Snuneymuxw Treaty of 1854.”

The SFN statement noted a 2019 Protocol Agreement includes a shared vision on land use which is “now single-handedly being put at risk and dismantled.”

A tweet from SFN Friday morning said any progress made at the site “will be plagued by opposition from our Nation, delays from inevitable archaeological discoveries, and challenges that are insurmountable without us.”

City Council previously approved third reading of the Howard Johnson Hotel site project last fall following a public hearing, however the vote was later rescinded.

The City noted the applicant identified an administrative error in the calculation of density and site coverage in its original plan.

First formally introduced to the City in the summer of 2021, re-developing the property has been under review at various stages by City staff since.

In the fall of 2018, the Howard Johnson Hotel closed and sat in a state of disrepair ever since.

The highly strategic and visible site was intended nearly a decade ago to be transformed into a new hotel and 5,000 seat arena, which didn’t make it to the formal application stage at City Hall.

Image captured on Friday, May 18 of the former Howard Johnson Hotel site. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Animation of what the footprint would look like for the Howard Johnson Hotel site. (City of Nanaimo/NanaimoNewsNOW animation)

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