No way to start Homburg hotel again: councillor

A Charlottetown city councillor says despite complaints on the design of a new hotel going up in the downtown area, there is no way to have the company start again.

Coun. Rob Lantz, the chair of the city's planning committee, said some residents have complained the new Homburg hotel is not attractive.

The exterior of the multimillion-dollar Holman Grand Hotel was supposed to feature aluminum panel, but the material now being used is painted steel.

"The historic facade that they've recreated and the front of it is quite attractive. It looks very nice," said Lantz.

"It's the … steel siding on the upper floors that's a lower quality than we expected. But what can we do at this point?"

Lantz said there is no mechanism to have Homburg Invest Inc. remove the material and start over on the 10-storey hotel.

Officials from the company released a statement on Monday asking for the public's patience with the project.

"We have undertaken to go back to building architects and designers to provide some ideas which will improve the facade of the building," said the statement.

"We would ask for the public's patience for the project to be complete before they pass final judgment."