Ritchie Wharf, Waterfront Redevelopment

Phase I construction was completed in 1992 for this extremely successful $3,250,000 waterfront complex, phase II and II were recently completed. Ritchie Wharf was a former shipbuilding wharf located in downtown Miramichi City, but had been used primarily as a snow dumping area in more recent times. A feasibility study concluded that it could cost over $6,000,000 to construct an appropriate shipbuilding museum/marina/tourist park to become the centre of tourism in the area. A cost sharing venture by all three levels of government left the project with only $3,250,000 for development. As consultants, we convinced the Steering Committee to delay the museum for future phases and down scale the marina to suit the budget restraints. Through creative site and structure design we were able to create business opportunities through concession shops (designed in shipbuilding period themes), boat tours and performances, even without the museum.

In an area with few waterfront park spaces where people doubted its resistance to local abuse and that tourists would even come, it has been very rewarding to witness the tremendous success of this development, especially in light of the central area being left as a festival field until such time as the museum and thematic historical buildings can be built. It has been a catalyst for additional waterfront investment in the City in terms of office space, hotels, a renovated City hall, library and extension of the riverwalk.

The project includes: an expansive boardwalk system (similar to Market Square) nautical theme playgrounds, water play (canons and spray posts), amphitheatre, pergola, authentic tall ship masts sculpture, concession buildings (restaurants, crafts, art gallery, tourist information centre, boat tours), boat launch, shoreline retention, parking lot, nautical style site furnishings, and coastal landscaping.