Turn of ihe Century 023 Cash crunch 73 Empire Ends, War Begins: Election issues in North North Shore 1900-1920 Vancouver District OCTOBER 37, 1999 Sagt bright Lights «we 12 Calebraticas oe 3] Classifieds fressword Fashion Canadian designers preview collections for spring-summer wean Company Pek Pet Speck ‘S aon : os . ; a asian Spe Fashion 119 Canadian Pubtcations Mad Saies Product Agreement *i 0087238 The Voice of North and West Vancouver since 1969 WWWw.nsnews.com ftichae? Becker News Editor michael@insnews.comt PLANS are afoot to build a major new tourist attraction on the North Vancouver City water- front. . A $20-million facility highlighting underwater technology and Ni Vancouver history is envisioned by a partnership between the 1D) Foundation, a non-profit society headed by North Vancouver deep-sea pio- neer and inventor Dr. Phil Nuytten, and the North Vancouver Museum and Archives (NVMA) Commission. The proponents of what consultants are notionally calling Marine City would like to house the attraction in the 35,000 sq. ft. (3,250 sq. m) 1925 Machine Shop on the old Versatile Shipyard site, The entire 12-acre site is the subject of an application for rezoning and Official Corinunity Plan amendment and is on track to go to a public hear- ing on: Nov. 8. The shipyard site development application, which calls for res- idential, commercial and amenity uses, passed second reading last Monda A preliminary operations feasibility analysis report on a “proposed water- font attraction” at the Versacile Shipyard site, conducted for DEEP and the NVMA in July, anticipates the project could become among the top half: dozen tourist draws in the Lower Mainland. Forecasted revenues are pegged at $2.6 to $2.8 million annually. The consultants conservatively estimate an annual attendance of 430,000 visitors tc» Marine City. According to the report, Science World attracted an attendance of §70,000 in 1998; the Vancouver Aquarium drew about 850,000 in 1998; the ; Capilano Suspension Bridge brought in about 800,000 peaple last year, The North Vancouver City attraction could include an underwater research tank at a pier to display deep-sea technology in action; demonstra- tions of underwater aychacology and underwater harbour views; a virtual real- 1 ity experience; a large format HDTV cinema; movie props; harbour tours; a visiting, ship program. . . Said Virginia Nuytten, in charge of project development for the DEEP Foundation, “Not many people know that North Vancouver was this hub of diving activity. We're trying to showcase that. Canada has given a tremendous > boost ro underwater technology, We're planning to work in concert with the North Vancouver museum to bring this world-class facility to the North . Shore. We want to work together and bring a cohesive story.” i North Vancouver companies such as CanDive, Nuytco Internarional Hydrodynamics have provided the world with innovative deep- sea technology. - Bor the NVMA, the Lower Lonsdale site would provide a major ex! tion areca. . . Said NVMA director Robin Inglis: “The presentation of the museum sto- ries — the logging stories, the port stories, the shipbuilding stories, the sto- ries Of Sorth Vancouver would be told at the shipyard site. It isn’t Euro SPOOKY littie demon David and “Cleopatra” Kearz Pownali await the asrivai of Halloween night See Victory page & so they can go trick or treating and give everyone a fright.