Belegras Dockyards

Belegras Dockyards (Mirselec Belegras Hadunen) is a part of Isana that comprises the western half of the Port of Isana, until the early 21st century.

Formerly part of the busiest port in the world, the Dockyards gradually diminished in importance as shipping was routed more to the better-equipped and newer Port of Bresnga during the 1990s. In 2007 a plan was launched to convert the Dockyards, which comprises around two-thirds of the entire port, to a commercial and leisure district, involving several major programmes like the greening of the entire area, the construction of an extension underground line serving the area, as well as the conversion or rebuilding of many original facilities.

History

The Move

Over the 1980s and 1990s, the port of Bresnga continued to grow and Isana went on with its transition to a mostly service-based economy, plans began to be proposed to convert the Dockyards.

Belegras Dockyards Today

Site and Situation

Though it is the most prominent, Belegras Dockyards is not the only major developmental project to take place on land vacated by the moving of the port; along stretches of the coast, as well as farther inland, many residential areas have sprung up as well, and property values for residential space in this new district has been rising steadily after an initial sluggish period while the infrastructure was being completed. Now the area is one of the youngest residential districts of the city, and even the design of many of the estates - revolving around relatively small condominia catering for singles, or young couples - reflect this trend.

In modern Isana parlance "Belegras Dockyards" refers to the western two-thirds of the former port, adjoining Henoris Wharf, which has been rebuilt into a commercial district; the real Port of Isana, on the other hand, is simply known as the Port. The main passenger terminus and jetties, meanwhile, have been relocated to within Gardaus Bay in a brand new building that was completed in 2012.

Throughout the 2010s the area was known as "the city's largest construction site", and even now in the 2040s much major construction and development is still going on in the area, making it one of the most vibrantly developing areas of the city.

Even while the development of the area is going on speedily, however, efforts are constantly being made to ensure continuity with tradition, as well as the desirability of the environment. In the conversion of the dockyards most of its large docks were kept intact, as were many canals formerly used for transportation between docks in the past. Road and foot bridges, many of innovative design, connect these islands; but there is also a system of small boats which ply the canals, mostly carrying tourists. At the same time major landscaping has turned the dockyards, formerly mostly asphalt and concrete, into a much greener area.

Administration

Belegras Dockyards in fact straddles two districts, or dego, of Hirsa remis, namely Belegrasharel-dego and Nirateharel-dego.

Major Constructions

Concert Halls

• 28 Kasinoda Wharf, one of the most spectacular buildings in the area, converted from several large warehouses (formerly 26 - 31 Kasinoda, with 28 being the central building).

• Sidefona - literally "Little Chambers" a complex with six small black box theatres, converted from 38 Neti Wharf.,