Planning beginning on Charlottetown Convention Centre

Charlottetown has launched planning for a waterfront convention centre, even though the Canadian Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries and Oceans still occupy the land where it is to be built.

This week the Charlottetown Area Development Corporation began looking for firms to do engineering work and come up with a cost to build the facility. It is to be located at the foot of Queen Street, home to the Island's coast guard base and DFO offices.

CADC general manager Ron Waite told CBC News Wednesday the preliminary work can be done before the federal government figures out where the those offices will be moved.

"The biggest issue is what kind of work is required, both from a design and also engineering/structural issues," said Waite.

"Rather than waiting for the land to transfer, we're running a parallel process where we'll do preliminary design."

CADC is also considering what additional development could go in the area, such as retail space or permanent residences.

Premier Robert Ghiz said getting the project continues to be a top priority for his government.