More than 20 years after Hurricane Ivan destroyed the Eden Centre commercial plaza, planning permission has been finally granted for replacement buildings across the whole site.
Since being flattened by the storm, the site has remained mainly empty for the last two decades but has been considered an ideal spot for redevelopment.
The area on Walkers Road in George Town where Eden Centre once stood was divided into two separate lots in 2017. Supermarket chain Hurley’s was granted permission to build a new store on one of the lots in December 2021, and now Bicar Ltd, which owns the remaining plot of land known as Block 15B Parcel 406, has been given planning permission for its own development, subject to various conditions.
Development consortium
The $20 million development has been proposed by a consortium consisting of landowner Bicar Ltd, a joint company between the Wight and Foster families, and self-storage company Mini Warehouse Two Ltd.
The proposal, as detailed in the application to the Central Planning Authority, is for a total of three buildings across a 2.7 acre plot: a three-storey self-storage business, a single-storey restaurant and a two-storey commercial building with a ground-floor restaurant.
In total, there will be 19,573 square feet of commercial space, 5,936 square feet of restaurant space, 59,566 square feet of self-storage space, and 165 parking spaces.
The application was discussed at the CPA meeting on 4 Dec. 2024, for which minutes have just been released. Speaking on behalf of the developers, Jessica Peacey, principal planner of Professional Planning & Development Services Cayman, told the board that the vacant site had become an eyesore and that there was a need for community services there including retail outlets and restaurants. One of the restaurants will be a bakery/coffee shop while the other is likely to have indoor and outdoor seating with a capacity of around 60-80 people.
Local objections
While there were two objectors to the proposals from local residents, they did not attend the meeting but were assured that their letters objecting to the plans would be taken into account.
The objectors had each written to the CPA saying that the proposed development would “cause flooding behind South Palms Phase II, noise pollution from generators and further traffic congestion on Walkers Road for South Sound”.
They added: “When Hurley’s was there, it was too busy and noisy and it backs on to our pool at South Palms Phase II. We would like to see a greenspace or park for the kids and the community instead of more buildings, parking lots and general noise and traffic.”
No grounds to refuse
However, in granting planning permission, the CPA said the objections did not raise sufficient grounds to refuse it. Specifically, they said that no evidence was provided to support the claim that the development would cause flooding on adjacent lands, and that the property is zoned neighbourhood commercial and therefore could be developed accordingly.
Permission was granted subject to various conditions being met, including making sure any waste did not impact surrounding areas or the adjacent marine protected area offshore, and that a stormwater management plan was submitted and approved by the CPA.
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