It appears the Columbus Hotel company is still solvent, despite an unwillingness to pay the City of Prince George $175,000 in clean up costs following the August 2008 fire that destroyed the building.
A search of the federal Superintendent of Bankruptcy database showed no entry for Columbus Hotel (1991) Ltd. And a company summary from B.C. Registry Services, last updated on April 13, says the company is neither in liquidation or receivership.
The company has had trouble receiving a pay out from the building's insurer following the blaze, which killed three people and forced an expensive cleanup of the site by contractors hired by City Hall.
In August 2009, slightly less than a year after the fire, Columbus Hotel (1991) Ltd. filed a writ of summons in Kamloops law courts against Lloyd's Underwriters and Universal Underwriting Managers Ltd. claiming it held a valid insurance policy for the building.
The outcome of that legal action remains unclear and Columbus principal Rob Gibson has not returned requests for comment. Gibson has said the city can't collect because the Columbus is a company with limited liability.
Earlier this month, a B.C. Supreme Court Justice concluded that while the City had taken over ownership at the time the building's remains were torn down, responsibility for the cost remained with the original owner, because the Aug. 19, 2008 fire occurred before the property changed hands.
The Justice overturned a lower court ruling in the process.
The City became the owner after Columbus owners failed to pay property taxes owed and a new owner could not be found through a tax sale.
