Malaspina Hotel Cursed?

[Sly fox]

What is the deal with that place? Ever since moving to Nanaimo in '79 its been under recievership or someone plans to do something with it and it falls through. Now the company working on it is nickle and diming to keep it profitalbe.

Anyway if anyone knows the history of the building and the land can they give me some insight? Maybe the natives threw people off the cliff there as an offering way back when, or dead miners haunt that land. Its always wierded me out for some reason.

Thanks.

[Apathy]

Well I have been hoping they just stop construction all together because it will take away from part of my view lol, maybe thats it!

[Sly fox]

Actually its adding to mine, I hope?!? But with the other highrises going in at the old civic arena site, I'll really miss the view. sigh...

[alas]

Cursed would be a good reason for it not ever being finished for .... 20 years is when I first remember seeing it being 'built' the first time. (please note, at that point I was old enough to go to the Clippers games by myself.)

[Sly fox]

Sorry to hear that Apathy, it just came to mind that you will probably be affected by the condos that are going to be built across the road from Katerinas too.

[riverrat]

I dunno anything about the place, and Google didn't prove to be much help just now.

I'm pretty sure the Malaspina Hotel was a rip-roarin' and/or a hoity-toity place in a booming downtown Nanaimo, when lots of working bachelors lived in the local hotels/bars.

This helps a bit with dating the place:
E.J. Hughes painted his mural there in 1938. For those who don't know: When they were tearing the place down, they found some lost mural by E.J. Hughes. There was some controversy in Nanaimo because it was going to cost a bunch of money to restore and the City didn't want to pay - but anyway, that was resolved.

Hrm, I think the Malaspina Hotel is pictured in this painting by Hughes, Steamer at the Old Wharf, Nanaimo. I think it's the big square yellow building on the left.

[keeha]

Living on Protection Island I have seen what is almost 2 year's worth of non-stop foundation work and concrete pumped onto that basement.

A basement that includes a mine entrance. One that is right next door to a federal office building. The same federal office building that is now connected to the Malispina and allowed the Malispina development to extend south and block most of the waterfront in front of the Federal building.

Cursed or a secret? (or both)

[riverrat]

I don't get it.

[dilligaf]

Cursed or a secret? (or both)

A secret what?

[Apathy]

Naa Sly Fox.. It is a small part of my view, just glad that they won't ever take out the dock by the Port Place because then my view will be completely gone.