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Spat erupts over vacant hotel

St. Charles owner calls heritage exec 'anti-heritage'

By: Jen Skerritt

Posted: 02/7/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Mike Aporius / Winnipeg Free Press A civic committee has denied St. Charles Hotel owner Ken Zaifman's appeal against a city order to install a fire-protection system.

Repeated delays in redeveloping the St. Charles Hotel have ignited a spat between heritage advocates and the building's owner.

Ken Zaifman, an immigration lawyer, has been working on a plan to redevelop the property on Notre Dame Avenue as a boutique hotel since 2008.

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Heritage Winnipeg executive director Cindy Tugwell says he's had plenty of time to redevelop the old inn.

He has not submitted detailed design plans to the city, and officials 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, he appealed the order and asked council's downtown development committee for extra time to formalize his 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.

On Monday, Heritage Winnipeg executive director Cindy Tugwell urged council's downtown development committee to deny Zaifman's appeal and enforce the vacant and derelict building bylaw. Tugwell said Zaifman has had plenty of time to get financing and move ahead with the project.

She said the St. Charles Hotel should be sold to another developer if Zaifman cannot complete the project.

"It's sending a message that you don't own these buildings if you can't afford to redevelop them," Tugwell said. "I think four years is fair. I think we've been waiting, we've been patient."

Zaifman responded by asking Tugwell to remove him from her mailing list.

He said Tugwell's comments have harmed his plans to redevelop the site and her position is "anti-heritage." He said he purchased the adjacent property in late 2011, and the entire project is more viable now than it was four years ago.

"Her position is anti-heritage and development, totally and completely," Zaifman said. "I think the lesson learned is just because someone says they're a heritage advocate doesn't mean they're a heritage advocate."

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

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

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.

The move means Zaifman must bring the building into compliance or the city can issue a second derelict-building order, which can also be appealed. After that, city officials can apply for a derelict-building certificate and launch a legal process to take over the building.

Zaifman said he's not concerned that will happen and intends to work with city officials to comply and develop the property.

"I will not let the city take the property," he said. "I'll take all practical and legal measures available to me to prevent that."

jen.skerritt@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 7, 2012 B1

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