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PRODUCT NEWS
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| Semiahmoo destination wellness retreat planned in the US |
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| 12 Sep 2014 . BY Helen Andrews |
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| Olson Kundig Architects is designing the resort for the south side of the Semiahmoo spit / Olson Kundig Architects via Bellingham Herald |
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Plans have been filed for a new 70,000sq ft (6,503sq m) destination spa on the Semiahmoo spit overlooking Semiahmoo Bay in Washington, US.
Entirely unaffiliated with the existing Semiahmoo Resort that has a spa and golf course, a real estate investment and development firm from southern California called BlueRidge Semiahmoo Point LLC has filed land use permits for a 54-acre property which is described in the documentation as a “destination spa and wellness centre”.
A hotel including up to 125 bedrooms is planned for the site and will measure 90,000sq ft (8,361sq m). If the resort proposal is approved, BlueRidge hopes the first phase of the development, including the spa, will be complete by early 2017. As the project is only in its infancy, the estimated time it will take to complete the overall project may take six years.
Derek Jones, founder and CEO of BlueRidge told local media his company is working closely with the existing resort and that the new spa facilities will not be in direct competition with the resident retreat. “The portions of this resort dedicated to spa, health, wellness and fitness fundamentally differentiate it from the existing Semiahmoo Hotel and any other spa and wellness centre in the northwestern US and British Columbia.
“Health and wellness destinations like this are a different animal entirely,” said Jones. “The Semiahmoo Resort is designed to accommodate families and large corporate groups, while destination spa clients are usually couples or small groups.”
Jones was unable to give specific details of the proposed spa’s plans at such an early stage, however, he mentioned that negotiations were in place to secure a well-respected operating firm to run the spa.
High-wage employees like doctors, resident nurses, physical trainers and dieticians will be required at the spa, according to Jones – who hopes the proposed business will be a job creator for the area.
The property, which is being designed by Olson Kundig Architects, will be located on the south side of the Semiahmoo spit in the transitional zone between a residential development area and the local village. The resort will keep an existing old cannery building and water tower in place, to add flavour to the spa – according to Jones.
BlueRidge is requesting that the residential development be scaled back on the spit from 280 homes to around 160, to have the remaining land allocated to his hotel plans.
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