Vancouver mayor to ask city to help protect Waldorf

Mayor Gregor Robertson has asked city council to address how the Waldorf Hotel can be protected, after it was announced this week that the popular arts and culture venue in East Vancouver wassold to a real estate development companyand would be shutting its doors.

Robertson will be introducing a motion at next Tuesdays council meeting asking city staff to meet with Waldorf Productions, which operates the tiki bar and nightclubs inside the East Hastings Street boutique hotel.

"The Waldorf is both a significant cultural amenity and a major neighbourhood asset, one that resonates with people of all ages throughout Vancouver," Robertson said in a statement.

"To lose such a historic building would be a big blow, which is why we need to do what we can to protect itwe need to be building up Vancouvers arts and culture. I want to ensure the Waldorf Hotel is protected and that we dont lose a valuable live performance venue."

Robertson has asked the city manager to prepare a report that will include:

• steps to prevent any demolition permit from being issued, in the event the owners were to seek one. He has also asked for a statement to be drafted up stating the
• a statement of significance for the Waldorf Hotel that would outline the buildings historic and cultural assets.

The mayors motion will also ask city staff to consult with the current and new landowners to see if any accommodations can be made to keep Waldorf Productions on site.

"Its disappointing that Waldorf Productions is intending to stop operationswe need more cultural venues in Vancouver," Robertson added. "Im hopeful we can find a new solution."

In recent years the hotel and its original Tiki lounge has become a trendy hang out in the city's arts and culture scene.

But on Wednesday, the operating partners suddenly announced they were vacating the premises on Jan. 20 because the building had been sold to the Delta developer Solterra and they could not secure a new long-term lease.

The news prompted a flurry of rumours on social mediaabout the fate of the building and onThursday afternoon, the CEO of real estate firm Solterra released a statement saying the firm hadno intention of demolishingthe Waldorf.