The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The Downtown Nassau Partnership’s (DNP) managing director yesterday pledged that Bahamians and tourists will witness “a major transformation” of the area “within the next two to three years”.

Ed Fields, speaking at the Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) conference, said multiple projects were underway to upgrade key Nassau city centre assets with the government having given approval in principle to lift the height restrictions on some buildings so they can be converted into condominiums and other residential properties.

“From the airport now to the Prime Minister’s Office, all of those roads have already been improved,” he added. “The space between Nassau Street, right around the Junkanoo Beach area, the DNP has plans to develop and refurbish a Central Park for downtown in the Clifford Park area.

“We are just waiting to complete an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the government, and it will be a privately funded project. Where the Margaritaville/Pointe areas are there will be road improvements because, obviously, there was some infrastructure that had to be put in to service The Pointe in that area.”

Describing downtown Nassau between the British Colonial Hilton and East Street was being “in fairly good condition”, Mr Fields said many stores are starting to renovate their premises.

“The big piece is between East Street and the Bridge, where the shipping companies used to be,” he added. “Of course, they have relocated to Arawak Cay, and now with the Downtown Nassau Revitalisation Act [and the] link between the Wharf and Atlantis, we’re hoping to attract investment dollars so they can start to construct residential, retail and entertainment which will require infrastructural upgrades. No question about that.”

Mr Fields said ground will be broken on the $250m cruise port transformation, with a new visitor welcome centre among the upgrades planned. He added: “The boardwalk that connects Prince George Wharf to Paradise Island is underway.

“There are a couple of properties that have to be negotiated, and some things to get across those properties, but all properties where the government has been involved have been negotiated and those terms are starting to take place.”

“All of those properties have been approved by government to cross. We have also secured all of the seabed leases and, to some extent, we have in principle, approval from the government to revitalise or to lift the restriction on building heights to accommodate condominiums and residential properties downtown.”

Mr Fields also hailed the construction of the new $300m US Embassy, while the Central Bank of The Bahamas’ headquarters was “a substantial project” upon which work will start within the next several months once the planning process is completed.

“So there is a lot of action happening downtown, and we are very proud to say that within the next two to three years you will see a major transformation of downtown,” he said.

Mr Fields also told reporters he is leaving his position as DNP managing director, and within two weeks he will join Global Ports Holding, the cruise port developer, as an in-house consultant. He will stay with Atlantis.