A Hail Mary attempt to hold another debate and vote on the Chateau Laurier addition failed Thursday at Ottawa City Council.
The special council meeting was over in just a matter of minutes because the vote to reconsider fell short. The meeting was adjourned to boos and jeers from residents in attendance.
The final tally was 13 nays, 10 yays, along the same lines as Wednesday's vote on Coun. Mathieu Fleury's original motion to revoke the heritage permit for the expansion. The only change was Coun. Rick Chiarelli, who told Newstalk 580 CFRA he had only voted against Fleury's original motion Wednesday as part of a strategy to allow the reconsideration motion to pass.
Here's how the mayor and councillors voted on the #ChateauLaurier reconsideration motion #ottnews @ctvottawa pic.twitter.com/6kjFE9iXVE
— Katie Griffin (@KatieGriffinCTV) July 11, 2019
This means the owner of the storied hotel, Larco Investments, can now proceed to build a seven-storey 147-room addition at the back of the hotel facing Major's Hill Park. The box-like design has been panned by a majority of people in the city.
The battle over the future look of the Chateau Laurier even made national and international headlines.
Ottawa-raised comedian Tom Green is so opposed to the proposed addition he went to the special meeting Thursday afternoon.
Opponents of the plan insist the fight isn't over. There are calls to boycott the Chateau Laurier and other Larco properties, and the Friends of the Chateau Laurier group has suggested legal action of their own could be taken.
