North Island Gazette - Seagate coming down

PORT HARDY – A year after it was ordered demolished, the old Seagate Hotel is finally coming down.

Hazco Environmental Services of Richmond is leading the project, starting with the removal of any hazardous materials last week. Once those materials are removed – estimated to take about three weeks – the building will be demolished, said Gloria Le Gal, director of corporate services for the District of Port Hardy. The demolition should take about a week to complete.

The order to demolish the old Seagate Hotel and repair or demolish the annex was made by Port Hardy council December 2009.

The property is owned by West One Enterprises (Port Hardy) Ltd.

A plea to delay the demolition process came in March from IMOR Capital Corporation director Alexander Hayne, whose Vancouver company holds a $600,000 first mortgage on the property. IMOR named a receiver and both orders were suspended for 120 days to allow IMOR to try and sell the property.

Since then, the District has pushed for results.

“We’ve been continuing to go after IMOR to move forward with the process but had to be understanding of the legal process of foreclosure,” said Le Gal.

During the process, Le Gal says several potential buyers have met with staff to inquire about the property, but it remains for sale.

The newer hotel building across the street was ordered repaired but no work has been done to date on that building, and Port Hardy council plans to review its status, said Le Gal.