The site of the former Black Pearl skate park in Grand Harbour could be home to a food hall, indoor climbing wall and lagoon as well as apartments and houses, if plans for a new development are approved by the planning board.
Property developers Project.ky has applied for planning permission for The Pearl, a $55 million residential and commercial complex which would consist of two residential blocks containing 74 homes, ranging from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom town houses.
As well as the residential aspect, developers are also planning a timber structure containing an indoor food hall, which will house eight different food stalls, an outside bar, seating for 300 diners and an outdoor restaurant.
“The Black Pearl skate park was an asset to the community and we want to keep that community aspect,” said Harry Webber of Project.ky, whose company bought the vacant site after the skate park closed. “We know that the skate park is missed, so we’re trying to do something right by the community which will appeal to lots of different groups, including young professionals and families.”
Community hub
The residential offering has a European-style architectural design, he said, with lots of space and light, and will be built as sustainably as possible while being built to last. He said the hope was that people would be able to walk to use the area instead of having to drive, and the commercial aspect would showcase many different food offerings.
“The food hall will, we hope, feature local chefs and entrepreneurs,” said Webber, “and be a community-based hub where people can grab something to eat for a reasonable price.”
The plans also include a double-height sports recreation place with a climbing wall, as well as outside playing areas and fountains for children. For residents, there will be a 14,000 square foot outdoor lagoon and swimming pool.
Access to the residences will be via a right of way to the south of Harbour Walk, while the bar, food hall and recreation space would be accessed via Bimini Drive. There is also a six-foot-wide pavement/sidewalk along the canal edge to the north of the 3.26-acre site.
While there are no objectors to the plans, which come in front of the Central Planning Authority on Wednesday, the National Roads Authority said that it is “concerned with a development of this size located behind Grand Harbour as there is a significant amount of traffic build-up at the intersection of Edgewater Way and the Grand Harbour roundabout in the evenings.”
It said that the private roadway to the development “will not be able to accommodate such an extensive amount of traffic, with all the existing businesses located in this area, and the NRA is recommending that the applicant re-assess the design.”
Traffic debate
In response, Jessica Peacey, principal planner of PPDS Cayman who is working with Project.ky on the development, said in a submission to the CPA, “When reviewing traffic considerations in the area, it is evident that the NRA has taken an inconsistent approach to trip generation analysis and to the assessment of planned public road improvement works, applying different standards to The Pearl than to other comparable applications in the area.”
She added that the NRA had overestimated the traffic created by the proposal, that The Pearl will generate fewer trips than other approved developments, and that planned infrastructure improvements will be able to cope with the expected traffic.
The matter will be considered by the CPA at its meeting on Wednesday, 23 July.
Related Videos
Talk about some of the worst traffic in the entire island due to Hurleys roundabout. I remember going to the skatepark as a kid, now kids have nowhere to go outside.
The roundabout being closed off from Hurleys would help thousands of people in the morning but instead they talked about it and didn’t even try it. Now they are going to build more housing. When will someone use some common sense and close it off. This is such a joke for everyone in Savannah, Bodden town and further. Get ready to increase your commute to work even more.
The Government has required the Financial Industry to disclose the beneficial ownership of trusts and companies. This requirement should also be applied to all Corporate developers so we know whose behind these projects.
They should let them do the project if they invest into the things that got the project refused.
Make the roadways and safety lanes for emergency vehicles and 1 or 2 pedestrian overpasses out on the highway Shamrock Road. The skate park was an awesome thing; but, apparently no one wants to operate it and its now just a wonderfully crafted, beautifully shaped piece of cement that could be turned into high value property that inturn will ultimately create more revenue for the Government, jobs and customers for ancillary and professional service businesses. Grand Harbour is gazetted as a development site for residential and commercial enterprise. Its obviously and legally supposed to be made to handle traffic and host people at its commetcial centre and various businesses.
Development is not an evil. It’s progress, expression, opportunities for all and yes, profits to shareholders and beneficiaries. It just has to be managed properly and they should seek ti do it always in a way that will benefit the community and in ways that protect, enhance or blend symbolically with the natural environment. Cayman should be honoured that companies and developers both local and international want see fit to significantly invest their time, attention and funds into our Islands and of these magnitudes. When it comes to ‘beneficial owners’, all information on companies and their members, including beneficial ownership is available through the General Registry and Lands and Survey and in the Planning documents and minutes which are available to the public. So what if you look it up and see who’s who? It not like they are trying to hide or they are in some way ‘caught’ or did something wrong because they are a benefactor. It does nothing to the beneficial owners for the public to know them. You cant do anything to them just because you know who they are. They didn’t do anything wrong by being a board member or shareholder.
I hope this project reapplies for approval and makes concessions to and investment into doing the things that got them refused and hopefully they will be successful and Grand Harbour and the roadways there can be enhanced superbly, highly maintained and made safe for all.
Make Cayman dazzle, high tech, modern and work with what little we have, and try to keep a green attitude and ethic towards our actives in the environment and with development and contribute to the well-being of the community as a whole.