THUNDER BAY – The nearly century-old former Superior Court of Justice courthouse will be given a new life as a hotel.
The Camelot Street property has been purchased by a Toronto developer who is intending to convert the building into a boutique hotel, according to city tourism manager Paul Pepe.
An Infrastructure Ontario spokesman on Thursday confirmed the $500,000 sale was completed earlier this week.
Pepe said the history of the building would provide an experience different from existing hotels in Thunder Bay.
“Consumers are often looking for something unique that has a story behind it, perhaps a bit more intimate in its setting,” Pepe said. “There’s a market for all kinds of accommodation options and certainly this is one that’s sort of exciting. Of course, the views of Lake Superior are pretty impressive as well.”
The courthouse opened its doors in 1924 and remained in operation until 2014, when the new consolidated Thunder Bay Courthouse was constructed on Brodie Street. The building was added to the city’s heritage register in 2009 and certain architectural features such as the exterior, main hallway and two-storey main courtroom are protected by a provincial heritage designation.
The addition of the hotel to the north downtown core serves as a further complement to the emerging culinary and entertainment scene, Pepe said.
“We have to have people downtown after 5 p.m. for a successful core, for the downtown to succeed and survive and be sustainable,” Pepe said.
“Having the restaurant options is great, having the walkability is great and now having more opportunities for people to stay downtown and walk to where they want to go, walk for a great meal and walk to Prince Arthur’s Landing all really helps with the growth of the neighbourhood and the city overall.”
Pepe said occupancy rates and the average daily room rate have both increased in Thunder Bay over the last few years. Last summer, city hotels had occupancy rates of 89 per cent in July and 92 per cent in August, the second-highest numbers in Canada behind Vancouver.
With recent additions of the Hampton Inn and Suites on Arthur Street and the Holiday Inn Express and Suites and TownePlace Suites by Marriott both in the Intercity area show there is room for the industry to grow.
“We’re excited any time an investor comes into Thunder Bay and has the confidence to put their money down on a property, especially a beautiful property like this,” Pepe said. “It creates jobs, it creates tax assessment and it creates new opportunities and choices for visitors who want to stay and want to experience something a little different.”
The developer is targeted a 2018 opening, Pepe said, adding he isn’t aware of specific details such as the number of rooms and whether the hotel will operate independently or under a brand.
