Onni Group is pitching the concept of a hotel in its two most westerly, unoccupied buildings at the Steveston boardwalk, in a bid to avoid a fifth summer of empty storefronts (or marine industrial shops).
According to planning committee chair Coun. Linda McPhail, the City of Richmond and Onni are in negotiations that could see the site rezoned for commercial purposes, from its present state as “marine industrial.”
Part of those negotiations is a hotel concept, she said.
Onni would not respond to inquiries from the Richmond News.
The overarching problem with the empty space has to do with the fact Onni built the buildings under the existing maritime zoning and has since asked several times over the years for more lucrative rezoning to accommodate what the buildings appear to be intended for — commercial and retail space.
Coun. Harold Steves has previously suggested the city should get $16 million to rezone, whereas Onni last offered $3 million in community amenity contributions.
The Richmond Chamber of Commerce has called for “a timely resolution” to the boardwalk impasse.
“Millions of dollars in potential tax revenue on this property have been lost, and the village of Steveston has been deprived of a vibrant, active and engaged business environment on the waterfront,” stated chamber chair Rob Akimow.
Last September, Onni saw its first commercial tenants, thanks to a “spot rezoning,” to accommodate the relocated Generations Daycare.
