Skorri Rafn’s company to purchase Valhöll.

Alva fasteignir, Skorri Rafn Rafnsson’s company, is well advanced in reaching agreements with the Independence Party on the purchase of Valhöll. However, loose ends, such as signing a purchase agreement, still need to be ironed out. The planning officer has responded positively to Alva fasteignir’s inquiry about operating a hotel in the building.

This was confirmed by both Skorri Rafn and Tryggvi Másson, the executive director of the Independence Party, in an interview with Vísir. They did not want to comment further on the matter at this time.

Planning official ruled out a new floor but not a hotel operation

On December 16th, the Reykjavík City Planning Officer accepted Alva Real Estate’s inquiry regarding Valhöll. Alva Real Estate requested the Planning Officer’s opinion on whether it would be possible to obtain permission to change the use of the building to a guesthouse or hotel, to install a dining room in its basement, and to add one recessed floor on top of the building.

The planning officer’s conclusion was to reject the request for the building to be raised, but that hotel operations on the site were in accordance with the master plan. However, the local plan would need to be amended to change the use of the building to a hotel.

Built specifically for the party

Valhöll was built specifically for the activities of the Independence Party in 1975, but various other activities have also been conducted there. The planning officer’s comment states that the conservation value of Valhöll is unequivocal. The publication  Byggðakonnun: Borgarhluti 3 – Hlidar: Part I: History of the settlement in the borough: Archaeological registration and conservation assessment of archaeological remains and younger monuments: Results of the conservation assessment of houses and neighborhood structures states the following:

“Built in 1975 and designed by architects Halldór H. Jónsson and Garðar Halldórsson. The building is notable for being the only building that was specifically designed to house the headquarters of a political party and has unquestionable conservation value as such. The City History Museum notes that the building was designed to make an impression on the environment. Furthermore, it states that “the appearance of the building and its location reflect its function. Has high conservation value, especially as a prominent landmark on a corner plot and a symbolic building. Needs environmental protection as such.”

An active entrepreneur

Skorri Rafn Rafnsson is the founder and CEO of Alva Capital, the parent company of Alva Fasteignir. He has founded and led a number of companies, including Inkasso, Netgiro, Moberg, Heimkaup, Hópkaup and Bland, and has held both the positions of CEO and Chairman of the Board, according to the Alva Capital website.

Over the years, he has also owned media outlets such as hun.is, sport.is and 433.is. He was also one of the founders of the microfinance company Hradpeningar.

Last October, it was reported that his company Alva Capital had reached an agreement with an international hotel chain to operate a hotel in the company’s premises at Rauðarárstígur 27, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was previously located.

Link to the news on Vísir