Waldorf Hotel closing down for good

By

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s a sad day for many in Vancouver as the Waldorf Hotel announces it’s been sold to a real estate development company.

Brand Manager Daniel Fazio calls it a big shame. “At the same time, when we came into this space, there was no interest in this space or the area. We helped revitalize and re-energize the space and we’re being pushed out now.”

He says 60 people will lose their jobs and many arts and culture groups will also suffer.

Like many, civic historian John Atkin is sad that he may have to say goodbye to some of those unique late-40s style spaces. But he says there’s a chance some rooms can be preserved. “The city has all of the sort of tools to sort of say to the developer, ‘By the way, we like the tiki lounge; you’re going to keep that,’ so the city, within the rezoning process, have a lot of say in what would stay.”

Atkin hopes the city will negotiate to keep some rooms. “If it does get demolished, certainly it needs to be documented properly and then it’s up to the museum and others, to sort of look at what’s there, at what they would think are important items to take to try and remember the building.”

If the building is set for demolition, he hopes the city and local museums can team up in documenting all of its contents.

Vancouver’s mayor has tweeted that the city is exploring ways to support the Waldorf as a cultural spot. A petition to try keep the historic hotel alive has started.

The Waldorf is set to close its doors January 20th.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today