Look At What Is Being Built At West End!

[Jim]

Old Bahama Bay (West End) has sold again. Look at what is being built in its place! http://www.ginnsurmerbahamas.com/

[s/v Fais Do Do]

Right... I give it a one in ten chance of being completed...

[Sail41]

Don't underestimate Ginn. He has 2 developments going on here in Port St. Lucie and both are sold out. The one practically in my backyard sold out in 1 day. Lots ranged from 1/8 acre @ $250k to larger lots over a million. A second phase of the same development 68 small lots sold in 1 afternoon. Roads are being build and it's quite amazing to see how much equipment is on this project. His other development here is also doing well with lots on the Fla turnpike starting at $400k or so. Not bad. This guy is major!

[dogfish]

It will be completed and it will be a playground for the rich. They own the closed down airport and use it only for clients/owner/perspective owners. From what I have heard it is already mostly sold out. Guys on the Florida Sportsment forum were buying as investments.

-Doug

[s/v Fais Do Do]

Oh, my!

[Jim]

Why are you worrying Rick? You are among the rich and famous who will have your own boat slip and seat at the bar! Just don't forget your OLD Navy buddy!

[Shelby]

Hmmmm... I'm filing this under "I'll believe it when I see it."


Shelby

[Abacosdreamin]

These guys are everywhere... they bought a ski area near our vacation house in VT. They seem serious and the ski business is RISKY! We may ski on 5" of man made this break. Hmmmm...maybe GTC is a good alternative:)

[steve279]

You are lucky it is a Ginn development. He is the best in the business. Very careful about the environment and the surroundings. No question it will be finished and done right.

[Longreach]

In 1997 on our first trip I remember wandering through the ruins of the old Jack Tar village. At the time I was amazed at the size of the complex and how nice it must have been in it's prime. The marina was barely operating as well but we did enjoy having the place to ourselves though. In 2002 I recall how nice the new complex was and the marina was coming along quite well too. In 2004 I remember wandering through the wreckage of the current facility and we stayed at the Marina along with one other boat for a day or two. At the time I was amazed at how nice the complex must have been.....to be continued

[Alan Brown]

Do you suppose the new resort will be as "hurricane proof" as the last ones?

[Crooked Hook]

Here is what the enterence looks like now! Condos in background.

[Casa Laguna]

The size of the proposal by Ginn is totally out of scale and character for a small island such as Grand Bahama. His proposal will have similar results that the Jack Tar Village had.

I am in the real estate business so I hate to be negative about a developer, but property buyers in Ginn's project in Port St. Lucie, Florida have already had to resort to Auctions to resell their lots and houses.

The Real Estate Boom is over and now is not the time to be developing projects such as Ginn has proposed for Grand Bahama or Discovery Land has started in Bakers Bay.

[Crooked Hook]

Try again, enterence as of 9/22/06

[dogfish]

"small island such as Grand Bahama"

Looks like a big island to me. Florida real estate is a completely different animal. Most of the surge from the past couple of years of driven off flipping houses. Now that the buyers have dried up the ones left with houses to get rid of are doing what ever it takes to unload them.

-Doug

[marc]

Do you suppose the new resort will be as "hurricane proof" as the last ones?alan
read the 17 page information on the development. they are going to raise the elevation to 10.5 feet. .5 feet higher than the 100 year storm surge.
read the whole thing. one notable feature is no property taxes .
marc

[Jim]

I believe that the real reason Jack Tar Village closed was problems with the labor market. And, things have only gotten worse with Bahamian labor since then. There have already been problems at Atlantis on Paradise Island where labor even tried to shut it down. This project looks like it will require much more labor to run, and the government will only let Bahamians work. Where will the labor come from?

[dogfish]

I believe that the Government has allowed outside labor to work at the Bimini Bay Resort which is simlar in scope to this project.

In my opinion this project is good for preserving the Abacos because it will divert attention away from the Abacos. Specifically people with deep pockets that would want to buy an island, cut holes in it, and put up big houses and such on it.

-Doug

[Casa Laguna]

Isn't it unfortunate that those of us who are property owners in the Abacos have to pay property taxes and import duty, while many new developments don't have to pay. Not a very fair system.

[Jim]

The outside labor is for the construction of the development. Once built it will be Bahamian labor in the day to day operations. Watch what happens to taxes for all foreign owned property.

[Longreach]

In my opinion this project is good for preserving the Abacos because it will divert attention away from the Abacos. Specifically people with deep pockets that would want to buy an island, cut holes in it, and put up big houses and such on it.

-DougExactly my sentiments! It is always a sad thing to see paradise paved over.
Marc

[beachhouse]

Prices on Abaco are absurd and soon sellers will realize this when property remains unsold because of the high prices when they are being dropped left and right on the mainland USA!

[RECO]

I feel certain that this new development is located at the old Jack Tar property. I visited the JTV property back in the late 80's and walked through while stopped over at West End Marina. It was the typical all inclusive from that era with a load of Canadians there on junkets. I'm glad to see it is getting new life with the redevelopment, however agree that it is out of scale for the area.

[rbiss1359]

Not to be arguementative, but Old Bahama Bay and Ginn Sur Mer are owned by two different companies. Old Bahama Bay is growing slowly on the north point of West End. The Ginn company basically bought everything else on the south side of West End and has a gigantic complex planned that includes a casino, hotel, 2 marinas, and a private airport. OBB has pretty much the old Jack Tar property on the north side. They just completed 4 more buildings of condos. The marina is very nice with customs right on site.

I heard from a good source that Ginn approached OBB about selling but the owners could not agree on a mutaully acceptable number.

I was there in August, I'll be there again on January 10th, and another visit in March. I'll keep you posted as to any news I hear on my visits.

[RECO]

I guess my post was based upon the principal that the OBB and the new project were on 2 separate properties and not the same. I was under the impression, possibly the wrong impression, that JTV was separate from OBB, as I recall it being down the street from the marina and OBB development. Either way, I think we have concluded that these are 2 separate and different projects. IF the new project gets off the ground and is a success, it will certainly change WE forever. I don't know if that's good or bad, I guess it is a matter of if you are a local or are just passing through. I would not mind stopping in for a day or two and dropping a few bucks there, especially if they have the airport fully functional. Please keep us posted on any progress in WE. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

[Aardvark]

The original Sammons estate covered about 2,500 acres at West End. I believe the Old Bahama Bay people bought it in total but are only developing the area were Jack Tar stood and the land around the Marina; probably 200+ acres. They sold the remaining 2000+ to Ginn. Their development will cover all the airstrip area and the"bush" behind West End with the beachfront heading towards Bootle Bay.
I've seen the mock up drawings on the web site. Another Paradise Island Atlantis? Problem is I am old enough to remember when Paradise Island was still called Hog Island

[RECO]

I found a couple of stories about the Ginn/OBB deal in the NG. They are not dated (for some strange reason) but make it sound like this deal will be rolled up together as one. Any additional info that can be found would be appreciated.

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/bixex/313388451080716.php

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/bixex/313884704326875.php

It is somewhat of a surprise that they are requiring Ginn to create a $20MM foundation in exchange for development rights. BUT if it is administered properly it could help improve and keep WE in better shape. I wonder if any other major developments in Abaco were required to do this?

[Banana Bender]

Old Bahama Bay propery has been purchased by Ginn and will probably stay the same while Ginn's enormous development takes place over 10 years or so.
They have cleared miles of land at this stage, all trees etc. gone.........

[gatorman71]

Used to stay at Jack Tar with my parents, circa late 50's/60's. It was an incredible place. Beautiful pool, long dock, nice restaurants, jackets required. I remember walking in the grass just off the beach and finding as many Conch as you would want to pick up and look at. Many helmet shells too. This was truly the "old days" when travel to The Bahamas was restricted to those who had a lot of money or the guts to drive their boats over.

I like it a lot better now.

[conchyjoe]

At the time I was amazed at the size of the complex and how nice it must have been in it's prime.
It was very nice in it's prime. I hung out there a lot as a kid.

My fondest memory was sneaking off the boat in the middle of the night and buying Heineken and St. Pauli Girl out of the vending machines, drinking some of it and pretending we were drunk.

It was always fun to watch people socialize at night at the pool bar, and then seeing them at Church on Sunday hung over. I remember Father Molina as well.

I'll have to try and find some pictures.

[conchyjoe]

I believe that the real reason Jack Tar Village closed was problems with the labor market.
It was interesting that when we were in TCI, it seemed that the builders were able to convince the government to let them bring in labor. There were an abundance of tent cities on the build sites, and lots of people speaking Creole.

[Aardvark]

http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/356714510054540.php

Well he would say that wouldn't he

[RECO]

posted by FB, but interesting read about Grand Bahama and WE.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2003292691_bahamas08.html