Delta throwback: Delta gets a new hotel

Let’s take a step back in time to 1973.

That year, city officials eagerly awaited the completion of Delta’s newest hotel located in North Delta, which in later years did not have the best of reputations before being torn down.

In March of 1973, a “topping off” ceremony took place for what was then called the Scottsdale Inn, adjacent to the Scottsdale Mall.

The $2 million hotel was to open in May of that year, featuring 50 “premium rooms” and an indoor swimming pool with a sauna for guests.

Later called the North Delta Inn, the new hotel was to also feature a specialty dining room and lounge as well as a 3,000-square-foot banquet room.

Fast forward to 2024 and a develop application for high-density housing is expected for the now vacant site at the corner of Scott Road and 70 Avenue, off Nicholson Road.

Council last year agreed with a staff recommendation to once again extend a temporary use permit for a liquor store at the North Delta Inn site.

The move allows the owner to operate the store, fronting Scott Road south of 70 Avenue, until June 28, 2025, as well as additional time to submit a formal high-density residential development application for the property.

The owner had previously been granted a temporary use permit in 2016, a second temporary use permit in 2019 and a subsequent renewal in 2020.

A new temporary use permit is required in order for the liquor store to continue while the owner continues to work on a redevelopment plan.

In 2019, a proposed development concept for the property was discussed by council. That plan was a mixed-use development that included a total of 432 residential units and some commercial and public amenity space.