Redevelopment of Howard Johnson property in downtown Nanaimo remains on hold
NANAIMO — Progress is again halted on a major redevelopment in the city’s downtown core.
A proposed residential and commercial complex is set to feature a hotel, over 750 residential units, retail space and more, was passed comfortably by Nanaimo City Council in earlier stages of re-zoning, despite objections from Snuneymuxw First Nation.
However, those objections continued to grow, to a point where councillors rescinded previously approved steps, then opted to not adopt the amended bylaws in October, before making the same decision on Monday, Dec. 4.
“[Monday] afternoon, I did get an email from Tom McCarthy who is the deputy minister [of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation] with the province and they’re recognizing the facilitated session between the Nation, themselves and the property owners is continuing,” City of Nanaimo chief administrative officer Dale Lindsay, told councillors.