Brian Martin, the man behind a major development proposal along north Douglas Street and owner of two Howard Johnson hotels on the Island, has died at age 65.
The builder and hotel owner left a huge impression in his business life and was a stalwart supporter of worthy causes.
His concept for Douglas Street came after assembling a considerable amount of property across from the Mayfair Shopping Centre around Speed and Frances avenues, beginning in the 1970s, said son Brad. A project featuring two 12-storey buildings is in the works with 176 residential units and 26,000 square feet of commercial space. It could be the first project to establish the density needed on the Douglas Street corridor, Brad Martin said.
He said his father also owned the Howard Johnson Hotel & Suites in Royal Oak and the Howard Johnson Harbourside Hotel in Nanaimo, and was a partner in a number of phases of Wedgewood Estates on Ten Mile Point.
Martin took great pride in his hotels, and in 2010 the Royal Oak location was named international property of the year for Howard Johnson from over 680 sites, said hotel manager Dan Brady, a longtime friend. Martin did his part by having a hand in everything from cleaning rooms to bussing tables, Brady said.
Away from the business world, Martin was an avid golfer and met his buddies most Wednesdays for a round at Gorge Vale.
Being active was a way of life for him, his son said.
“He was always on his bike or running. He wasn’t very comfortable sitting.”
His success in life allowed him to give back to his community, Brady said. “We were always there supporting amateur sports, high-level sports, community fundraisers. We always answered the call for that.”
Travelling was another passion, but only so much at a time, Brad Martin said.
“By seven days anywhere, he would be going stir crazy and wanting to get back to work.”
Brady said he enjoyed working with Martin and knew him for 21 years. “He was a great leader,” he said. “He had a very, very sharp business mind. The scratch pads in the office were constantly being filled up with notes, and it was a seven-day-a-week relationship with him. So it wasn’t just work, it was definitely a strong, strong friendship.”
Martin is survived by wife Patricia, whom he met in Grade 12 at Claremont Secondary School, along with Brad, daughter Michelle, daughter-in-law Lindsay and grandson Colton, and many others.
He was known to enjoy a party, so that’s what his celebration of life will be on Saturday. A big crowd is expected for the event at Distrikt nightclub, 3 p.m., downstairs in the Strathcona Hotel.
