Save the Waldorf Hotel

Sign the petition http://www.change.org/petitions/city-of-vancouver-save-the-waldorf-hotel-2#

Many of you may know of the extraordinary Tiki legacy of the Waldorf Hotel in Vancouver. Built in 1947, completely refurbished into a Tiki palace 1955 after the owner had a moment of enlightenment in Tahiti. As the Tiki era faded the three tiki bars in the hotel were boarded up for decades. The neighborhood became poor and unattractive for a developer to knock it down. In 2010 a group of entrepreneurs signed a lease, restored the hotel and, in fact, make it even more tiki. The hotel and tiki bars have become a Mecca of culture in Vancouver and the lease holders care for the tiki bars better than anyone could have hoped. Unfortunately they could not sustain the business and last week they ran out of time and money. The building has been sold to a condo developer and they must vacate immediately. The developer has declined any offer to even meet with the group who run the businesses in the hotel and whose creative community created the value that the developer now seeks to exploit. I don't think there is a bad guy here but the developer must not be allowed to destroy this historic place. Please sign the petition.

Here's the petition http://www.change.org/petitions/city-of-vancouver-save-the-waldorf-hotel-2#

Here's more about the Waldorf Hotel and Tiki Bar in Vancouver http://www.vancouversun.com/business/commercial-real-estate/Vancouver+Waldorf+Hotel+close+with+video/7797282/story.html

[ Edited by: Doctor Tiki 2013-01-10 13:23 ]

Thanks for posting this over here on General Tiki.

I signed, so should you!

http://www.change.org/petitions/city-of-vancouver-save-the-waldorf-hotel-2#

DC

I signed!

Done!

I hate to say it, but I'm skeptical this petition will make any difference. Still, I signed it and shared it on Facebook. You gotta' try something! Hopefully, they get more than enough signatures!

From a Facebook post:

"Just received this email re The Waldorf:

For Immediate Release
January 10, 2013

Vancouver, BC – Over the past twenty-four hours there has been a considerable amount of discussion and speculation in the media and public about the future plans for property at the 1300 and 1400 block of East Hastings, which includes the Waldorf Hotel.

Gerry Nichele, CEO of Solterra Group says, “It will be a while before we take possession of the property, and right now the Puharich family is still responsible for the ongoing operations of the hotel. We have an open mind about the future of this site and we are studying all the options. I can say that at this point we certainly have no intention of demolishing the Waldorf Hotel. We want to work with the City to explore possible ways to retain and improve the hotel.”

Solterra Group appreciates the public's interest in this site."

Believable? Knowing condo developers, some serious doubt. Still - PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION!

http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/gregor-robertson-deny-rezoning-of-the-waldorf-hotel-site-to-condo-development

This online petition is directed at Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson. I haven't signed it til now because I thought it would have more impact for local politicians to see support for the Waldorf coming from people who could vote for them, but as my friend Marlena pointed out to me, tourist dollars can also influence politicians. Here's what she wrote on the petition:

"My husband, friends and I have come to Vancouver several times in the last couple of years SPECIFICALLY to visit the
Waldorf Hotel and enjoy its history and cultural events. The work that the owners of the hotel put into preserving and
restoring the authenticity of the original 1950s hotel, especially the mural and artwork, is amazing. Vancouver should be
proud of its history, arts and culture, and should not make the mistake of destroying an irreplaceable part of that."

I think this is a good model to use for anyone not from Vancouver who has visited and enjoyed the Waldorf.

-Sweet Daddy T.
Because crap doesn't buy itself.

blog

[ Edited by: Sweet Daddy Tiki 2013-01-12 11:45 ]

There is a rally planned for today at 2pm at the Waldorf.

http://www.waldorfhotel.com/2013/01/the-waldorf-love-in-sunday-january-12/

[ Edited by: Dagg 2013-01-13 12:13 ]

I'll be at the rally today!

Carol Kruger tipped me to this article that shows the Mayor is already active in seeking to protect Waldorf. Everyone should still sign the petition listed above though

http://www.mayorofvancouver.ca/waldorfmotion

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/sets/72157624900387329/with/5018899826/

Photos of the 2010 restoration

Those reconstruction photos are very nice. Old rotary phones, I kinda miss those...

Most recent news from the Gen-Why on-line pettition:

The #SaveTheWaldorf petitions have reached 13,500 supporters! In response, Mayor Gregor Robertson put out a statement tasking city staff to meet with the giant condo developer, Solterra Group, and Waldorf Productions.

This is a big step in the right direction but the Waldorf, as we know it, is still slated to be shut down by January 20th!

Waldorf Productions must be given the opportunity to sign a long-term lease if it is to be saved.

The more people speak out now the greater our impact will be. A strong public outcry from our community and pressure from the City of Vancouver can force Solterra Group to negotiate with Waldorf Productions.

Here’s how you can help right now:

*Share the #SaveTheWaldorf petition - http://chn.ge/VU7NOr - with anyone you know who loves art, community, music and Vancouver. The more people who join us the stronger our impact will be.

*Our goal is to reach 20,000 supporters by Monday.

Share with Facebook http://on.fb.me/Y32nnd
Share with Twitter http://bit.ly/VYHDrb
Forward this email to your friends and contacts.

*Attend the Waldorf Love-In @the Waldorf Hotel today (Sunday) 2pm-5pm. All are welcome.

Help us spread the word. More actions to come.

Thanks for being a part of this.

• Tara, Nicole, Steve & Glyn for the #SaveTheWaldorf Community & Gen Why Media

DC

Signed. I'm supposed to head out to Washington to meet some soon to be family this summer. If it's still open, maybe we'll make the 5 hour drive!

Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/SaveTheWaldorf

I will sign. I was so looking forward to seeing it this summer.

So did they have to vacate?
Last I heard, negotiations had broken down.

I just did a quick web search and recent articles and reports (from within the past 3-7 days) seem to indicate this weekend was their last. Although, on a positive note, one site reported a week ago that the city has issued a "120-day protection order" for the Waldorf.

http://www.straight.com/news/342891/vancouver-issues-120-day-protection-order-waldorf-hotel

Anyone else have an update? I can't see the Waldorf Facebook page here at work, it may have more up-to-the-minute news. Clearly there are quite a few people in Vancouver who want to prevent the loss of this venue.

I just got this email from change.org

The Waldorf Hotel, as we know it, has been shut down after being sold to giant condo developer Solterra Group. Moving trucks are removing furniture and equipment today.

Our city just became more cold and costly.

Despite the closure negotiations between Solterra and Waldorf Productions creative team continue. There is a window of opportunity for a deal to be made and for the Waldorf to re-open.

For that to happen Solterra needs to feel public pressure. We have learned that Solterra does not want to be dealing with this public relations nightmare. Our actions are working.

Send Solterra a message calling on them to negotiate a fair long-term lease agreement with Waldorf Productions >> http://www.savethewaldorf.ca

With hope,

Tara, Tim, Jen, Nicole, Glyn and friends on behalf of #SaveTheWaldorf

http://www.savethewaldorf.ca

Thank you for the link. Just sent my message to Solterra.

On 2013-01-22 11:22, tikilongbeach wrote:

Send Solterra a message calling on them to negotiate a fair long-term lease agreement with Waldorf Productions >> http://www.savethewaldorf.ca

done

"Waldorf closure spurs unprecedented civic engagement" in the Vancouver Observer.

Signed and posted the http://www.change.org/petitions/city-of-vancouver-save-the-waldorf-hotel-2# link on http://Facebook.com/orchestrotica - good luck to them!

Signed...best of luck on this saving effort.

I signed the petition and sent the message I hope it helps the cause!

Lori

My wife and I got married in the Tiki Bar @ The Waldorf in 2010 , it is a real treasure . Sadly in todays world it has has no equal, most if not all of these spaces are long gone . I love the Tiki Bar but don't think it was utilised to it's full potential in the traditional sense , it became a DJ oriented hipster hangout with the current management , most patrons had no appreciation for the space , it's history or what it represents , or tiki culture . I honestly hope this is saved , and moving forward is preserved in the traditional sense . This may not make economic sense to the new owners ,to keep the bar as it stands , tiki is (Iknow) a niche market , but history and diversity I believe is important in every community/city , we ned to preserve things from our past

Thanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfBOHWUOo3E

87 pages of Waldorf history!

From the facebook group

Incredible read. 87-pages of Waldorf Hotel history was collected over the past few weeks by a group of volunteers and submitted to Van City Hall staff as a "Statement of Significance." This is in support of the application to designate the Hotel as a heritage building.

City officials said they had never seen a "community-derived" submission like this before. Way to go Jen Cook, Holly Fox, et al for bringing out the best in our city.

To read the full submission http://ge.tt/2Bymg1X/v/0?c

Waldorf Hotel rooms and cafe appear to be open for business again, lounge and downstairs available for special occasions. Hopefully they're working on getting the lounge or at least a pub open to the public on a regular hours basis. http://www.waldorfhotel.com

That's Great!

HOORAY!

Waldorf productions partners with porn theatre.

http://m.exclaim.ca/News/waldorf_productions_rickshaw_to_turn_vancouver_porn_theatre_into_new_live_venue

"It's disgusting inside," he told the newspaper. "It's been a porno theatre for 20 years… It needs a serious cleaning. All those seats are destroyed and it stinks and so there's a lot of physical work that's got to go in, a lot of elbow grease

Edit to add quote

Darren

LeiLo Lounge

[ Edited by: Dagg 2013-03-15 17:14 ]