The new owners of the Green Lantern Hotel in Chemainus say theyB次元官网网址檙e in it for the long haul.
And the long haul began immediately for Jan Frederik Ludvik and his business partner Martin Syrovatka after the purchase of the historic hotel on Chemainus Road from longtime owner Dave Prakash took effect on April 17 following a long period of negotiations and remediation. Ludvik says seven 40-yard bins were filled with debris he hauled out of the building, amounting to $18,000 worth of garbage.
B次元官网网址淭here was food everywhere,B次元官网网址� said Ludvik.
This is not a tear-down project, but a major fix-up that will take about a year turnaround after getting the necessary permits, he estimates.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something we heard about a little while ago. We saw some potential to it. We thought this might be an opportunity. We saw it would be a tremendous amount of work. The price looked like it made sense.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be really good. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be a healthy breath of fresh air.B次元官网网址�
Their plan is to revitalize the hotel rooms upstairs into housing units and fix up the pub area so itB次元官网网址檚 available for someone to possibly operate in a lease agreement.
Currently based in Qualicum Beach the last 10 years, Ludvik is still a young enough man turning 40 on June 9 to have long-term visions for projects. He previously attended UVic and lived and worked in Victoria and Vancouver.
Ludvik is the hands-on operations man who does the physical work himself and Syrovatka is the business person behind the scenes who takes care of the abundant paperwork.
B次元官网网址淲e buy old buildings and we fix them up,B次元官网网址� explained Ludvik.
The Green Lantern project, specifically, is totally in keeping with their visions. The approximate square footage is 13,000 that could provide around 15 good-sized one and two bedroom rental apartments if the entire building is utilized for that purpose.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to create housing in an area thatB次元官网网址檚 needed and at a cheaper price than if it was new,B次元官网网址� Ludvik indicated. B次元官网网址淒efinitely love and respect the community. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to keep it a green building and make sure to preserve the historic nature of it. WeB次元官网网址檙e figuring things out as we go along.B次元官网网址�
Just seeing Ludvik on site has generated a great deal of interest from the public about whatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen there.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people are asking about it,B次元官网网址� he noted. B次元官网网址淲e want to participate in the community. We think itB次元官网网址檚 cool. Hopefully we can figure out a way to earn a living doing it.B次元官网网址�
North Cowichan Councillor Chris Istace, who lives in Chemainus, is among those whoB次元官网网址檝e paid a visit to Ludvik to talk about the project. Istace is a big proponent of sustainable communities where people can live and work close to amenities with minimal use of vehicles and impact on the environment.
Ludvik and Syrovatka are in the housing business and not in the business of operating the pub portion of the establishment. B次元官网网址淚f a big pub wants to come and rent it, weB次元官网网址檙e open,B次元官网网址� said Ludvik.
The Crestwood Townhomes at 1094 Marchmont St. in Duncan were also recently purchased by Ludvik and Syrovatka as well as the decrepit six townhouse unit that had only one person still living there on York Road next to the Island Health Overdose Prevention Site that are major fix-ups in the same vein as the Green Lantern.
The aim for the York Road complex is to B次元官网网址渕ake it livable and attractive,B次元官网网址� Ludvik added.
With respect to Chemainus, Ludvik identifies many similarities to Qualicum Beach that has undergone an extensive transformation over the years through renovations, repaintings and the rejuvenation of buildings downtown.
B次元官网网址淚t started going in the right direction,B次元官网网址� said Ludvik. B次元官网网址淨ualicum was not clean and itB次元官网网址檚 looking a million times better.B次元官网网址�
He sees Chemainus going in the same direction, with strong infrastructure from the municipality already in place with the grand entrance into town from the south.
B次元官网网址淐hemainus is amazing B次元官网网址� Crofton, Ladysmith, Chemainus, Duncan,B次元官网网址� said Ludvik. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of potential.B次元官网网址�
And he feels the Green Lantern fix-up will fit the bill for the community.
B次元官网网址淭his is the most salt of the earth, bread and butter situation that exists,B次元官网网址� Ludvik enthused. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to turn it into really nice residential units. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to increase the tax base. ItB次元官网网址檚 a win-win for everybody.B次元官网网址�
Dealing with architects on how to get the proper floor plans and connecting with the community are the priorities for the short term.
The start of any project can always be somewhat imposing but the product that results at the end B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渨hen you finish it and it looks amazing,B次元官网网址� he said B次元官网网址� is what keeps him going.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hugely satisfying after the pain you go through to come up with the money to buy a building and itB次元官网网址檚 in the worst shape ever. You make it work and everybodyB次元官网网址檚 happy.
B次元官网网址淭he reward in completing is really big. ItB次元官网网址檚 not a money thing.B次元官网网址�
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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