The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

TRIBUNE Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN-LED group yesterday pledged its redevelopment of Governor’s Harbour’s former Club Med property will produce a “low density” five-star project featuring 40-60 resort suites and villas while reassuring residents it is not seeking their “rubber stamp”.

Myles Ahead, which is headed by Bahamian businessman Anthony Myers, the Bahamas Hot Mix chairman and founder, and James Lyle, founder of Lyford Cay-based investment management firm, Fulmar Advisors, in response to Tribune Business inquiries said its plans have not been finalised and it is seeking formal community input at this Thursday’s Town Hall meeting with residents.

Describing the planned development, as a boutique five-star resort and residential community at the former Club Med site that has been abandoned for more than 26 years since Hurricane Floyd’s passage in 1999, Myles Ahead said: “The project is intended to return a long-dormant property to productive use while creating lasting opportunities for the people and businesses of Central Eleuthera.

“Current planning reflects a preliminary construction estimate of several hundred million covering a proposed low-density development on roughly 93 acres, and presently includes approximately 40 to 60 resort suites and villas, together with a private residences component with supporting hospitality, wellness, recreation and service facilities. The development remains subject to public input, government approvals, final design, procurement and construction planning.”

The Central Bank last November described the Myles Ahead project as having an all-in cost or value of $180.1m, including the hotel and residential components, along with supporting infrastructure, soft costs at market value and land acquisition expenses. That figure, though, was not confirmed by the developer.

Myles Ahead, meanwhile, pledged to preserve beach access and rights of way for Bahamians and the local community after concerns over this issue again resurfaced over the weekend. And it also confirmed that it is in a legal fight with the nearby French Leave Resort over allegations relating to “dune destruction” and property access, although it declined to give further details.

“For clarity, Myles Ahead has no intention of eliminating public beach access. Public access to the beach will be maintained as part of the proposed development. Our intention is to provide access in an environmentally-responsible manner, including properly designed elevated wooden walkways over sensitive dune areas. This will allow residents and visitors to reach the beach without trampling vegetation, destabilising the dunes or contributing to further erosion,” Myles Ahead said.

“On the question of legal action involving French Leave Resort, there is a matter presently before the courts relating to dune destruction and access across the property. As it remains before the courts, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further on it at this time.”

These issues were raised in an e-mail sent to Tribune Business by Leila Williams, who described herself as a “concerned Eleutheran” and raised questions over public beach access along the Haynes Avenue roadway. This access point generated concerns in the Governor’s Harbour community earlier this year after it was temporarily closed to enable dune restoration.

“On all plans of the area prior to Myles Ahead's arrival, Haynes Avenue is clearly visible. So the question is why is it not on Myles Ahead's plan of the area?” Ms Williams wrote. “What is the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection position on this?

“I was on the scene when the local government had [them] told that it was a public access beach, and for that I am grateful but why didn’t the local government reopen Haynes Avenue to the beach if the concern was truly environmental? If the concern is the deterioration of sand dunes why not just reopen the public road that Club Med had the exclusive use of until 2003. This would certainly be the most environmentally sound way to protect the sand dunes.”

However, Myles Ahead told Tribune Business yesterday: “Environmental care is central to the proposal. Early work has included removing illegally dumped waste, beginning restoration of a severely damaged beach dune and improving public beach access.

“The landscape-first design approach is intended to preserve mature vegetation where practical, protect the coastline and reflect authentic Bahamian architecture and the character of Governor's Harbour.”

The developer also promised “to work with Bahamian training institutions, local schools and experienced hospitality partners to create pathways into employment, apprenticeships, technical training, supervisory development and long-term careers”.

Describing Thursday’s Town Hall meeting, scheduled for 6.30pm at Workers House in Governor's Harbour, as “a listening session”, with Myles Ahead said it will “share its vision for the site” and invite residents to help shape the project as it develops.

“This site has been part of Governor's Harbour's story for nearly a century, and we know how much it still means to this community,” said Mr Myers. “We're not coming to this community with a finished plan and asking for a rubber stamp. We're coming to listen early in the process, and to build something that this community will feel connected to and proud of.”

Ahead of the Town Hall meeting, Myles Ahead said it has already begun conservation-focused work on the site, including cleaning up illegally dumped garbage, restoring a vital but severely damaged beach dune, and improving public beach access.

“Protecting this coastline, and the community's access to it, isn't separate from this project - it's central to it,” said Dr Alyson Myers, a Bahamian marine scientist and member of the development team. “In some ways we are revitalising the site and, in other ways, there will be change, and we want the community's input on how we do both well.”

Community initiatives promised by the developer include a playground, dock and ramp access, and fencing improvements at Cupid's Cay.