Oamaru’s Ross and Debbie Ward say they respect the fact they are about to build in one of Oamaru’s most public places.
"We’d just as soon be ‘head down, bum up’, but that’s fine, we appreciate that people want to know as well," Mrs Ward said.
"Feedback has been really good, it’s been really positive — overwhelmingly so."
The Wards won the right to develop the 6200sqm site after the Waitaki District Council released an expression-of-interest document to formally request ideas from potential developers in May 2017.
At the time, six groups had reportedly made unsolicited approaches to the council, expressing interest in building hotels, motels or apartment accommodation at the waterfront.
Since then, development of a second site, a 7400sqm Esplanade Dr site, was put on hold. Proposals for a zipline and a floating hotel divided opinion in the community and a master plan process was initiated for the area.
The Wards had expected to have their hotel open for business by Christmas next year and although the concept plan they first submitted had evolved, the basics remained.
"The whole way it’s been mindful of the neighbours ... the area, the precinct," Mrs Ward said.
"We didn’t want it to be modern, so that it sat up there and you could tell ‘That’s from that era’."
From as earlyas next month, the sloped site would be excavated and flattened to make way for two-storeys, with units on both floors — each unit having a kitchenette, bathroom, and outdoor patios or balconies.
The exterior would be the colours of Oamaru stone, black or earthy tones, and a red to match the corrugated iron red featured throughout the historic areas.
The car park, once the landscaping took hold, would be obscured from view. A manager’s house on site for the Wards and their two children would be part of the project.
There would be a guest lounge, welcoming area, conference room, and "outside area", Mr Ward said. The couple — and their architect, Murray Brown Architectural Services — had sought to walk the line between an inconspicuous harbour development that was still a standout.
The complex would be lit up at night, Mr Ward said. It would only take up about 2000sqm of the site.
"Once we get started ... it will go up pretty quick," he said.
"We’ve got to get into the summer market.
"Oamaru can be a bit quieter through the winter. And it takes a wee bit to get up and going."
Mrs Ward declined to say how much the couple planned to spend, but confirmed it would be a multimillion-dollar project. They had yet to decide on a name.
