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Originally Posted by spaustin
I lived in the Elmwood Hotel (yellow place on the corner) when the fire happened. Several years ago now! It will be great to see something happen here as the loss of the townhouses really punched a hole in the streetscape. I'm kind of surprised though that this isn't a much larger block-spanning proposal. It's my understanding that Galaxy Properties (owned by the Metlej clan) has bought up the whole block. Relieved that the old Elmwood Hotel isn't coming down, but I'm curious as to what their plans are for it.
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I actually have some friends who just a couple of months ago moved into the Elmwood. It's a bit on the run-down side, but it's still a pretty cool building inside--lots of original features and architectural details. I think it'd be an ideal condo conversion or high-end rental if renovated, as long as they added some soundproofing.
If Galaxy does own it, it may be safe--there was a Chronicle Herald story right after the fire in which Tony Metlej said he'd bought the townhouses specifically because he liked them, and no intention of demolishing and redeveloping the property. Bit of a shame that the fire happened here, of all places--the block was probably safe in his hands.
In any case, if he owns the Elmwood, maybe he feels the same about it. I could see a reno'd Elmwood and this new project doing wonders for the park area.