Posted 27 October 2007 - 09:57 AM
After seeing those previous pics this news will be underwhelming to say the least:
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/business/story.html?id=f91101fb-b37f-4f5a-97ba-e0d431995f21
Ogden Point ready to undergo a facelift
Work will begin after the last cruise ship departs on Nov. 3
Carla Wilson, Times Colonist
Published: Saturday, October 27, 2007
When hundreds of thousands of cruise-ship visitors arrive next year, they'll see a whole new Ogden Point.
Underwater work to bolster the pier and a paint job for the terminals that includes images of Victoria landmarks are planned for the site.
As soon as the final cruise ship of the season pulls out on Nov. 3, Fraser River Pile and Dredge Ltd. will start foundation work on the pier, Paul Servos, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority general manager, said yesterday.
That project will cost just over $1 million.
Two more cruise-ship visits are scheduled to dock at Ogden Point, on Oct. 31 and Nov. 3.
When the Mercury departs in early November, it will mark the end of a 163-visit season that began when the first ship pulled in April 24. Those visits delivered 340,000 passengers and 100,000 crew members, pumping an estimated $38 million into the area, Servos said.
Add in five refits worth a total of $60 million at the Esquimalt Graving Dock, plus other services such as repairs, bus drivers and other spinoffs, and the total economic impact reaches $240 million this year, Servos said.
[snip]
Work has already started on the two-phase $340,000 makeover, which will see buildings painted in traditional steamship colours of red, black and grey. Photographic images on plastic will be attached to huge warehouse doors, including scenes of Chinatown, Butchart Gardens, historical ships, the legislative buildings, Craigdarroch Castle and the harbour authority's logo of killer whales.
New banners will show images of whales and nautical themes. Signs and lettering are being freshened up and lamp standards will be painted. More landscaping and improved security are also planned. Work is expected to be finished by May.
[snip]
Passengers already consider Ogden Point one of the best cruise-ship terminals in North America because it is clean, safe, not cluttered and has an efficient transportation system, he said.
With the improvements, the facility will be the "number one cruise terminal in the world, in terms of appearance and function," Servos said.
Cruise companies have already made bookings for 2008 but their schedules are confidential for now, said Servos, who is anticipating another strong season.
[snip]
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007
Are we joking here the number one terminal in the world? Perhaps if there was something to do there and there was LRT to downtown but as is NO WAY the place is embarassing!
Anyways paper copy had a mock up of the pictures and it looks awful it is typical Victoria postcard shite with the quarry at Butchart Gardens.
Also wondering how people would feel about moving this to infrastructure as it is more relevant there methinks...