The Official PEI Project Thread

[Northshorekid]

The problem with the whole "Central West Prince" proposal is that it is a new municipality between Alberton and O'Leary, not including Alberton and O'Leary. They need to think much bigger if they are serious about preserving a viable rural way of life.

[Northshorekid]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I feel like Tim Banks still feels that Charlottetown could use a another hotel and as I recall he has mentioned that perhaps closer to the airport could be a potential destination. It just dawned on me that maybe the other "big project" near Kent could be a hotel. Maybe like a Hilton or another brand name hotel.

I have not heard about Canadian Tire moving. Walmart will be expanding, I should have word on when relatively soon.

Also the KFC in Charlottetown has recently been renovated and the one is Summerside is being renovated this summer.

With annual occupancy rates hovering around 40% in the Charlottetown region, I am not sure that the market is ready for a new property without significant retirement of existing units.

The market has to decide if it is overbuilt or under-demolished.

[MonctonRad]

Welcome to the forums!

Yes, the whole problem with the hotel situation on the Island is that it is so bloody seasonal. In other markets like Halifax or Moncton, occupancy remains at least moderately good in the wintertime, but on PEI it is 10-12 weeks of madness followed by 40 weeks of misery. This would certainly impact on the economics of new hotel construction!!

[Northshorekid]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Welcome to the forums!

Yes, the whole problem with the hotel situation on the Island is that it is so bloody seasonal. In other markets like Halifax or Moncton, occupancy remains at least moderately good in the wintertime, but on PEI it is 10-12 weeks of madness followed by 40 weeks of misery. This would certainly impact on the economics of new hotel construction!!

Also not helping the economics is the presence of the Holman Grand. It re-opens today, but with the original construction costs at more than $300,000/key (3 times what should be spent in this market), the area does not look good to lenders or hotel companies. An airport hotel is also probably tough in this market as nobody connects through Charlottetown, and the charter market attracts little incoming traffic from the mainland for the spring rush. The success (or lack thereof) of the new convention centre will probably dictate what happens as far as new hotel construction.

The revitalized Kays building will be in tough as well due to a lot of new commercial office space with the new Carr Stevenson Building, the renovated Dominion Building, and still empty floors at the Homburg tower. At the same time, government should be looking to shrink its footprint. I suspect it is a good time to be a commercial tenant looking for space.

[josh_cat_eyes]

They started exterior demo on the former Zellers in Summerside today. Giant Tiger will be filling 30,000 sq. ft. of the space which I believe is around 100,000 sq. ft.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Could we maybe see some pics of the convention centre?

[josh_cat_eyes]

I'll get some of the new Kent, Convention Centre, Expansion of Andrews Lodge, and some other things like west royalty Sobeys/Petsmart or Toys R Us, next time I'm in Charlottetown. Unless someone beats me too it.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Great news about the Holman Grand! Hope it stays open this time! Great for downtown Charlottetown. Now Fredericton needs to build a new downtown hotel too! Though, I'm pretty sure it's in the works

[braymondg]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I'll get some of the new Kent, Convention Centre, Expansion of Andrews Lodge, and some other things like west royalty Sobeys/Petsmart or Toys R Us, next time I'm in Charlottetown. Unless someone beats me too it.

Here is a pic of the Convention Centre. According to the Guardian it will open in the next month.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Awesome!

[josh_cat_eyes]

Wicked thanks for the pic! I wonder what it's first big event will be.

[josh_cat_eyes]

A little bit of color for the page!
Delta & New Convention Centre:

Lower Queen Street:


Spencer Drive Plaza:

Buchanan Drive Plaza:

Downtown Condos:

New Kent:

[josh_cat_eyes]

Just found out that Plazacorp has bought the Staples and Bed Bath & Beyond Plaza in Charlottetown. Pita Pit is the newest tenant in Spencer Drive Plaza and Exreme Pita is now open between Shoppers and Subway.

[engpei]

Expect to see work on a new Canadian Tire on Spencer Drive start late summer.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Oh wow in surprised to hear that. I had heard staples was going there and giant tiger was going where staples is now.

[MonctonRad]

Is Charlottetown getting a second downtown Starbuck's location?

There is the existing store at the corner of University and Kent. I was over yesterday and noticed a "coming soon" sign in the window of the new building just down Queen Street from the Royal Bank indicating that Starbuck's is moving in there.

Will this be a second store or a relocation of the existing store? My assumption is that it will be a second one, which will make Charlottetown the only city in the Maritimes outside Halifax to have more than one downtown location......

Also, what is going to happen to the rest of the old Coast Guard site on the waterfront? The convention centre expansion looks nice, but the old Coast Guard base looks rather forlorn next door. I hope there are plans for this valuable piece of land.......

[apollo]

"Expect to see work on a new Canadian Tire on Spencer Drive start late summer."

I haven't seen any tenders out yet? How reliable is your source?

[Marty_Mcfly]

Another Starbucks downtown? Ugh, I need one uptown. I wonder if the Target store will have a Starbucks....

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Marty_Mcfly

Another Starbucks downtown? Ugh, I need one uptown. I wonder if the Target store will have a Starbucks....

I'm sure it will........

[braymondg]

Construction has already started.