Editorial: Hotel sale marks new beginning

The long-awaited sale of the historic Albert Hotel provides Hastings with a chance to turn what has become an eyesore into something special not only for its new owner, but for the citizens of the city and Hawke's Bay region.

The 1882, two storey building sold for $410,000 on Friday and the lucky purchaser is expected in town today to outline a plan for The Albert.

So what could be some of the options?

One of the favourites touted, since the building was put on the market in 2009, has been a possible plan to transform the wooden building into the CBD's only luxury, star-rated hotel.

An accommodation centre of an international standard was flagged as a must have by Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule and while various suggestions have been floated for a location over the years none has come to fruition.

The Albert's central position, on the corner of Heretaunga St East and Karamu Rd, provides it with walkable connections to the soon-to-be redeveloped Hastings Civic Square and the Hawke's Bay Opera House.

Civic Square is to be transformed to include a place where Hastings history will be retold and where visitors to the city can be welcomed while the opera house is in demand as a venue for national conferences, productions and events.

A central city "boutique hotel" would provide somewhere for people to stay when attending the opera house or Civic Square.

While Hastings' moteliers provide excellent options for people to stay on the fringes of the city, a backpacker operation on Heretaunga St remains the only current accommodation outlet on offer in the CBD.

In 2009 the Hastings District Council put in a bid to buy The Albert but it was turned down by the owner, Durney Land Company.

The following year the council confirmed major international and national hotel chains, the Millennium Group and Scenic Circle, had indicated they were interested in setting up shop in Hastings.

Hastings would more than likely welcome any number of options to redevelop The Albert but there are a few the city could do without.

Those include a new liquor outlet or pub, as there are plenty already operating in the city and its suburbs, or another finance company or bank in the middle of town taking up space which could be used for retailers.