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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN GIBSONS? T
he gentle, historic, tourist town of Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast, popular with summer day-trippers and the retirement set, is about to undergo massive changes, the like of which locals have never seen before. A huge new resort hotel, residential and marina development in the heart of the town is set to be a game-changer – not just for Gibsons but potentially for the whole of the Sunshine Coast. The George in Gibsons, named after the town’s founding father George Gibson, will comprise a 116-room five-star hotel, expansive conference facilities, a massive “destination” health spa, a new boardwalk with new restaurants, a new marina and a 40-unit luxury waterfront condo building. It is expected to be complete in early 2019.
An Economic Catalyst? The development, which is hoping to achieve LEED Gold construction standards, is intended to become a major
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economic catalyst for the town. It aims to diversify and stabilize the economy by adding around 150 full-time jobs upon completion, more than 245 man-years of construction employment, $1 millionplus in annual municipal and regional tax revenues, and bring to the town 32,000 visitors each year, which are expected to contribute $7.9 million in tourism spending. Aside from the new resort itself, the development is expected to create vastly increased activity for other Sunshine Coast accommodations, shops and restaurants, as users of the exceptional spa and conference facilities choose to stay and eat elsewhere. The developer is also working on setting up partnerships with educational organizations such as Vancouver Community College, so that its hospitality students can work and learn their trade at the George. Klaus Fuerniss, the Gibsons developer whose background is in the hospitality industry, including stints on the
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Vancouver Convention Centre and Expo ’86, and who also owns 10 Tim Horton’s restaurants and Gibsons Marina, is the seemingly tireless man behind the project. Fuerniss purchased the large swathe of underdeveloped waterfront land in the heart of Gibsons, and its marina, many years ago. After more than a decade of public debate and two-and-a-half years in the planning process, the council finally voted to amend current zoning to allow the development to go ahead.
The Private Residences The 40 high-end condominium units, in an Omicron-designed building that matches the hotel’s typical West Coast architectural style, will range from 600 square feet to 2,500 square feet, with some of the most desirable units boating two floors and a private elevator. Feurniss told REW.ca, “Like the rest of the development, the condominiums are designed for comfort, with high-
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end finishings and interiors by False Creek Designs. They are intended for people who want to live here year-round. Residents will be able to get 24-hour concierge service, room service and maid service from the hotel and have a club membership to use the spa and conference facilities. It’s a lifestyle development that allows residents to take advantage of the location, the seawalk, the car shares and bike shares, the health and wellness aspects.” Diana Robertson, marketing manager at Placemaker Marketing, told REW.ca, “Sales aren’t open yet, but the price point for the two-bedroom units, on the waterfront and around 900 to 1,000 square feet, will be around $699,000. There will be a few smaller one-bedroom units, around 600 to 700 square feet, but they haven’t been priced yet.” To read the full story, including details of the development’s spa and other facilities, go to REW.ca/News and search for “Gibsons”
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