Nanaimo Daily News | Condo News

Plans for two condominium towers at Maffeo-Sutton Park may not be part of a new deal to build a downtown hotel, according to Mayor John Ruttan, who said he does not want to include such incentives to developers.

The city ended its long-standing and failed agreement with Millennium Development on Wednesday, despite a last-ditch effort from the Vancouver-based developers who wanted yet another extension. City council members turned the company away after three years of missed deadlines and hope to find new interests so they can complete the final component of the struggling Port of Nanaimo Centre.

Ruttan said he would rather not offer waterfront property as a way to entice developers. He also wants council to consider hiring a consultant to help find the right developer, which is an idea that the majority of his fellow politicians shot down late last year.

Council can now turn their attention to any developer they want and Millennium can always come back with another plan, according to Ruttan.

“It’s a new game now,” he said. “If someone wants to build a 180-room site without any other land connection, I would be pleased. I’m very uncomfortable with the condo component.”

About five serious developers have approached the city in the past year. Various design proposals have come forward, including one for a smaller boutique-style hotel, while another off-shore developer is still interested as well.

Ruttan would like his council to reconsider hiring a consultant to find the right developer. DTZ Barnicke put forward a proposal that would cost the city $300,000, if a hotel gets built. The majority of council shot down their own idea in order to wait until the agreement with Millennium ended.

DSpalding@nanaimodailynews.com

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© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2010

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