Group | Vachon meets with council to discuss failed development
LINDSAY GOSS
Pass Herald Reporter
After the announcement that Medican Construction, in partnership with Group|Vachon pulled out of the hotel development agreement at the Crowsnest Centre site, Chris Vachon, president of Group | Vachon travelled from Calgary, where his company is based out of to Crowsnest Pass to have a brief discussion with Council.
The meeting took place during a Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on Tuesday July 16th at the Municipal office.
Group | Vachon still has not officially pulled out of the agreement.
Administration explained that Medican was able to leave the agreement because the completion for the development agreement was done by the time frame promised, and investors lost interest in the project.
The announcement that Medican Construction left the agreement was confirmed by the Pass Herald on Thursday, July 11th by Administration of Crowsnest Pass.
“What brings me out here is to see if there is any interest in pursuing a new investment group, under myself,” said Vachon.
“I wanted to know if the Municipality is even interested in the site.”
Mayor Decoux told Vachon that the Municipality currently still has the right to build a Best Western on the Crowsnest Centre Site.
“There will have to be some money put up to retain that right over the next two years,” said Decoux. “About $50,000.”
Vachon said that the ball is still in his court whether he wants to continue on with the project or decline it all together. He told Council that he will have an answer- yes or no- by this week.
He also told municipality that there is a purposed Best Western to be built in Sparwood, British Columbia.
“There are other places interested in the hotel franchise,” said Vachon. “Both Sparwood and Fernie, where there already is Best Western.
However, I think Crowsnest because it is the gateway into the mountains,” he said.
“I think this place has a lot of potential.”
Mayor Decoux indicated that he intends on moving forward with the project.
“This is business and there are bumps in the in road,” said Decoux. “it may slow you down, but you just need to pick up and keep going and that is what we intend on doing.”
