PTCC Hotel Proposal Squashed

[Rosemary1]

Let's imagine being a fly on the wall in the in camera council meeting discussion that resulted in squashing of the hotel proposal.

Um probably wont pass a referendum. Yea, people are pretty mad about Skaha waterslides...um. Yea, and if we had a referendum on hotel they might even want us to add a question about the Skaha water slides on that same referendum. Um that's right. Can't take that chance. Let's just forget the hotel proposal for now. We can always try again another time. Um how do we position this? um - just tell them proposals didn't make the rating ....- we don't have to go into details anyway. Yea. We can try another time when this thing over Skaha waterslides settles down. Voters have short memories .. .

[XT225]

I believe that this is already being discussed in this thread of the forum:

viewtopic.php?f=104&t=63053&start=60

I believe that the mayor is quoted as saying something like "we will now work with the Private sector re the Hotel proposal". Its what they should have been doing all along; not rocket science (but I guess it IS, to our present council). Its very possible that the city felt that they would not have an excuse NOT to include the water slides on the Hotel referendum; you're likely right there. After all, what is the cost of a bit more ink on the ballot.

[twobits]

After all, what is the cost of a bit more ink on the ballot.

XT, if it were the Herald or Western printing the ballots on number of words per column inch as per classified ad rates, the referendum would cost about 300k.

Sorry, could not resist being a smart azz.

[XT225]

XT, if it were the Herald or Western printing the ballots on number of words per column inch as per classified ad rates, the referendum would cost about 300k.

Sorry, could not resist being a smart azz.

Not a problem, twobits. Its Friday night; you're allowed a couple...lol.

[veesfaninvernon]

Could also be no 5 star hotel showed an interest in Penticton as it makes no financial sense. Whenever I hear from people in Vancouver coming to the Okanagan it is either Kelowna or Osoyoos. They have decent waterfront properties which people with money want. Just don't expect premium accommodations to build in less then premium locations. As long as other cities are allowing accommodations to build in premium locations that is where they will go. Seems that is just what the vocal in Penticton wants so it works out well for them.

[twobits]

Could also be no 5 star hotel showed an interest in Penticton as it makes no financial sense. Whenever I hear from people in Vancouver coming to the Okanagan it is either Kelowna or Osoyoos. They have decent waterfront properties which people with money want. Just don't expect premium accommodations to build in less then premium locations. As long as other cities are allowing accommodations to build in premium locations that is where they will go. Seems that is just what the vocal in Penticton wants so it works out well for them.

The City should have put out RFP's for a hotel on the current footprint of the Skaha Marina property instead of the Convention Center location. Plenty of room for a Hotel with Casino and a cpl of nice waterfront restaurants overlooking an expanded Marina.
Instead we get a restaurant that will apparently need water slide revenue on additional park lands.
Am pretty sure there would not have been much community opposition to a Hotel/Marina complex with restaurant (and maybe even Casino) on that already established footprint.
Heck, I might not even oppose giving another acre or so outside the current footprint if it meant a quality Hotel Marina complex that provided for some real year round jobs instead of a cheesy restaurant and water slide that will be virtually devoid of people for 9 months of the year.