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Farenheit Hotel: Still Clothing-Optional, But Didn't Kick Out Poor People

Where: 1212 Granville Street, Vancouver, Canada, BC V6Z 1M4

[Ed. Note: A representative for the Farenheit Hotel in Vancouver emailed us to dispute the notion put forth by another blogger that "poor people" were kicked out of the building to make way for the clothing-optional, gay men only hotel. Here's his side of the story.]

FYI the hotel was converted from SRO to "Tourist Hotel" by the owner/operator a couple of years before we even considered leasing the building from her.  She went through the city's legal process to do so.  At that time she only had 5 SRO tenants, and she moved them to another hotel she owns with rent frozen for 5 years.  Freezing the rent at that hotel (for ALL it's tenants) for 5 years was part of the deal.  4 of the tenants were delighted to move, because they felt the new facility was much better for them than was the hotel on Granville, and they all submitted letters of support.

One cranky tenant was a holdout (you can't please everyone), and he got a good deal too, and eventually a buy-out.  He left the hotel BEFORE we took over and converted it to  the Fahrenheit hotel.

So please, we didn't kick out ANY poor people.

Here's the link to the city's files documenting the entire process of conversion of the Ambassador Hotel from SRO hotel to Tourist Hotel.

We never respond to Jamie Lee Hamilton, the Downtown Eastside blogger, because it is pointless to talk to her.  Anything we do would only make her more angry.  I'm kinda sorry now I helped fund her run at a seat on the city council a few years ago...  Now she seems to be set on hinting that maybe I burned down all the other gay baths in town just to eliminate the competition. Egad! I'd sue but she'd just enjoy the publicity; she's pretty much unstoppable when she gets on a tear about something.

Meanwhile, we have created more jobs for gay men, and created a new facility to be enjoyed by their community.  We like to think we've done a nice job.  The Hotel's guests seem very pleased, I'm gratified to hear.

But, we can't be all things to all people.

Related Stories:
· Vancouver's First Gay Hotel Has 'Clothing Optional' Floor [HotelChatter]

Tags: Vancouver Hotels / Gay Hotels / → All Tags

Vancouver's First Gay Hotel Has 'Clothing Optional' Floor

Where: 1212 Granville Street, Vancouver, Canada, BC V6Z 1M4

Vancouver's first gay hotel recently opened and Chrispitality has some detes about the Farenheit Hotel which caters exclusively to gay men.

In March 2006 the Fahrenheit Hotel took over the Davie and Granville street location formerly known as the Ambassador Hotel. After extensively renovating the lobby, public areas and guestrooms, the hotel now delivers a contemporary and affordable experience for men of all types.

However, this isn't your usual "boutique" hotel. The place offers a clothing-optional first floor (those who prefer clothes can hang out on the top floor) and allows guest to hang out in the M2M Playspace, which is exactly what it sounds like.

And of course, the hotel promises on its website that it will live up to its name:

The Fahrenheit Hotel is the hottest place to stay in Vancouver and has the hottest men in town.

However, not everyone in Vancouver is thrilled about the opening of the Farenheit. Blogger Downtown Eastside claims the hotel pushed out poor tenants to make way for Farenheit and lists several possible infractions, the clothing-optional floor and the "Gay Men Only" policy among them.

For more on the Vancouver scene, check out Jaunted's Chasing Vancouver Map.

Related Stories:
· Vancouver's First Gay Hotel Arrives [Chrispitality]
· Gay Sex Hotel which kicked out poor tenants opens its doors [Downtown Eastside]
· Gay Friendly Axel to open second hotel [HotelChatter]