by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
A 10-year, $860 million project deserves a decent entrance way. And, it’s getting one.
Earlier this week, The Shipyards began construction on a permanent entrance to the multi-use riverfront project. Until now, anyone visiting The Shipyards has used any one of two or three entrances (depending on construction at A. Philip Randolph Boulevard or Bay Street), none of which were analogous to the scope and magnitude of the project.
The permanent entrance will actually be an extension of Lafayette Street, which runs just east of Maxwell House and dead ends into Bay Street. Ham Traylor, president of TriLegacy Group, LLC, the developer of The Shipyards, said the Lafayette Street extension wasn’t the first entrance way of choice, but construction on the sports complex dictated that another location be determined.
“We always expected A. Philip Randolph would open,” said Traylor. “Because of construction on the ball park and arena, that has not panned out.”
Traylor credits Jeff Spence, ICS Logistics (the parent company of TriLegacy) president, for making the Lafayette Street decision. Traylor said development officials realized the area was going to remain a construction zone for several more months and decided visitors and potential customers would appreciate something better than a modified construction entrance.
“He [Spence] said we needed something that would make a statement,” said Traylor. “We got the plans done and approved. We looked at the plan and saw there were no challenges. We said, ‘Let’s make a little more of a statement.’ ”
The entrance will be primarily an iron gate complemented with landscaping, palm trees and a brick sign. It was designed by The Dalton Agency and the work will be done by the Stellar Group, who has a trailer on site and is doing other Shipyards work. The entrance, which will be done by May 16, will serve as the official entrance way to One Shipyard Place, the first residential development at the site.