Huna Totem signs Juneau tideland lease for Oak Landing cruise dock

Huna Totem Corporation signed a tideland lease with the City and Borough of Juneau in April for its Oak Landing cruise dock development. The lease clears a major hurdle toward a 2028 opening that will add a fifth downtown dock and reduce the number of ships forced to anchor.

Juneau currently has a five-ship limit but only four downtown docks. Two are publicly owned. Two are privately owned. This summer, 95 ships will anchor in downtown Juneau rather than dock. Anchoring creates passenger delays and economic losses when tenders fill before all guests can reach shore.

A Huna Totem Corporation executive spoke Thursday at a Resource Development Council breakfast forum in Anchorage. The executive said the corporation signed the tideland lease in April. The conditional use permits were issued in 2023.

"As we sign that lease, reconfirm our preferential use commitments with cruise lines, and shore up our financing, we are really excited about digging dirt, driving pilings, and getting this project to completion," the executive said.

The first phase investment is estimated at $150 million. Oak Landing will include waterfront dining, retail, an extension of the seawalk, increased downtown parking, and expanded public event space.

The executive said the project will help reduce downtown vehicular congestion. Tour vehicles will be able to come in and out of the site through a signalized intersection. "That is one of the top concerns, complaints from residents, is that downtown vehicular congestion," the executive said.

The project also improves harbor safety by reducing the number of ships at anchor.

Huna Totem has been coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, whose facility is adjacent to the Oak Landing site. The coordination ensures compatibility with the Coast Guard's anticipated pier that will accommodate the icebreaker Storis and future vessels.

"We've been working very carefully with them to be sure that their anticipated pier that will accommodate the icebreaker Storis and any future vessels are compatible with our plans and positioning of the dock," the executive said.

The project moves to construction once Huna Totem finalizes cruise line commitments and secures financing.