The grain elevators in Collingwood still stand, and there's a chance they will be usefully re-purposed yet. The local council is still debating. But there is mighty little evidence of what was once a large and busy shipyard. Between 1882 and 1986 when the business closed, 330 ships were built here, mostly bulk carriers built as lake freighters.
These two long narrow slips are all the visible evidence you can easily see today. They've just been cleaned up roughly and abandoned except for the brand new development on the left. Plans call for them to be surrounded with luxury townhouses in the future. And so we move from the shipyards, their jobs and history, to luxury townhouses with price tags to suit the top 2%.
This one building, the 'Side-Launch', has been built to resemble the 'factory loft' style of the shipyard that was actually here years ago. The rest of the townhouses seem to have no such distinguishing design features, just a very distinguished price tag!
This is the first phase of public access to the site, the promenade where Great Lakes Freighters were once built and launched, sideways into the adjoining slip.
Here's a historic photo just to give you the idea - HMCS Collingwood, launched from the other side of the slip. Collingwood has a local craft brewery known as 'Sidelaunch'. I didn't catch on to the name of the beer until now.
I love sorting out what we're actually seeing on Google Maps. This first view shows the entire harbour area, the pier we drove out on past the grain elevators to Millenium Park on the right. The shipyards occupied the lower right-hand quarter of the photo for decades where you can see the two long narrow ship slips from those days.
The townhouse development replacing the old shipyards is situated in the lower centre of the photo. Some townhouses show up as completed; other area are still gravel fields. The land between and beyond the two old ship slips will be developed last.
But what amazed me, and will draw me back in the future, is this huge area of public parkland to the west of the development. This is the Harbourview Park, with wheel-chair accessible trails throughout the area. An Arboretum is being developed in the centre. We will definitely revisit here when better weather arrives.
I look forward to seeing it in spring. The old grain elevators are worth doing something with.
ReplyDeleteThis is all so fascinating.
ReplyDeleteHope you go back in the spring! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good place to visit when it is spring/summer and fall - not winter's cold, and seeing the area through your eyes is very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteJoy
I'd be interested to see how they can re-purpose the grain elevators. I also spend many hours studying maps and aerial views on the computer.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved your descriptions of the area. Good for them for making the area accessible to wheelchairs. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh my the memories of the Collingwood shipyards from the 50s and 60s's when we were there, ships at the end of Hurontario St.. The fun times exploring the harbour in our boat, watching in person and amazing side launch, which was really amazing, oh and snorkelling on the reef around the remains of the Mary ward.
ReplyDeleteThere has never not been change.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's never been possible to avoid it.
Had no idea there was so much public/park land around there. Thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteGood research!
ReplyDelete"a very distinguished price tag!" indeed!
It is nice to reconstruct as change is inevitable but it is unfortunate that only the top 2% of the population can afford to live there. What about the rest of us who would enjoy those views? Nice reference in the photos and I love looking at Google earth to see things from above. You will sure enjoy that park area in the spring! :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting changes -- the only thing certain is that everything changes, sometimes rapidly, sometimes slowly. I do wonder though how many luxury things (houses, vehicles, whatever) can be sold; at some point the market will be saturated and ordinary folks won't be able to purchase the leftovers.
ReplyDeleteThis park area was one of the loveliest places we visited when on vacation last summer.
ReplyDelete