Land-transfer deal for waterfront hotel likely signed by mid-March: City manager

City manager Tim Commisso says concerns in the community surrounding the proposed hotel and condominium development at Prince Arthur’s Landing are unfounded.

While the hotelier has yet to be named, the developer and city are close to signing the land-transfer deal, which is the next phase in the $60-million private-sector portion of the overall waterfront project.

“I can say we are looking to sign off on the land deal in the middle of March,” Commisso said, denying the developers, The Resolve Group, are waiting to see if the city approves a downtown Port Arthur location for a proposed events centre.
“No, none whatsoever,” he said, when asked specifically.

“I think if I was an investor in a project like that, and I was looking at something like this, would I make an investment on the basis of the potential of this going forward? There are no guarantees that this is going to go forward.

“I think the reality of it is that you’ll see activity happen well before council approves (the events centre) project.”

Commisso said the developers have been asked to provide city officials with a critical path for the project, but the timing for the shovels hitting the ground is the sole responsibility of the developers.

“The reason is because they have very strict requirements for when they start the marketing, in terms of when they have to complete certain (things) under the Ontario Home Warranty Program,” Commisso said.

“Once they fix a date they have one opportunity to change that date. We’re not going to be talking about dates, the city, because really it’s their responsibility to disclose commencement dates because ultimately they’re legally bound by those dates.”

Dougall Media last year uncovered conceptual drawings for the waterfront hotel under the Delta banner, which the developer at the time refused to confirm or deny.