An agenda item that was up for third reading got council’s nod Tuesday night as part of Maple Ridge’s plan for a restored downtown.
Maple Ridge resident Seiko Huang’s plan for a 125-room hotel at the foot of 224th Street received the unofficial go-ahead at council’s meeting after recently going to public hearing and drawing no opposition.
Council is eager to densify and improve the core area.
Huang has consolidated several lots on 224th Street and Callaghan Avenue over several years for the project.
Coun. Bob Masse said Huang could take up to a year to start the project, but all indications are he wants to get started soon.
Mayor Ernie Daykin was confident the project will proceed.
“I heard through the grapevine that he wants to get going by June or July.”
The hotel will be built to achieve silver certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building standards and will feature a green roof, overlooking the Fraser River, a stone’s throw from the West Coast Express station.
It will be built kitty corner from a new four-storey condo building currently under construction and across from a municipally owned lot that could become the location for a new Maple Ridge Museum.
No decision has been made on that.
However, the former Don Cherry’s pub next door remains boarded up following a fire last year.
The property remains listed for sale at $1.09 million.