Downtown Prince Rupert could soon be home to an estimated $30 million multi-use building.
The 2G Group announced on April 17 its plans to build an integrated office, hotel, apartment and restaurant complex at the site of the old Elizabeth Apartments. The project, done in partnership with the Blended Capital Group and Stuart Olson Dominion, is expected to be open next summer, but 2G Group CEO Geoff Greenwell said response has already been strong.
"We have a couple of major corporations interested in taking a significant portion of the building," he said, noting the idea is a very new one.
"A lot of this is based on feedback from people leading up to this conference... At this point it is basically tell us what you want and we will build it."
Much of the steel frame building will be built in a modular manner off the site and brought into Prince Rupert. Greenwell envisions a high end five or six story building depending on how the hearing process with city council proceeds.
"All of the companies expressed the need for high end executive residences, but also office space. They said if we're coming here, where are we going to put our managers and executives," he said.
"We want to get this up and going this year because it is a beautiful site with an amazing view."
Prince Rupert mayor Jack Mussallem said the building will fill a gap in the community's housing inventory.
"I have noted that people I have talked to on an individual basis about getting older have said they want a view, they don't want maintenance like lawn mowing and they want to come and go as they please... The demand for that type of accommodation is there," he said, noting that it bodes well for Prince Rupert's future.
"It speaks to the optimism and opportunity in Prince Rupert and the surrounding area that is driven by port development."