A developer hopes to convert a vacant office building on Burnaby Street into a 30-room hotel.

A recent planning application by Holborn Property Holding Ltd has renovations to 26 Burnaby Street — the Green Shutters building — including a two-storey extension, to create a seven-storey hotel, with two below-grade storeys used for back-of-house operations.

Documents included in the application said: “The street level will be the lobby area, which will host an art exhibition/gallery featuring works by Bermudian artists, a guest bathroom and garbage storage.

“It is important to note that no food services, such as breakfast, lunch buffets or room service, will be provided.

“Instead, it is intended that food options will be made available in partnership with neighbouring food service businesses.

“The top floor is planned as an accessible roof that may be accessible to guests, offering view over Front Street and Hamilton Harbour.”

The 12,000 sq ft building, which sits between Chatham House and the Hog Penny Restaurant, extends across nine staggered floors.

The property initially included a restaurant and bar on the lower floors ― the Shutters Restaurant ― while the upper floors were initially reserved for offices.

However, the lower floors were repurposed as offices after the restaurant shut its doors.

Drawings included in the application include 12 hotel rooms on the eastern side of the building overlooking Burnaby Street, with the other 18 units located at the rear of the building.

The documents state that the “back rooms” in the hotel will be provided with mechanical ventilation.

The application noted that the additional two floors will bring the hotel in line with the neighbouring building at 63 Front Street.

Parking is not included in the proposal, with the applicant stating in planning documents that the development will primarily service tourists who are unlikely to have personal vehicles.

The documents add: “The proposal continues to the vitality of the city by increasing activity and foot traffic in Hamilton through new tourism uses and bringing an existing vacant building back into productive economic use, all of which are key objectives of the City of Hamilton Plan 2025.

“The proposed tourism use plays an important role in increasing activity, which is a fundamental policy objective of the City of Hamilton Plan.”

A previously approved planning application proposed converting the top three floors of the property into a luxury apartment.