Marlborough Hotel owner clears hurdle for lane purchase tied to redevelopment

The owner of the historic Marlborough Hotel, which is set for a $48-million redevelopment, has received support from a city committee to purchase and fence off a lane behind the building.

Harminder Walia has asked the city to close the public lane between the hotel, at 331 Smith St., and the former Garrick Theatre, at 330 Garry St. Both properties are owned by Walia.

The downtown hotel, which opened in 1914, is set to undergo a massive transformation, led by CentreVenture Development Corp., in which 307 residential units would be created.

Walia plans to restore the hotel banquet hall and add other amenities. He wants to purchase and fence off the lane, and amalgamate the two properties.

Tony Mitousis, who said he is project manager, told council’s property and development committee the lane has become unsafe.

“The alley itself has been a significant safety concern for staff, for police, for citizens in the area,” he said Thursday.

“I think in the last two years, (Walia) had told me, (there had been) over 100-plus calls to police. Arson, there’s been litter, all the windows are being broken all the time.”

The city’s public service had recommended the committee approve Walia’s request, noting that utility crews should be allowed to enter the alley. Mitousis said Walia would agree to those conditions.

Rochelle Squires, chief executive officer of CentreVenture, spoke in favour of the lane purchase.

“It will be instrumental in future plans for their development … to have loading, unloading and garbage access,” she said.

Committee member Coun. Russ Wyatt commended the developers for “taking a risk in our downtown.”

“It’s exciting to see this heritage site be re-purposed and restored and be kept alive,” Wyatt (Transcona) said.

The committee was to discuss the purchase price in-camera.

The proposal still requires approval from the executive policy committee and wider council.

The hotel has been closed since Jan. 24, 2024, one month after police alleged a woman tried to stab a hotel staff member. A video posted online showed staff had placed plastic ties around her hands, with her arms behind her back. Protesters later stormed the building and vandalized it to denounce the incident.

The Garrick closed in late 2020 and was briefly used as a COVID-19 testing site.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca