Château Laurier reworks design plans

The owners of the Château Laurier have taken another stab at designing an addition to the iconic hotel, and the designs are now open to your feedback.

The latest attempts to design a rear addition add more limestone, to try to blend in better with the original structure.

Adding more limestone was among the tasks assigned to the hotel's owners — Larco Investments — when city council sent the company back to the drawing board, last June. The owners were also instructed to break up a glass wall on the northern side of the hotel that faces Major's Hill Park.

City council also directed the hotel's owner to make the addition relate more to the existing hotel. However, heritage rules prevent simply copying the design of the original hotel.

The first attempt at designing an addition, last year, prompted a slew of criticism. These new designs are open for public comment through March 18. Comments can be submitted by e-mailing the city.

The design has to go through a couple of city hall committees, including the Built Heritage Sub-Committee and the Planning Committee, before being approved.