St. Maarten Private Eye

A couple of weeks ago a new development in Great Bay was announced called Ocean View. Along with the Dock Maarten and Bobbys Boatyard and Marina, the Eastern side of the bay will get quite crowded. Between the Cruise Pier and Greenhouse, plans are underway to construct over 300 condos, a 250 room hotel, 3 marinas which will hold over 400 boats incl. mega yachts, shops, restaurants and , naturally, a casino.

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Bobby has already started his project, a new gas station is almost ready and he has been filling in the water between the Green house and !2 Meter Restaurant (Old Seafood Galley) leaving a channel for the drainage canal. Rather interesting is that the channel being left does not appear to be very wide and the extension of the dock looks quite far out, almost as far as St Rose Arcade. Those of us who have lived here some years will know what happens to Great Bay when a storm hits, a surfer's paradise.

Bobby's Marina includes 112 condos, 20 Mega Yacht berths and 100 more for various other sized craft. The artists drawings appear to show about 6 floors, possibly 7 with a penthouse and one report mentions over 20 shops.

The article linked to in the opening paragraph is also about Bobby's new boatyard over in Cole Bay, Bobby has made many promises in regards to the environment and we will be watching. Hopefully he has more honour and integrity than others when it comes to the environment, we shall see.

Then there is the Deher's project, Dock Maarten. We don't have any drawings, but according to the announcement, this project involves redevelopment of the Marina to accomodate 6 Mega Yachts up to 300ft and about 30 berths for 100ft and smaller. Future plans include Condos, a Spa and commercial space. Jeff Boyd from Isle De Sol and Port de Plaisance Marina's in involved in this project as is Andy Cabellero, former Director of the Nature Foundation.

Investments in marinas make island mega yacht hub - Report on Marina development in St Maarten.

NYT - Yacht Haven Grande - Pdf Adobe file.

And then, there's the really big one. Ocean View Resort and Casino.

This project included a 250 room resort and casino, 174 condos in two towers which appear to be over 14 stories high, 114 berths for boats of up to 400ft, a convention center and a performing arts center. All of these projects include shops, restaurants and other commercial activities. I wonder how much impact that will have on Philipsburg shopping.

These three developments will have a big impact on Great Bay. I wonder too if they have considered the projected sea level rise and more powerful storms over the coming decades. I will say this, when a next big one like Luis hits us, we gonna see someting.

Feel free to add your own thoughts on all the above below.....

LH

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