New waterfront hotel operator remains a mystery

City Hall says there's still work to do before the identity of thechain that will run the proposed new Thunder Bay waterfront hotel can be made public.

The latest target date for announcing the company that will operate the hotel at Prince Arthurs Landing was November.

City officials and the company developing the hotel and two condominium projects said there are good reasons for the latest delay.

"There has been a little extra time that we've had to take to make sure that the land transfer, the excavation, the record of site condition for the property that's being transferred, the surveys are exact and that everybody does their homework," said Paul Pepe, Thunder Bays acting waterfront project manager.

Construction start delayed

The project requires the city to transfer some Marina Park-area land to Winnipeg-based developer Re Solve Group, which reaffirmed its commitment on Wednesday to making sure the hotel and condos are built.

Re Solve Group president Gisele MacDonald said there have been delays getting a city survey of the land and figuring out the location of some underground pipes.

But construction will begin after the land is transferred, MacDonald said. As recently as summer 2010, the schedule for the development called for construction to begin in early 2011.

"I would say we're probably, you know, 95 per cent there now. Because they now know exactly where the water lines are and what the setbacks need to be," MacDonald said.

"There's no hidden agenda, and there's no obstacles that aren't just the norm of doing this type of magnitude of project."

MacDonald wouldnt set a target date for naming the new hotels operator. Pepe said it's possible it will happen this month.

The hotel and condos are part of the overhaul of Prince Arthurs Landing. Other, publicly built elements include an ice rink, more trails, public art and a new building with changerooms and concessions. The private development will also incorporate shops, restaurants and the redevelopment of the CN Rail station.