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City denies hotel owner's appeal for more time to fix property

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 02/6/2012 10:39 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

The St. Charles Hotel.

A city committee told the owner of the St. Charles Hotel that repeated delays in fixing up the property "has gone on long enough."

Ken Zaifman, an immigration lawyer, has been working on a plan to redevelop the property on Notre Dame Avenue into a boutique hotel since 2008, and the city recently ordered him to comply with Winnipeg's vacant and derelict buildings bylaw. The building does not have water or a working sprinkler system, and the city ordered Zaifman to decommission the existing system and install a new one.

Last month, Zaifman appealed the order and asked council's downtown development committee for extra time to formalize his development plans for the hotel. He argued if he installed a new sprinkler system in the building before more detailed designs are finalized, the system would likely have to be ripped out and reinstalled.

This morning, Zaifman told the committee that he has installed new heat sensors to monitor for fire. He said the he has not yet formalized his development plans for the old hotel since the city's caveat has affected his ability to get financing.

City and fire officials said the current fire monitoring system is inadequate.

Heritage Winnipeg executive director Cindy Tugwell urged the committee to enforce the vacant and derelict bylaw. Tugwell said Zaifman has not brought any development plans forward, and the St. Charles Hotel should be sold to another developer if Zaifman cannot complete the project.

Downtown development chairman Coun. Justin Swandel said the city has a responsibility to protect the safety of firefighters, neighbouring properties and citizens.

The committee voted to deny Zaifman's appeal, and uphold the city's order to bring the building's fire protection system up to code.

"I think this has gone on long enough," Swandel said.

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