A new multimillion-dollar boutique hotel could be coming to Nanaimo’s Selby Street.
Developer Paul Saroya has just secured a development permit to build a 45-room boutique hotel near Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter, with a restaurant, meeting rooms and a spa and salon.
The new hotel, bordered by the Wesley Street supportive housing project, a childcare centre and Service B.C., will be a big change for the area and will add value to the neighbourhood, according to Saroya, who plans to invest between $4 million to $5 million into the property.
Some of the buildings nearby could make it a little hard to draw people to the location; Saroya also says it depends on the price, service and security provided.
“I want to see somebody do really well,” said Saroya, who plans to have a third-party operate the hotel. “This area is perfect, close to downtown. It’s going to be affordable. The service is going to be the same as the big hotels.”
The hotel recently won development permit approval from Nanaimo city council as well as the right to build in fewer parking spaces with compensation to the municipality.
A parking area will be beneath the hotel at the far end of the property, according to drawings.
Architect Ian Niamath told the News Bulletin it’s a small lot so the space had to be used wisely and the hotel is designed to fit into both the neighborhood as well as the character of downtown.
“I’ll be a great asset and a very nice addition to the area and to the fact that we will now have some more hotel rooms in Nanaimo within walking distance in downtown,” he said.
Sasha Angus, chief executive officer of the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation, said construction of the property will add jobs during the building phase which is a “great thing” for local construction companies and once here, it will be an opportunity for various travellers to have a choice around types of accommodation.
It’s estimated it will take two to three months before the developer is ready to submit a building permit application to begin construction.