A proposed four-storey, 106-room hotel built atop the Atlantic Place parking garage is one step close to reality.
The hotel, proposed by Halifax-based Sonco Group Inc., which owns the 720-stall parking garage, will move to the next phase of its development. The proposed hotel will undergo a land use assessment report and the plan will be referred to the Built Heritage Experts Panel for its take on any changes to the design of the hotel.
St. John’s city council voted 7-3 to consider an amendment to the city plan to allow the hotel to be taller than neighbouring Atlantic Place. Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’Leary and councillors Hope Jamieson and Maggie Burton were the dissenting votes.
Mayor Danny Breen told council the existing structure could look better. While the proposed design may not please everyone, either, he says the city can work with Sonco to make tweaks to the proposed hotel.
O’Leary says she’s primarily concerned about the height of the building. She’s worried what could come next should the hotel be allowed to be built at its proposed height.
“I am a proponent of changing the look of the waterfront, downtown. Yes, we know that Atlantic Place is an ugly building. We need to esthetically improve it,” said O’Leary.
“I think this will open up a huge discussion. I think this proposal will do that, but I am not personally in favour of seeing another four storeys on top of Atlantic Place, whether it’s a beautiful hotel or not, because we’ve had a height restriction in the downtown for quite some time.”
O’Leary points to development in the west end of the downtown, specifically the new Fortis Building, as ways higher developments have worked in the city.
