Thunder Bay's hotel boom shows no sign of slowing: Tourism, conference activity stays hot in northwest city.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: NEWS - Conference news

A landmark building in Thunder Bay's north end might realize a new life as a boutique hotel.

The former Thunder Bay District Court House on Camelot Street in the city's north end was sold recently to a Toronto developer through his numbered company.

"He's a very quiet gentleman, very methodical, who's figuring it all out behind the scenes," said Tourism Thunder Bay manager Paul Pepe, who's acting as the developer's spokesman. "He doesn't want to tip his hands too much to the public."

The courthouse, built in 1924, closed when the consolidated courthouse in the city's south end was opened in 2014.

Though listed by Infrastructure Ontario at $570,000, the building was sold for a reported $500,000.

Pepe said he walked through the building with the developer and came away impressed with the condition inside.

The building is structurally sound but needs obvious renovations and retrofitting for the transition to a hotel. The interior is trimmed in oak and the terrazzo floors throughout the building remain in "mint shape," said Pepe. There are working elevators and basement jail cells.

Pepe imagines the former main courtroom being an "awesome event space," but that's up to the new owner. Some of the judges' offices come with private two-piece bathrooms.

Situated on a hillside, the building features large east-facing windows overlooking the harbour, offering plenty of natural light.

The developer hasn't yet shared his vision for the structure, its final room count, or how the space will be used. Pepe speculates that the property has potential space for 45 guest rooms.

Pepe would not say if there are plans to bring in a brand-name hotel for the site. That's up to the developer. The tentative opening is mid-2018.

As a provincially designated heritage building, there are restrictions in place to protect key architecture and design elements when it comes to refurbishments. Those conditions turned off other potential buyers, said Pepe.

But he thinks the building could offer something unique to Thunder Bay's hotel scene that's within walking distance of the Waterfront District.

But just when Pepe thinks Thunder Bay has reached critical mass in its hotel building boom the latest addition being last fall's opening of a Hampton and Suites near the airport--the accommodation stats tell him otherwise.

Hotel performance in 2016 was 70-per-cent occupany rate. Numbers through April show it at 63 per cent, up from 59 per cent during same period last year.

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