City council has approved a plan to clear away what remains of the old Plaza Hotel, destroyed by fire almost 6 weeks ago.
Staff recommended fast clean up because of the safety issues.
The hotel had been closed, and was run down, but was once the grand Hotel Westholme -- and is still designated as a heritage building.
Some of the historical elements survived, and Councillor Marianne Alto is pleased efforts will be made to salvage and use them in a new development on site:
" It would be great I think to salvage some of these, I think, really important features and be able to see them resurrected in whatever comes next. So I'm very hopeful that what's been directed here is actually possible. And that the applicant will do their absolute best and due diligence to try to accomplish these things so that we do have at least the capacity to create some tangible memories of what was. "
The owners are expected to unveil their plans this fall.
Items to be salvaged include 2 polished granite columns, cast iron structural columns, white glazed brick, heavy structural timbers, and sidewalk prisms.
Councillor Thornton-Joe asked if someone from the city could work with area businesses and the DVBA to make the process as smooth as possible, and less painful for businesses already suffering because of the fire.