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Over four hectares of new land have been created as the result of a well engineered and balanced dredging operation. This new land will provide, among other things, the upland support and logistics needed to rapidly move passengers in and out of the port by foot, mini-bus, taxi, or boat.
Approximately 1 hectare of the reclaimed lands has been exclusively reserved for facilities for the tourist industry. These facilities comprise an integrated Visitor Welcome Centre and Duty Free Retail centre containing an area of over 6.000 sq. meters, and an adjacent parking area of 3000 sq. meters --- also to be used as a bus station for organised tours, and a taxi stand during cruise ship visits.
The remaining area of the reclaimed land is available for (third party) real estate development. Zublin has undertaken a land-swap with the Government of Grenada which allows for the realization of a new bus station with a public parking deck at the top of it at the north side of the new lands. This facility is almost completed and will assist in bringing an end to the traffic congestion in the town centre. The lands which have been hosting the old public bus station along Bruce and Melville Streets will shortly be available for third party real estate development.
Various lots for third party development have been sold and construction of a bank building as well as a supermarket will commence in the course of this year. The development has boosted mitigating measures undertaken by the Government, such as the renewal of the Market Square, and the total renovation of both Melville and Bruce Streets --- including pavements, pedestrian walkways and all underground facilities.
The most attractive element of the new Cruise Port from the vantage point of the passenger, however, is that the port and upland areas are being built to enhance and serve as a natural extension of the historic centre of St. George. St. George was principally developed in the early 1800’s and is an excellent example of Georgian Architecture, which serves as an important beacon of the cultural heritage of the West Indies.
Existing streets of the town are extended to the new waterfront, and new buildings on the property will maintain the quaint character of St. George’s. The pier is only a block away from the famous and recently renovated Spice Market, which constantly maintains the wonderful sweet scents of nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, and ginger.
The development strategy has been laid down in a Master Plan and a set of Design & Development guidelines, which have been approved by the Government, These documents hold the project initiators and third party developers to maintain the historical character of St.George’s as a typical West Indian town.
Since the Cruise Port is situated directly adjacent to the centre of St. Georges, this feature is considered as being one of the major assets of Grenada as a cruise ship destination.
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