Affordable option
Shipping containers could serve as waterfront commercial space this summer
There could be containers on the Sydney waterfront sooner than you may think.
Any potential container terminal development is still far from a reality but some repurposed shipping containers could be located along the waterfront as early as this summer.
Due to increasing interest from entrepreneurs interested in setting up shop on the waterfront, particularly with construction of the second cruise ship berth due to begin, the Port of Sydney Development Corp. is looking at different options to provide commercial space. At the port’s annual general meeting last week, Dist. 10 Coun Darren Bruckschwaiger asked if there were more affordable options to attract business to the waterfront, even if they were more temporary.
CEO Marlene Usher noted that a less expensive option than building additional kiosks along the marine terminal could be making use of “dressed-up” shipping containers. She noted there is a bit more space to play with in the area, with the removal of the former building that held port offices.
“We have one (container) now that Destination Cape Breton did for an Ottawa event for tourism so we’re going to use that one for sure as a visitor information centre for tourists and that will be on the waterfront, but in addition to that, we have access to a couple of other containers so we would go and find out what it would cost to wrap them, because they have to be attractive, a container on its own is not much to look at,” Usher said.
“Our aim is to grow the waterfront and retail and food are part of that.”
Bruckschwaiger noted the $20 million second cruise berth is a significant investment in the waterfront area and it’s important to provide more options to improve visitors’ experiences.
“I think we’ve got to get out at the community and tell them to take advantage of this, get a small business started here and try to reap the benefits of this and give these people a good experience to take back with them as well,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald, who is also councillor for the downtown Sydney area, said he saw the containers in use along the Montreal waterfront and took photos with the intention of sharing them with the port corporation.
“I think they would fit quite nicely into our boardwalk area,” he said.
“I think that needs to be also part of the discussion so that we can have kiosks along the various parts of the waterfront as opposed to just one area but I definitely think the model that is on the waterfront in Montreal would be something that would work here and is definitely worth considering.”
MacDonald said he like to see them potentially set up in other areas along the boardwalk as well, such as near the Civic Centre.
Usher said the port will continue to work closely with CBRM and staff in developing the waterfront.
“We have a role to play with the marina, we want to have
a beautiful marina available to the public, and we want to
have kiosks, retail, food ser- want this place to come alive,” vice on the boardwalk and we Usher said.