The completion timeline for the new Market Avenue hotel in Grand Forks has been pushed back, though construction is expected to ramp up in the coming weeks.
The four-storey, 33-room boutique-style hotel is being built behind 7330 2nd St. at 151 Market Ave. The site was formerly home to the historic Province Hotel, which burned down in 2012.
Construction started in November 2024 and was originally expected to be finished within 18 months.
However, Mayor Everett Baker said council recently approved a request from the developer for an extension, moving the project’s completion date to July 2027.
He said council sympathized with the reasons cited for the extension request.
“The climate has changed out there, particularly for developers, with the costs of goods and staffing and just the unsettledness across Canada. So I can certainly understand the reasons why they requested an extension, but I’m hoping that it’ll be done long before then.”
Despite the delay, Baker said work on the site should pick up soon.
He said crews are scheduled to return to the site March 23 to begin sewer work and make changes to the foundation fill, which was deemed unsuitable. Framing could begin within a few weeks.
“So I think it’ll be done faster than they asked for. I know these developers and they’ve built housing in Grand Forks before, so I have great confidence that this project will be finished and ready for occupation, hopefully sooner than later.”
He added that he wasn’t shocked the developer needed an extension.
“This is just a problem that developers have nowadays. It didn’t come as a shock to me, actually.“
Council supported the extension in part because of the community’s need for more accommodation.
Baker said a recent hotel fire reduced the number of rooms available in the city, adding pressure to expand lodging options.
“There was a fire here just recently where a number of rooms in a hotel were not, were taken out with a fire and if we want to continue to host events and things, we need hotels. it’s all part of having places for people to stay and to come visit when they come to Grand Forks.”
Baker expects the completed project to support tourism and bring more visitors into the downtown core, benefiting local businesses and the city’s economy.
“if we can have a brand new hotel that is in our downtown core that makes room for visitors to come and spend the night or weeks in Grand Forks, and that’s great.”
He said there has been growing interest from developers in Grand Forks that signals strong momentum for the community.
“I love the idea developers are interested in Grand Forks. That means our brand is strong and that bodes well for our community moving forward. So people are looking to invest in Grand Forks, and as the mayor I couldn’t be more happier that people are interested in investing in our community. “
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