STILL NO BUILDING PERMIT ISSUED!
News Bulletin reporter Tamara Cunningham reports that there is still no building permit issued for the hotel downtown adjacent the conference centre.
This is the project we were assured would be underway last spring, and when that did not happen we were told it was on for October. This is beginning to sound all too familiar, and it seems we've heard this song before.
HOTEL TAX EXEMPTION NEEDS TO BE CLAWED BACK!
You may recall the premise for offering a 10 year tax exemption to builders of hotels and motels in Nanaimo was to prop up our ailing/non-existent convention business. Since neither this hotel nor the proposed 'Hilton' project can do anything to bring conventions to Nanaimo, taxpayers do not have to be offering up a ten year tax exemption.
It should be rescinded immediately and taken off the table, should the SSS Manhou group renege on their part of this deal.
QUESTION FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF OVERSEEING THIS PROJECT
What safeguards do the Nanaimo taxpayers have against issuing building permits for this hotel project, which can be stratified, if after the sale of units and construction of the building, it turns out to be a residential strata project which is never fully occupied?
For that matter what safeguards are in place to make sure the same thing can't happen with the 'Hilton' project at Georgia Park?
It is extraordinary how naïve how council members are. We are continually up the creek with the so called hotel business. Putting the cart before the horse type of thing. With "Hilton" name used for a company that again says it will promote Asian traffic, it seems we have blinkers on. Two hotels both of which will promote Asian business. It seems even, though all this is so dubious, that the only way Nanaimo citizens will be happy is that we have scores of visitors, here. There is no thought that many, if not most of us, came here because Nanaimo was different. Even though we pay high taxes, we liked the thought of the difference. However, many on council, including the present and past Mayors, have wanted us to be a poor imitation of huge congested cities. If one thinks about it, why in heavens name would anyone want to come to visit a poor imitation of anything?
ReplyDeleteTax exemption in one hand. Shortage of funds for upgrading the Northfield/Boundary/Island Hwy mess in the other.
ReplyDelete