It’s Port property and they are a benefit to all residents as they are the major player for economic growth in our community. I can’t fathom all the negativity surrounding development. Are we open for business or what? What is being closed other than Ridley and what does that have to do with this Cow Bay project?
[quote=“Crazy Train”]
It’s Port property and they are a benefit to all residents as they are the major player for economic growth in our community. I can’t fathom all the negativity surrounding development. Are we open for business or what? What is being closed other than Ridley and what does that have to do with this Cow Bay project?[/quote]
The Superport has been “benefitting” the community for how many years now? Great for those that are employed there but they don’t spend much of their money here. I walk downtown and I can certainly count those benefits. It is great that Shoppers is moving to the Mall but that leaves another empty storefront, WalMart is nice and Dollarama but there will be another Dollar Store re-opening on 3rd. in a couple of weeks. Same place as the old one, just new management. Fields will soon be gone, we aren’t gaining any “new” business, we are only moving around and replacing the old ones to the detriment of our downtown core. Cow Bay is charming as it is, the new development is OK but we are looking at something 10-15 years down the road. What will be the state of our town by then? As far as places to walk, we have lost Ridley, Rushbrook and the CN walk to the nice beach by the ferry terminal is also off limits. I wish the best for Rupert but to assume the Port will bail us out is not very objective. I have been told, despite the fact we had one cruise ship dock here this season, that we are only expecting 2 more this summer and that is it. They had a great welcome but what about all the years that they did come in and only the last season did the tourist bureau decide to give the passengers something to do and see.They had been complaining that Rupert didn’t have much to offer. Is that why they are not coming in anymore, I don’t know. Great stuff but too late!
This project is not going to happen overnight as you stated. It is a vision that is likely to take some time. The container port is having a tremendous impact in our economy as evidenced In the report of April 12, 2012.
rupertport.com/news/releases … orts-surge
3rd avenue is in a sorry state but we have some significant interest in our downtown with an expansion being done by Shoppers, Walmart, Dollarama and A&W. As the second phase becomes a reality, the coal terminal is expanded, the pellet plant is built and perhaps the Potash terminal is constructed, retail will grow. I would expect 3rd Avenue to become revitalized even with the Cow Bay project, as long as there are those who are willing to open businesses. I don’t know of you’ve ever been to Kitimat but there is oodles of money and no where to spend it. We can offer a unique experience to these local tourists as we’ll as position ourselves for a still growing international travel market. The cow bay plan also includes a marina which will attract many others as well as we currently do not have the facilities to moor many of the larger pleasure crafts that end up sailing right by. I’m excited that we have industrial and retail development and investment on the horizon. If 3rd avenue has to be re-invented eventually as something other than retail then so be it. We either evolve or get left behind.
[quote=“Crazy Train”]
[quote=“Soggy”]
Spoken like a true believer.
Often selling your soul and your future for gold just doesn’t pan out — especially for the rest of us.[/quote]
Spoken like a true cynic.
No one is selling their soul. It’s just development and trying to capitalize on a unique opportunity that we have. Be patient and have some faith in those that get paid to make these decisions. It all about the betterment of our community and also know that this type of investment will not happen without expectations of profit and growth. It’s a good opportunity for our community to grow. I dont know about you but I’m tired of the doom and gloom that surrounded the community with the closure of the pulp mill, saw mill and slowing of the fishing industry. We have to re-invent ourselves and this project is a step in the right direction.[/quote]
I’m hardly a cynic as I was one of those spending my time (and quite enjoying it) adding to the enjoyment of our cruise visitors.
Adding more tourist trappy crappy stores does little to add to the positive experience of visitors. Also if the City is expending more money in Cow Bay to the detriment of the rest of the city it is a slap in the face to downtown business. We all know visitors don’t come here to shop.
[quote=“Soggy”]
[quote=“Crazy Train”]
Spoken like a true cynic.
No one is selling their soul. It’s just development and trying to capitalize on a unique opportunity that we have. Be patient and have some faith in those that get paid to make these decisions. It all about the betterment of our community and also know that this type of investment will not happen without expectations of profit and growth. It’s a good opportunity for our community to grow. I dont know about you but I’m tired of the doom and gloom that surrounded the community with the closure of the pulp mill, saw mill and slowing of the fishing industry. We have to re-invent ourselves and this project is a step in the right direction.
I’m hardly a cynic as I was one of those spending my time (and quite enjoying it) adding to the enjoyment of our cruise visitors.
Adding more tourist trappy crappy stores does little to add to the positive experience of visitors. Also if the City is expending more money in Cow Bay to the detriment of the rest of the city it is a slap in the face to downtown business. We all know visitors don’t come here to shop.[/quote]
It’s not the City spending money it’s the Port Authority. And visitors do come here to shop. Many of the thousands of passengers that visited here over the last few years complained about a lack of shopping. People want to spend money. Just look at many people when they go to Terrace. We may also e able to attract some food chains eventually. We have a Mr Mikes opportunity but no one willing to become a franchisee this far. There will be more if that to come.
Visitors want to buy something local, not mass produced chinese goods. Even moreso, they want something to DO while they are visiting. This is the info visitors have expressed to me.
Once again adding more “food chains” Mr. Mike’s or whatever, only serves to take away from downtown businesses.
Those who go to Terrace are the same as those who come here from Terrace. They are just on a day or weekend outing just to get away, and will take advantage of a different selection of products for their purchases.
Who said anything about Chinese goods? We’ll get enough of that with Walmart. Over the next 10-15 years this project will help to cater to tourism, domestic and international, and contribute to positive growth in our community? Have you ever been to Steveston? They have a very unique waterfront with great shops and restaurants and we could have an attraction such as this. We are unique to this area as well and can capitalize on the opportunities that are presented to us. Or we can just dwell on the past and wish that things were the way they used to be without trying to progress, re-create ourselves, and move ourselves into a new and exciting time.
Great that we have a Mr.Mikes franchise available and obviously no one interested in investing. We have a bowling alley, something to do in this damn town, that were there any investors, could have been renovated and open for business but no, it just sits there and literally rots. The casino, with all their bucks, has been missing the “C” on their sign for weeks and as of yesterday hadn’t bothered to even replace that! There is not much pride anymore in this town and the more demoralizing it becomes, those that still carry some of that with them, will eventually realize they are fighting a losing battle. And for those who think we are expanding with our new Walmart and the like, no, we are just replacing what we already had. They are adding a small coffee shop in the Mall, nice but right next door to Naomis and within spitting distance of Tims. Imagination, we need people with some vision! There is more to the world than dollar stores, expensive hoodie boutiques and coffee !!
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Interest in bowling dropped significantly in last few years and the cost too heat the building was too expensive. Capacity was at less than 25% from 20 years ago.
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People with vision- port authority. They have displayed a vision for Cow bay.
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We had a half empty mall that is quickly filling and giving another food and drink option. Most malls have a food court with lots of variety and competition. A coffee shop, Tim’s and Naomi’s within a short walk… Great! Variety is good for everyone.
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Town pride/demoralization- I would agree that there is little pride and that people are becoming demoralized. That is quite evident by some of the comments in this thread. Even the good news somehow can be spun to be bad news.
I want what you are smoking.
Sure, it’s obvious you could use a little pick-me-up. 
[quote=“Crazy Train”]
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Interest in bowling dropped significantly in last few years and the cost too heat the building was too expensive. Capacity was at less than 25% from 20 years ago.
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People with vision- port authority. They have displayed a vision for Cow bay.
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We had a half empty mall that is quickly filling and giving another food and drink option. Most malls have a food court with lots of variety and competition. A coffee shop, Tim’s and Naomi’s within a short walk… Great! Variety is good for everyone.
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Town pride/demoralization- I would agree that there is little pride and that people are becoming demoralized. That is quite evident by some of the comments in this thread. Even the good news somehow can be spun to be bad news.[/quote]
I disagree with you regarding the drop in interest in bowling. Unfortunately, when this bowling alley was open, people complained about the lack of good management. That could have been changed and members of some of the leagues at the time had some great ideas to upgrade and benefit the alley but were stopped at the pass. Yes, there is a great vision for Cow Bay and undoubtedly, within that 10-15 year development span, there will be many changes.What ever happened to the Rushbrook plans? When I first came to Rupert, the Mall was not as empty and there was a coffee shop across from Extra Foods, Orange Julius, or something, it changed ownership a couple of times and then was gone. Variety is good but not variety within the same genre. Give us something different. We are expanding Shoppers, that is nice, we have replaced Zellers with Walmart and now will have 2, even 3 Dollarstores as I am including the Bargain Store in there. We need new vision not more of the same. It is too safe to open yet another coffee shop though I wish them well.
As someone who has lived here since the 60’s and spent over 30 years as a league bowler, trust me when I tell you that there was a drop in interest in bowling. There used to be 32 teams each night (7 and 9 o. Clock times on 16 lanes) and when it closed you’d be lucky to have eight teams a night. A smaller bowling alley is what is needed because it was not cost effective to maintain the current one. It wasn’t well insulated.
You want something different? Look no further than what the port authority is trying to do.
“Crazy Train”, are you a paid spokesperson for the Port? You seem to be putting all the proverbial eggs in this one basket. We can’t totally rely on the Port for any advancement in this town. Don’t we have a Mayor and City Council for that job?
^ Well considering the majority of ANYTHING positive for Prince Rupert stems from PRPA (Ridley Expansion, Container Terminal Expansion, Pinnacle Pellet Terminal, huge donation to Shames Mtn, courting big business (Canpotex, LNG Terminal ect), Cow Bay Development), I would say we should be singing the PRPA’s praises.
Right now pretty much ALL of the eggs keeping this city alive are IN the PRPA’s basket.
Sigh…I do not work for the port. I agree with what bthedog said
Perhaps the able could walk. We are a community that drives to the corner store but really, we could walk. This town, corner to corner, is no big deal (for the able). We would be happier and healthier as a community. Just something to think about …
[quote=“kbrentzen”]
Perhaps the able could walk. We are a community that drives to the corner store but really, we could walk. This town, corner to corner, is no big deal (for the able). We would be happier and healthier as a community. Just something to think about …[/quote]
Wow! That is truly a pipe dream. However, local businesses must provide parking and even Breakers with no parking was tasked to pay for part of the parking beside Gift Galley. The Port is exempt? I don’t think so.
Maybe some of us just don’t like change. For example, reluctantly, I admit to being on the wrong side of the Lester Centre debate. I thought we should simply renovate the Capitol. I was wrong. Love the Lester Centre. Further, I realize the walkway from Atlin to Kwinitsa cost big money but I love it too. Bets are ultimately, this development would be just what Rupert needs, especially the undercovered area. I’m sure I will enjoy it. People with money will buy things there. I will take my out of town relatives there.
Mind you, this is a project of The Port, currently a magnanimous entity. What the closure of Ridley has to do with the Cow Bay Development is public access to a resource of Canada. The Port gives and takes away and we agree to that relationship when we sell them City land. Okay.
If you’re strong enough, or know somebody with a high-clearance vehicle you can get yourself up Mount Hays. That view and the one formerly available at Ridley gives one a sense of place: where Rupert sits on the continent, where we belong in relation to land, sea and sky. These views are good for anyone to see. Losing front country access, as we have lost Diana Lake (temporarily),degrades life on this northcoast. One who loves nature might only be embittered knowing at least we can go shopping or walk the waterfront until CN takes further control of its land.
Finally, our elected community leaders need to focus on the social ills that this project does not solve. It is not the domain of the Port of Prince Rupert to do that. In the meantime, I recommend walking in Port Edward, riding the Dodge Cove Ferry, or picking litter. Its going to be okay.
[quote=“Crazy Train”]As someone who has lived here since the 60’s and spent over 30 years as a league bowler, trust me when I tell you that there was a drop in interest in bowling. There used to be 32 teams each night (7 and 9 o. Clock times on 16 lanes) and when it closed you’d be lucky to have eight teams a night. A smaller bowling alley is what is needed because it was not cost effective to maintain the current one. It wasn’t well insulated.
You want something different? Look no further than what the port authority is trying to do.[/quote]
i have to ask, “Are you a port authority employee?” I ask only because you have such trust that they will do right by Prince Rupert. I happen to agree with a number of others in this thread and feel that the Port Authority isn’t really looking out for the interests of the people in Prince Rupert, but the $$ they can generate for themselves. They’re basically closing down the west side of Prince Rupert while justifying it by proposing this plan for Cow Bay. Sure looks good on paper, but when might this project come to fruition?