Coun. Rob Lantz says the City of Charlottetown needs to act on the number of vacant properties in the downtown core.
The city approved a height variance request from Homburg Invest Inc. on Thursday, which paves the way for a proposed $45-million, three-phase development to go ahead.
Homburg is moving ahead with plans to construct an eight-storey office building on Fitzroy Street, a 10-storey hotel on Grafton Street and major renovations to the interior and exterior of Confederation Court Mall.
Lantz said if Homburg is going to show that much faith in downtown Charlottetown the city corporation should help mitigate the risk by making sure the core is firing on all cylinders.
"That can't happen when a significant number of important buildings are left empty and in such a state of disrepair that they can't even be leased, even if the owner was prepared to lease them,'' Lantz said.
"We need to engage the owner of these properties, along with the two other levels of government and the business community, and find a way to get these spaces back in the market, whatever that takes.''
Homburg has launched a $5-million lawsuit against Nemir Tweel Corp. Ltd., Christopher Tweel and two companies identified only as 2950243 Canada Inc. and 100946 P.E.I. Inc., all which own a number of properties in the downtown, alleging the properties are rundown and affect the developer's current business (Confederation Court Mall) and what they are currently planning to do.
"If the owners are unwilling to make the necessary investments, perhaps
they should sell instead of sitting on these properties. They're too important to sit empty.''
Councillor says city must act on vacant downtown properties
- Number of views : 12
- Rate
- Top of the page
Comments
-
- Simple
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:42:46
Close the tax loophole that makes it worth the owners while to do nothing with those buildings.
-
- Canusay
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:32:50
Check the link and input 100946 - http://closedcorporations.org/ (Thanks Peter Rukavina.)
All of the companies or businesses or individuals named in the article have one thing in common - Christopher P. Tweel!
Go Rob Lantz and City Council - get something done here. -
- Mike
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:32:48
Well if this was anyone else, this wouldn't be happening. Most people would have enough respect for the city not to leave this mess, for years.
I hope Homburg wins the suit, These Owners think they can do whatever they want, Just another example of that!!!! -
- Take a cue from Danny
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:27:15
well clearly Danny Chavez has the answer. The government should just take over all the property. Seriously, though, if it had been taxed at it's highest and best use (that's land taxation jargon) maybe the owners would have decided it better to lease or sell. But they are making an economic (or not) decision, and while it's unfortunate the properties are empty (um, maybe all the new office space and the big malls outside of the downtown might have something to do with that?) they aren't eyesores or run down. And it's not just the Tweels. Look at the big APM building on Queen. I'm sure they'd like to do something with that! But no - we have to have four or five brand spanking new buildings. And soon we'll have the old dominion building to deal with too. Another empty eyesore. Wonder if the mall will open on Sundays with the hotel built?
-
- Scott
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:26:34
I would think there would be more money in running a business than to have it closed.
Mess, unsightly and pimple are all good words to describe the vacant properties in the downtown core. The intersection of University Ave and Kent Street, those four corners, of which two are vacant, need to be modified with some very attractive businesses. From there start giving faces lifts to other buildings. I'm not saying change our city. I am saying I do not want my city looking dumpy.
I Love Charlottetown and I Love Prince Edward Island. Just beautify the Island.
