294 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

CONTROVERSY? What controversy?

[Holden West]

Says he would have preferred the CPR building to be part of a comprehensive development of the Harbour, from Ogden Point into the Inner Harbour. And that despite Fortin's claim today that the CPR building will be the catalyst for future development McNeil says that's backwards--you don't create the crown jewel without knowing how it will fit into a larger development.

[Holden West]

CONTROVERSY? What controversy?

Controversy is my word. I say the controversy was the revoked RFP and the two rounds of submissions.

[Mike K.]

Jesus H. Christ. What was it that I just said a few moments ago? Oh yeah, this:

In keeping with tradition, anything the City gets behind will be overly expensive, pit residents against each other and likely push some elements of the current working harbour out of the harbour.

[JohnN]

Coincidence that Port Metro Vancouver planning underway as Victoria Harbour discussion continues?

Future jobs need planning now

Port Metro Vancouver has examined the various scenarios for its future and how to achieve the best of them

Robin Silvester
Vancouver Sun
November 24, 2011 6:19 AM

Municipal elections are now behind us, and with some known faces still in place and new ones on the scene, too, the heightened state of policy interest and debate can now ebb. We can all get back to those quieter, pre-campaign times.

But should we? As the editorial, opinion and news pages of The Vancouver Sun have made clear in recent weeks, the key to our existing economic success and our economic future - for families, for business, for the revenue that governments need to provide the services and protections we require - is job creation. As several recent elections have shown, political parties and governments may have differing views, but they are in fundamental agreement that a healthy economy, with good jobs and good pay cheques, is absolutely necessary to support what any government needs to do, or wants to do.

Port Metro Vancouver activities generate 129,000 jobs. Moreover, we know that to preserve those jobs and all they make possible, we need to add to them. We know also that everywhere those jobs are located and for the people they touch - here in the Lower Mainland, in British Columbia, in the Western provinces, and ultimately, across all of Canada - the future will offer increasing global shocks and uncertainty.

We can face that future with fear and retreat or with confidence and advancement on our strengths. For it to be the latter we'll need will, collaboration and action - and sooner rather than later.

Read more: http://www.vancouver...0272/story.html

[JohnN]

Interesting knowledge-testing poll on the Weather Network's website for 17 October 2011, asking respondents which Canadian site is competing for being recognized as one of the seven world wonders of nature. While the correct answer is Bay of Fundy, one of the location options included was Victoria Harbour! (http://www.theweathe...lls&poll_id=625)

[VicHockeyFan]

Turns out the Harbour Authority is the preferred tenant for the CPR Terminal building.

Makes sense to me.

[G-Man]

This is great news!

[JohnN]

So PCC is leasing CPR building to GVHA who in turn will sub-lease it to food vendors, pub, currency exchange, etc? Well, its better idea than wasting McLoughlin Point for a CRD sewage plant.

Harbour Authority named chief applicant for CP Steamship building

CFAX 1070
Nov. 30, 2011

The landlord of the old CP Steamship building has identified the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority as the lead applicant to inhabit the inner harbour's historic structure.

The P-C-C revealed today that they voted unanimously to enter in to lease negotiations with the Harbour Authority.

Chief Financial Officer for the commission, Rick Crosby, on what factors they considered when making their decision...

"How does it fit with the building? How does it fit with the harbour? Is there public access to the building? Is there paid access to the building? When is the applicant proposing to open the space... re-open to the public in 2012 or 2013? So there's a number of considerations that the panel looked at within the tenancy plan."

The P-C-C says they're seeking a 30-year lease agreement.

The Harbour Authority's intent is to use the building for mixed use while reserving the option to use the location as an international gateway terminal in the future.

The group also plans to sub-lease portions of the building to provide space for food & beverage service, a restaurant/pub with an outdoor patio, coffee and wine shops, exhibit space, and cash and currency exchange.

READ MORE:
http://www.cfax1070....news&Itemid=155

[Hotel Mike]

Awesome!

[Lover Fighter]

I'm glad that the Harbour Authority won (although I would have preferred the Maritime Museum), but it seems like just another layer of management before we find out what actually happens to the building.

[manuel]

I'd give it a few years until a proper gateway to Victoria can be developed by pooling the Coho and Clipper foot traffic along with a Pike Place style market and some form of a small pub (and a tacky t-shirt shop or two). The Harbour Authority had to lock down the site to allow for the long-term vision to be planned out, funded and implemented - otherwise the opportunity would have been lost until the end of the lease. Now comes the fun part of getting the ducks in a row so trailers aren't the first experience of visitors here.

That said, it would have been a cool location for the Maritime Museum.

[JohnN]

Harbour authority wins bid

Eateries, shops, then ferry gateway planned for harbourfront landmark

Carla Wilson and Bill Cleverley
Times Colonist
December 01, 2011

Shopping, eating and drinking should be in place by late summer at a renovated CPR Steamship Terminal building, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority said Wednesday, after its proposal for the harbourfront landmark won out over three other projects.

The Provincial Capital Commission, landlord of the historic building at 470 Belleville St., said its board unanimously chose the harbour authority during a teleconference on Wednesday morning.

In a second stage, the harbour authority's goal is to return the building to its original use as a ferry terminal as part of a redevelopment of the adjacent Belleville Street terminal lands where the Coho and Clipper ferries dock.

Read more:
http://www2.canada.c...f8-984edabdfd20

[Holden West]

Whether it's air or sea, an international departure terminal is busy and glamorous. Including it in the midst of everything else in the harbour it will transform the former area (wax museum surrounded by repulsive concrete walkways to nowhere) into a lively hub of activity if it's done right.

A big problem will be our vision for lively interaction vs. the US Dept. of Homeland Security's need for obsessive levels of ugly "security".

[Sparky]

^ They could leave one trailer for them.

[J Douglas]

I think it's a huge step up to see this building used for something functional, rather than a hokey '50s style tourist trap. Redeveloping the ferry terminals will also allow for an extension of the pedestrian walkway all the way around the harbour.

[AllseeingEye]

But....but....but.....J Douglas haven't you heard? Why only in the last year no less than Pam Madoff herself pronounced our harbour/harbour front/access points as "world class" and as "good or better than Vancouver's!". Riiiiiiiiiight. Clearly she has never been to Spanish Banks. Or Kits Beach. Or Kits Point. Or Granville Island. Or False Creek. Or Third Beach. Or Stanley Park. You get my point.

The only question that really matters to me when I hear talk of a new "vision" for the Victoria harbourfront is - WHOSE vision? Pam's? Dean's? The harbour here is screwed if they have anything to say about it. IMO.....

[VicHockeyFan]

http://www.timescolo...8086/story.html

You know what I think all the way through this article? I think if we just place a casino on the water somewhere, we'd have all the money we need to make an amazing walkway, paying for the actual walkway and buying up property where required to make it work.

It still stuns me that we have a casino in the middle of nowhere, scooping up local money, when we could get so much more from tourists.

[LJ]

^There was a very interesting story on gaming and lotteries on Global BC News this evening about how much money is made by this industry. The most profitable are slots, and they expect online gaming to eclipse all that has gone before.

[VicHockeyFan]

This is positive signage, eh?



Change from this one we see all over town: