The controversial Newport property in Nanaimo’s south end has been listed for sale.
The pub, apartments and separate liquor store building have an asking price of $1.5 million.
The property has been the subject of much debate after being designated a nuisance by Nanaimo city council last month for an excess of police calls for service on reports of prostitution, sexual assault, drug trafficking and theft. Its owner, Rob Owen, did not return phone calls to the Daily News.
“There’s a lot that could be done with that property that could be positive for the south end,” said South End Community Association vice-chairman Gordon Fuller. “That has been a property that has caused some problems. The potential is phenomenal.”
Fuller said their new neighbourhood plan talks a lot about turning the corner where the property sits, at Haliburton Street and Needham Street, into a hub for the south end of the city. It ideally would entail a mix of commercial and residential, he said.
“If someone chooses to keep the hotel and renovate it, then good management is the key to anything that involves housing,” said Fuller.
Douglas Hardie, chairman of the organization, said the management of the Newport and the Patricia Hotel had a standing invitation to address SECA and update community members of the goings-on there.
He said they took that invitation up March 7 and a representative spoke of a number of evictions of problem tenants and the challenging search for an on-site manager who’s up to the task of keeping order.
“We’re pleased that they seem to be making an effort to get the situation under control,” said Hardie.
“We’ll see how that goes over the longer term.”
He said the hotel seems quieter and they are seeing less drug activity, describing himself as cautiously optimistic about the future of that corner.
The Newport property, located at 540 Haliburton St., was recently listed by Realtor Guy Bezeau as having 16 rooms and including the pub and liquor store, which he describes on his website as being in a long-term lease and “providing (a) good rate of return.”
The property is listed as being 44,747 square feet.
The nearby Patricia Hotel is also for sale by Coldwell Banker.
MGauk@nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4229