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Hotel/casino complex possibility intensifies

Two hotel companies and City of Terrace involved regarding downtown Terrace location

THREE parties are now involved in negotiations which could eventually see a combined hotel, conference centre and casino built on the city-owned former Terrace Co-op lands on Greig Ave.

Involved are the city which has an existing sales agreement to sell the property to Superior Lodging of Calgary, Superior itself and Pomeroy Lodging, the Grande Prairie-based hotelier which owns the Chances gaming centre here but wants to expand it to a new location and combine it with a hotel and conference centre.

Pomeroy has been looking for a suitable site since it bought the Chances operation here in 2014 and has now identified the Co-op location as its preferred location.

But first it and the city must make some arrangement with Superior which took out a sales option agreement for the majority of the Terrace Co-op property, 2.79 acres, with the city in 2013.

“I can confirm that we will be having discussions with Pomeroy regarding their interest in the property currently under sales agreement to Superior,” said city economic development manager Danielle Myles today.

“City council administration is currently working on recommendations to bring back to council in regards to Pomeroy Lodging's proposal to build a new convention centre, casino and hotel facility on land that is currently owned by the city,” she said.

“Related conversations between the City of Terrace, Pomeroy Lodging, and Superior Lodging are confidential at this time, so I can't confirm any details there.”

Pomeroy Lodging official Jackie Clayton also confirmed the discussions.

The Pomeroy development proposal, which it says would cost more than $25 million, also hinges on being able to expand the number of slot machines it now has at its Chances facility here, something that would require city approval.

“As required by the Gaming Control Act, relocation of Chances or any request by Pomeroy Lodging for expanded gaming in Terrace will require public consultation,” said Clayton.

At the time of the 2013 sales agreement, Superior said it had plans for a 100-room hotel, meeting rooms, indoor pool and waterslide.

Pomeroy's plans for the Co-op site also include a 100-room hotel and a conference centre to hold up to 750 people and a Chances facility of 18,000 square feet in size.

Finalizing the agreement between the city and Superior has been held up because the city has yet to obtain certification from the province that the land it wants to sell is free from contaminants.

Their existence dates back to the days when the now-demolished Terrace Co-op shopping complex on the property contained a gasbar on the property's northeast corner.

That location is not within the property it has so far agreed to sell to Superior but there were concerns of seepage.

The city now says it hopes to have environmental certification by the end of the year.