Reliance Properties is looking to convert the historic art deco-style B.C. Power Commission building into a brand new hotel.
Jon Stovell, Reliance Properties president & CEO, submitted plans to the City of Victoria for a heritage alteration permit to convert the landmark on Blanshard Street into a 126-room hotel.
“It’s kind of hiding here and the paint’s a bit faded; it needs some TLC,” Stovell said. “It will really come back to life.”
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The four story building placed on a triangle lot by Blanshard, Fairfield and Burdett Avenue was built in 1949 as a potential hospital. It later served for 70 years as the B.C. Power Commission headquarters from 1950 until Reliance acquired it in 2019.
Stovell says the plan is to keep the building’s unique look and revitalize the art deco-style features.
“Unlike some other projects where they just kept the facade, we are going to keep the entire building,” he said.
“We are going to keep the structure. The structure will be upgraded to meet current seismic standards and all new plumbing, wiring, all new rooms.”
Along with keeping the outside of the building intact, Stovell also plans to preserve the historic interior features, including a staircase railing with B.C. Power Commission lettering, wood panelling, and the chairman’s office, which will be converted into a lounge.
He says keeping these heritage features adds charm to the building.
“People always really enjoy. I can imagine people sitting in this room a few years from now having a scotch, listening to music and musing about the history of this building,” Stovell said.
The new hotel will also include modern features like a single-storey rooftop addition with a terrace, restaurant and gym. Parking will be limited on site, however Reliance owns and manages nearby commercial properties and could accommodate parking for hotel guests.
“We really do need a lot more hotel rooms,” said Victoria Coun. Dave Thompson, who is eager to see the new hotel proposal.
“We’ve got a really booming tourism sector. We had record tourism last summer and we are expecting even more this year.”
According to a recent report by Destination Greater Victoria (DGV), there are currently 4,500 hotel rooms across the region, a 25 per cent decrease since 2016.
The report indicates this has created an availability crunch with hotel occupancy reaching 80 per cent throughout the year and 94 per cent in the summer.
DGV has indicated 2,000 more hotel rooms need to be added to the region over the next 10 years to keep up with increasing tourism trends.
Jeff Bray, Downtown Victoria Business Association CEO, agrees with the call to action.
“Making sure we have enough rooms to meet the demand, and different types of hotels, I think is going to be critical,” Bray said.
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While there are several hotel projects currently underway, including the 167-room Hyatt-branded hotel expected to open in 2028 at Broad and Johnson Streets, Stovell hopes to get this new project to the council table before the election this fall.
“We hope we can start that work next year and have it up a few years, 2.5 years after that,” Stovell said.
Second proposal for historic site
This is the second time Reliance Properties has pitched an idea to the city for this property.
Stovell says in 2023 the plan was to build a 69-room hotel with a 16-storey condominium tower on top.
He says this project was scrapped due to a a saturation of residential residential market, as well as not being able to meet the city’s parking requirements.
The height of the project was also a concern.
Thomson says this new plan will likely be easier for people to accept.
“Just because it’s a little bit smaller,” the councillor said.
“I think that it’s an area that has some hotels in it already and that’s because it’s a really prime location for a hotel. It’s close to the harbour, close to the Empress, the conference centre, the museum, it’s a sweet spot for a hotel.”
