Homburg envisions downtown as 'destination'

Swiss developer Richard Homburg was in Charlottetown Thursday making plans for downtown Charlottetown and the major properties he owns under his new company Homburg International.

Homburg regained control of the Holman Grand Hotel and the Confederation Court Mall after Homburg International purchased Dyne Holdings from Cominar REIT.

Now Homburg said he wants to turn downtown into a destination.

He has plans for a concept he calls Confederation Complex that would tie in the hotel, Confederation Court Mall, the Confederation Centre of the Arts and the underground tunnel. He also envisions a medical clinic and a full health spa.

"Good hotel, good restaurants, health and wellness and good retail and all under one roof almost. And with the tunnel, the arts, entertainment, a movie theatre," said Homburg.

"A lot of things that no one has to offer in the Maritimes and this is the place where you can do it."

The plan means a vast overhaul of Confederation Court Mall and its many shops.

But, Homburg said the first step is to get the Holman Grand back in the hospitality business.

The hotelhad closed in November-- a victim of financial restructuring of then-owner Homburg Invest Inc. when it was put undercourt appointed protectionlast year.

Itreopened earlier this monthafter the purchase of Dyne Holdings was announced.

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