The master plan for St. Anna Bay and Waaigat
St. Anna Bay sets a unique stage for the ensemble of buildings and public spaces that have put Curaçao on the prestigious list of countries with UNESCO World Heritage sites. Its shores and connecting neighborhoods are home to island residents, businesses, civic institutions, and our government. Before the telephone, airport, and internet, it was the St. Anna Bay that formed the primary gateway to the island as well as its conduit to the outside world.
But Curaҫao’s maritime trades changed over time. Increased vessel size and cargo containerization have greatly reduced the inherent value of the berths and sheds along a St. Anna Bay that was once capable of accomodating this traffic. This has led to a marginalization of the area directly surrounding the shores of the inlet.
The Curaҫao Ports Authority now seeks to reverse this by introducing a Master Plan document for the area. This plan will serve as an actionable strategic document that will guide the realignment of waterfront assets along the St. Anna Bay and Waaigat.
The vision for this master plan is to transform St. Anna Bay and Waaigat into a compelling sequence of places for residents and visitors alike, offering a balanced development approach that integrates retail, office space, maritime, arts, and park uses. It covers four areas under CPA administration, which are Scharloo and ‘Kleine Werf’, Otrobanda’s Mathey Wharf, the Waaigat lagoon, and properties immediately north of the Queen Juliana Bridge.
Scharloo and ‘Kleine Werf’
The properties and shoreline of the wharves of Scharloo and ‘Kleine Werf’ present an exciting opportunity to build a community and extend the city atmosphere of Scharloo and Punda to the water’s edge. The plan is to create space for a sequence of urban blocks along a new waterfront esplanade — groundfloor restaurants, entertainment, and small retail establishments with residential and hospitality use on the floors above them.
Otrobanda
The vision for Otrobanda seeks to create a hip, urban cultural space with food, retail, small businesses, art exhibitions, and performance venues housed in a repurposed Mathey Wharf cargo shed. When vessels are not present, the waterfront and hardscape plazas open to provide a unique outdoor and public venue for concerts, performances, and social gatherings.
Waaigat
For Waaigat, solving the area’s water quality issues is the first order of business. The vision calls for redevelopment of the lagoon’s edge and installation of new infrastructure to eliminate wastewater and stormwater release. Following this and other water quality enhancements, landside improvements will be introduced — a linear park, lagoon bridge, small marina, and mixed-use development that will support restaurants, office spaces, residential and civic uses, and expanded parking.
North End
For properties north of the Queen Juliana Bridge, the vision calls for a continuation of maritime commerce and industry. To the west, the plan seeks to upgrade site infrastructure, making it capable of safely accommodating fuel ship activities while also expanding the potential for this area to provide a logistical connection point for industries supporting the offshore energy sector. To the east, the Curaҫao Ports Authority site is upgraded to house a greater number of maritime office tenants and provide a more public face and point of interaction by introducing recreational facilities.
Economic impact and implementation
This plan will have lasting quantitative and qualitative economic impacts for the island of Curaҫao. Estimates of economic impact suggest redevelopment will lead to one-time employment of 1,600-plus jobs over the course of construction, with nearly 2,200 additional indirect positions and jobs generated in the local economy as a result of spending wages and incomes earned from this employment (induced jobs). Reoccurring economic impacts are also highly favorable, with an estimated 1,200 direct, indirect, and induced jobs in a variety of sectors. This project is expected to generate an estimated US$93 million in annual wages, which will lead to more spending in the economy.
The full realization of the master plan for St. Anna Bay is a long-term endeavor, with each investment building a foundation for the next phase. Ultimately, the intent is to bring an air of vibrancy and renewal to downtown Willemstad, effectively reigniting underutilized properties and converting them into economic activity and creating great places for the enjoyment of current and future generations. The projected date of completion for all of the areas is sometime in 2030.
St. Anna Bay sets a unique stage for the ensemble of buildings and public spaces that have put Curaçao on the prestigious list of countries with UNESCO World Heritage sites. Its shores and connecting neighborhoods are home to island residents, businesses, civic institutions, and our government. Before the telephone, airport, and internet, it was the St. Anna Bay that formed the primary gateway to the island as well as its conduit to the outside world.
But Curaҫao’s maritime trades changed over time. Increased vessel size and cargo containerization have greatly reduced the inherent value of the berths and sheds along a St. Anna Bay that was once capable of accomodating this traffic. This has led to a marginalization of the area directly surrounding the shores of the inlet.
The Curaҫao Ports Authority now seeks to reverse this by introducing a Master Plan document for the area. This plan will serve as an actionable strategic document that will guide the realignment of waterfront assets along the St. Anna Bay and Waaigat.
The vision for this master plan is to transform St. Anna Bay and Waaigat into a compelling sequence of places for residents and visitors alike, offering a balanced development approach that integrates retail, office space, maritime, arts, and park uses. It covers four areas under CPA administration, which are Scharloo and ‘Kleine Werf’, Otrobanda’s Mathey Wharf, the Waaigat lagoon, and properties immediately north of the Queen Juliana Bridge.
Scharloo and ‘Kleine Werf’
The properties and shoreline of the wharves of Scharloo and ‘Kleine Werf’ present an exciting opportunity to build a community and extend the city atmosphere of Scharloo and Punda to the water’s edge. The plan is to create space for a sequence of urban blocks along a new waterfront esplanade — groundfloor restaurants, entertainment, and small retail establishments with residential and hospitality use on the floors above them.
Otrobanda
The vision for Otrobanda seeks to create a hip, urban cultural space with food, retail, small businesses, art exhibitions, and performance venues housed in a repurposed Mathey Wharf cargo shed. When vessels are not present, the waterfront and hardscape plazas open to provide a unique outdoor and public venue for concerts, performances, and social gatherings.
Waaigat
For Waaigat, solving the area’s water quality issues is the first order of business. The vision calls for redevelopment of the lagoon’s edge and installation of new infrastructure to eliminate wastewater and stormwater release. Following this and other water quality enhancements, landside improvements will be introduced — a linear park, lagoon bridge, small marina, and mixed-use development that will support restaurants, office spaces, residential and civic uses, and expanded parking.
North End
For properties north of the Queen Juliana Bridge, the vision calls for a continuation of maritime commerce and industry. To the west, the plan seeks to upgrade site infrastructure, making it capable of safely accommodating fuel ship activities while also expanding the potential for this area to provide a logistical connection point for industries supporting the offshore energy sector. To the east, the Curaҫao Ports Authority site is upgraded to house a greater number of maritime office tenants and provide a more public face and point of interaction by introducing recreational facilities.
Economic impact and implementation
This plan will have lasting quantitative and qualitative economic impacts for the island of Curaҫao. Estimates of economic impact suggest redevelopment will lead to one-time employment of 1,600-plus jobs over the course of construction, with nearly 2,200 additional indirect positions and jobs generated in the local economy as a result of spending wages and incomes earned from this employment (induced jobs). Reoccurring economic impacts are also highly favorable, with an estimated 1,200 direct, indirect, and induced jobs in a variety of sectors. This project is expected to generate an estimated US$93 million in annual wages, which will lead to more spending in the economy.
The full realization of the master plan for St. Anna Bay is a long-term endeavor, with each investment building a foundation for the next phase. Ultimately, the intent is to bring an air of vibrancy and renewal to downtown Willemstad, effectively reigniting underutilized properties and converting them into economic activity and creating great places for the enjoyment of current and future generations. The projected date of completion for all of the areas is sometime in 2030.
