Maritime Museum thread

[Low Light Mike]

For those interested in this Maritime Museum thread, you'll want to revisit "page 1" of the thread.

- I've moved some old 2006 posts out of our archives into this thread. Lots of photos in those posts, from Retro.

[Low Light Mike]

News for the old CPR terminal building, and for the Maritime Museum of BC.

All 3 plans for CPR terminal in Victoria's Inner Harbour rejected

Commission tosses bids for market, high-tech history, Maritime Museum

Andrew A. Duffy, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The Provincial Capital Commission has rejected the proposals of all three companies vying to reinvent the historic CPR Steamship Terminal in Victoria's Inner Harbour.

Applications to become the terminal's main tenant came from Matt MacNeil, founder of the Victoria Pub Co.; Bob Wright, founder of the Oak Bay Marine Group; and the Maritime Museum of B.C. They said they found out via a phone call from accounting firm Ernst and Young, which is working on behalf of the commission.

"Yeah, that was it, they read a script from the Ernst and Young office which said at this time they won't be going any further with any of the proposals -they said they didn't have sufficient information, whatever that means," said MacNeil. But he said he is embracing the decision in the hope the commission will turn its attention to the bigger picture of the Belleville Street Terminal precinct.

"At the end of the day I am more pleased to be part of bigger picture development, in a fully developed precinct, when the opportunity presents itself," he said. "I think it's a great move, I really do applaud it if they are going back to think of the big picture."

MacNeil's proposal envisaged a scaled-down version of Seattle's Pike Place Market in a boutique waterfront marketplace, and when he originally submitted his proposal he said he held out hope it could be a step toward a reimagined Belleville Street ferry terminal area.

The other applicants were not so approving of the decision to cancel the selection process and reopen it to further proposals.

"Obviously, we are disappointed after working for the better part of six months on this," said Wright.

"I'm having a hard time understanding why they would turn down all proponents."

Wright was particularly annoyed by the suggestion the commission (or Ernst and Young) needed more information, yet never asked any of the proponents for it.

"I am stunned that they didn't come to any of us and ask for more. We would have expected that," he said, noting after the amount of work put into the bid he wasn't "all that excited" at the prospect of doing it all again.

Wright's vision was for a high-tech attraction showcasing First Nations, Victoria and B.C. history. He pledged the full resources of his Oak Bay Marine Group for the project.

He pointed out that the decision to cancel the process at this point means the commission is likely to go another year without the considerable rent generated by the building, which has been undergoing millions of dollars worth of seismic upgrades and renovations.

Maritime Museum spokesman Jamie Webb echoed Wright's disappointment, but vowed the museum would continue to work on its proposal.

"Obviously, we're disappointed. We put forward an excellent plan for the space," said Webb.

"We consider our proposal to be very viable and businesslike and we will continue to work with our financing partners."

The museum is going forward with a program to raise $2 million -about half of what would be needed to set up the museum -to help make their proposal a reality, should they get another chance to submit.

"We had hoped the PCC would give us an offer subject to financing," he said.

The Maritime Museum, whose proposal included a partnership with the Red Fish Blue Fish restaurant to provide food and beverage service, wanted to relocate its museum from cramped quarters in Bastion Square.

The commission could not be reached for comment late Tuesday, but had said there were concerns over the long-term viability of the proposals.

The terminal building was built in 1924 and was home to the Royal London Wax Museum for 40 years until it vacated last fall. It is undergoing a $3-million upgrade paid for under the infrastructure stimulus plan.

[e-mail]

from here:
www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=4606751

[Low Light Mike]

News story today about the Maritime Museum of BC having to close part of it's gallery, because of the building's state of disrepair.

(story is behind a pay-wall, but here is the link)
www.timescolonist.com/shipshape-it-s-not-crumbling-maritime-museum-calls-for-funds-1.600076

[Ferryman]

Wow, that's quite unfortunate news. Hopefully repairs are made quickly to reopen the exhibit. I was really hoping that the Maritime Museum was going to take over the old CPR building that was completely restored recently. It would have been a really nice location to have it, as opposed to turning it into another shopping mall

[Low Light Mike]

Times-Colonist News story on proposed move by Maritime Museum of BC to the old CP Steamships terminal building.
- time will tell if it happens.

The Maritime Museum of B.C. will close its doors in Victoria’s Bastion Square in October and move closer to the sea.

The museum expects to reopen at the CPR Steamship Terminal building on the Inner Harbour next year.

After 49 years in Bastion Square, the museum has entered into negotiations with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority for a long-term deal that will see it established in the waterfront location as early as May.

“I am confident that an agreement will be in place soon, positioning the Maritime Museum on Victoria's beautiful Inner Harbour where it belongs. We could not ask for a more fitting home than the historic Steamship Terminal,” said Jon Irwin, the museum’s executive director.

In a statement, Irwin said he was excited by the prospect and the location is “perfect.”

“This new facility will ensure that this important piece of B.C. heritage will continue to educate and inspire visitors for years to come,” said Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services Andrew Wilkinson.

The museum closes at 28 Bastion Square on Oct. 21; until then, it will stay open until 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

“During the transition, the Maritime Museum will look for temporary opportunities with other public institutions to showcase a few of our 35,000 artifacts while we undertake a complex move," said John West, museum chairman.

“We are proud of the region’s long maritime history,” said harbour authority president Curtis Grad. “And we look forward to working with the Maritime Museum to find a fitting location to tell the amazing stories and celebrate the rich history of Victoria’s harbour.”

- See more at: www.timescolonist.com/news/local/maritime-museum-leaving-bastion-square-for-cpr-steamship-building-1.1385936#sthash.zwgnXl4Z.dpuf

from HERE

[Queen of Nanaimo Teen]

Today I visited the Maritime 'Museum' on their new location on Humboldt. One of the articles previously posted here mentions the quarters at the Bastion Square location being cramped; that place must seem like a mansion compared to the new space they're in! I was extremely dissapointed to see that none of the BC Ferries artifacts were on display (one of the main reasons I went to visit). One of the staff at the museum told me that they are telling people this is their permanent space, but are secretly hoping for something else. She described the transition as a 'significant' loss of space, quite the opposite of what they were hoping for I assume...

[WettCoast]

Jul 25, 2016 15:43:00 GMT -8 Queen of Nanaimo Teen said:

Today I visited the Maritime 'Museum' on their new location on Humboldt. One of the articles previously posted here mentions the quarters at the Bastion Square location being cramped; that place must seem like a mansion compared to the new space they're in! I was extremely dissapointed to see that none of the BC Ferries artifacts were on display (one of the main reasons I went to visit). One of the staff at the museum told me that they are telling people this is their permanent space, but are secretly hoping for something else. She described the transition as a 'significant' loss of space, quite the opposite of what they were hoping for I assume...

I had pressed the 'Like' button but unpressed it after deciding that while I appreciate your post, I don't 'like' what has happened to the Maritime Museum.