Delta council recently gave staff the go-ahead consult with the community on a reimagined Chisholm Street Wharf design.
Some of the key features of the of the conceptual design for the public space include a glow-in-the-dark accessible pathway, catenary lighting over the wharf and dike pathway to transform an otherwise dark space into a welcoming area in the evening, modular honeycomb shaped furniture and flexibility for event programming.
If supported, detailed designs will be completed and tendered with the aim of completion of the project by spring 2026. The wharf, formerly referred to as the Seven Seas property and adjacent Brackman-Ker site, was eyed for very different uses in the city’s previous vision to revitalize Ladner Village and the waterfront.
In 2010, the Downtown Ladner Waterfront Revitalization Study, initiated by the Downtown Ladner Waterfront Redevelopment Advisory Committee, was followed up by an economic analysis by the firm Colliers International, confirming that the vision for the Ladner waterfront at that time was achievable.
An implementation strategy suggested issuing a request for proposal for a long-term lease for the re-use of the Seven Seas building and the Brackman-Ker site.
Colliers International suggested that Delta issue a request for a third party to enter a long-term lease, potentially up to 60 years or longer, acting as the primary tenant and subletting space to additional parties if necessary.
Through that approach, a mix of uses could be accommodated consistent with the opportunities identified in the visioning process, a 2011 update report to council notes.
It may have been necessary for the municipality to offset capital cost improvements as an incentive for the re-use of the site, given that that Seven Seas building would likely require significant tenant improvements, according to the report.
A new building was also seen as a possibility.
Delta, which purchased the land with money provided from Port Metro Vancouver, ended up selecting Quay Property Management in 2011 to submit a detailed proposal for a marketplace. That proposal was later abandoned.
Council later decided to put the site up for sale with no takers as the city’s inability to secure longer term water lot leases from the province was seen as an impediment.
In 2014, council went through a rezoning process for the Seven Seas site and the adjacent Chisholm Street parcel, a move aimed at enticing potential buyers for the parcels.
The new waterfront mixed-use zone was to permit a wide range of uses, including retail, office and service commercial, eating and drinking establishments, moorage and marina, recreation and culture, as well as limited residential.
Fast forward to 2024 and the Seven Seas building is now gone, while a new vision is for a public wharf to be a destination for both tourists and locals. Most participants in a survey this year saw the opportunity to activate the space year-round with events, festivals, food trucks, retail stalls, and live music.
The city this year also undertook structural repairs as well as additional site clearing to improve views of Ladner Harbour from the wharf and adjacent areas of the dike.
Spot on the Water Park, meanwhile, was proposed to have a playground, lighting seating and lookouts.
However, the recent update from staff noted that the community during the last round of consultation preferred the park to remain a passive space.
To coincide with the Chisholm Street Wharf upgrade, enhancements are now planned for improved accessible pathways, additional seating and small-scale shade structures to improve picnic opportunities in the park.
A municipal task force will look at supporting the waterfront redevelopment with temporary washroom facilities, while considering options for installing permanent washrooms in the vicinity of the park in the future.
