Northport is the main dock district for Haven Towne, at least for all ships that aren’t in the Navy or owned by one of the large Merchant Houses of Haven.
The two miles or so of coast compose one huge dense succession of piers crowded with ships. There are over a hundred piers, each with its own name and history and often an association to particular captains or types of commerce
The large and busy Port Street runs east west near the water next to the piers. Actually two massive streets, one for dedicated eastbound traffic and one for westbound, it is nevertheless one continuous gridlock of wagons and carts from well before dawn to well after nightfall . South of Port Street is the Grand Canal which parallels the street all the way to Haven quay in the east and the gate of the moon on the west . This wide busy canal is joined to various north/ south feeder canals that connect it to piers, canals that Port Street passes over by frequent tall arched brick bridges.
Most of the buildings in Northport are whitewashed rubblestone or wood, generally no more than 2-3 stories tall. Functional and heavily used, they mostly contribute directly to the ports business, or cater to the needs of the port employees. Taverns, flophouses and eating house abound. This region can be quite boisterous on the quietest of days and is an absolute madhouse when the trade fleets return.
The citizens of the more sedate University District have actively discouraged southbound bridges over the Grand Canal (there are only two at either end) which makes it difficult to cross the canal into the University District
Northport is bounded by the grand canal on the south, the harbor on the north and east, and Governors Street to the west . Only two bridges cross the Grand Canal, one at Governors Street and one at Cardbey Way into Harbormasters