Vault removed as construction begins on new Alt Hotel

One of the last historicvaults in St. John's was removed on Tuesday as construction began to ramp up on a new downtown hotel.

• Alt Hotel plans moving ahead for St. John's harbourfront location
• New 'chic' hotel planned for Prescott-Water near St. John's harbour

The brick and stonevaultwas on the grounds of the circa-1800's Marshall Brothers cellar, andwas the only remaining structure on the site that oncehoused the Marshall Brothers store, a post officeand a warehouse, among other things.

An earlier owner may have used the expansive vaultto store wine and spirits.

The long vacant lot on the corner of Water Street and Job's Cove near the east end ofHarbour Driveis being cleared for construction of an Alt Hotel,owned by Montreal-based Groupe Germaine.

In an earlier statement, the company said it plans to move ahead with "respectful architectural planning" to ensure the outline of the former cellar "will be incorporated into the hotel's exterior landscaping and paving making it a celebrated feature and effectively allowing the old and the new to coexist in harmony."

In addition, the hotel will have a "feature wall" that will display materials excavated from the cellar, as well as historical pictures and text.

Groupe Germaine is aiming to open the four-storey, 148-room hotel in 2017.