Thunder Bay waterfront hotel on track

The proposed hotel along Thunder Bay's waterfront is going ahead, says the principalof the ReSolve Group.

Gisele MacDonaldtold a news conference Thursday thatshe wanted to quash any rumours that the project may have hit financial roadblocks, or may not be built as planned. But sheadmitted there have been some bumps along the road to getting the hotel built.

"There are liens on the property, but I think everyone knows with over $100 million project this is nothing that is abnormal in our development business." she said.

"We will be continuing to move forward, I want to assure everyone that this has not held us up, this is not stopping the process, and the liens will be off in due course," said MacDonald.

Renewed construction on the superstructure of the hotel should begin in September, she said, which isa slight delay from the proposed July date.

She said $4 million of work has already been completed on the foundation.

"We've been continuing to to work. Our drawings right now, I believe, we're at about fifty percent," she said.

"We've got a full day and evening of meetings today with everybody here. And, I'd say that we'd be in a position to get to the 66 percent drawings which allows us to be able to go forward."

Condominium issues

As for the condominium project nearby, work on the second tower is progressing, while the first tower is complete. Some work continues in the buildings, dealing with drywall and paint deficiencies, according to MacDonald.Only one unit remains for sale in Allure, the first tower.

MacDonald said the second condominium building is still being worked on, with owners ready to move in shortly.

"The building that we're in right now, condo one which is Allure, the lien is actually off, it has been lifted. We're in the process of getting the second lien off which would be Aurora, and then we would be working on the hotel lien."

The lien on the first condo building was over $6 million. The lien on the second condo building was approximately $70,000.