Heritage shipyard gets city help

One of the city’s best heritage sites is about to get a spruce up.

City council has awarded a $880,954 contract to Parkwood Construction Ltd. to restore a significant portion of Britannia Heritage Shipyards.

The work will include restoration of a 1920s Chinese bunkhouse, two Murchison houses (circa 1880 to 1890) and two stilt houses (circa 1888 to 1912).

Coun. Harold Steves said council once pledged to spend $160,000 each year for restoring buildings on the heritage site. But for a few years council budgeted nothing for the project. Now it’s catch-up time, said Steves.

“It certainly is long overdue. It’s going to make a real difference down there,” he said.

Once the work is done, Steves hopes to get some equipment in the buildings to have them operating as they once were, making it a great attraction in Richmond and B.C.

The shipyards are located off the foot of Railway on the South Arm of the Fraser River.