A proposal for a $86 million, 10-storey apartment block off Walkers Road in George Town has come before the planning board a year after it was refused planning permission, with the building’s architect saying that changes have since been made to the design.
At the Central Planning Authority meeting of 17 Sept., Eduardo Bernal of Arco Architectural Services showed members the amended design of Legoland Real Estate’s proposed 157-unit Eldemire Development on Boilers Road which, following feedback from the planning board, now contains commercial units on the ground floor to provide amenities for residents, such as a convenience store and a laundromat.
Revised design
The number of apartments has been reduced from 162 to 157 and the building footprint is now slightly smaller, at 20,067 square feet, down from 22,018 sq ft.
“There are many exciting projects currently going on in George Town,” Bernal told the authority. “We’re just trying to encourage people to live in the area.”
He said that the building would be made up of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for short- and medium-term rental, with a likely monthly rent ranging from $2,200 for a one-bedroom apartment to $3,500 for a three-bedroom apartment.
The building will be set on 1.5 acres and will contain 193 bedrooms, as well as a swimming pool and a gym on the rooftop. No objections to the proposals have been received and the planning board met to discuss the density and zoning of the new plans.
The previous design was refused planning permission by the authority due to concerns over increased traffic, lack of amenities for residents and the density of housing units.
‘Minimal’ traffic impact
Samuel Jackson of JacksonLaw, acting for Legoland Real Estate, said that they had responded to the previous refusal of the project by addressing the issues raised and making the necessary changes. The National Roads Authority, he said, was now satisfied that the traffic impact would be “minimal” and he added that the intention was that the building would be inhabited by people who worked in George Town and thus would not need to drive to work.
Jackson said that, as well as providing much-needed housing stock to the market, it would help with the revitalisation of George Town.
“This is exactly what is missing from George Town,” he said. “One thing that is lacking in George Town is life, particularly life after dark.”
He addressed the “elephant in the room” – the fact that the building would be 10 storeys high – saying that that not only did the building meet the “blueprint set by Parliament” but that, given the price of land in Cayman, “there is only one thing to do and that is to go up”.
The revised design is now being considered by the planning board.
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So they’re saying this is for people who work in GT, so they won’t have to drive to work, and it won’t increase traffic very much. On the other hand they are saying it is for a short and medium term rental. Short term rental, his like a hotel and medium term rental is 1-6 months. How is it that people working in Georgetown would be renting for only one to six months??
It seems that many of the apartment owners will have to walk to work as there appears to be only 27 parking spaces for 157 apartments. If the rent for a 1 bedroom unit is indeed $2200 a month then I can see a demand, but I doubt many of them will want to do without a car. I can’t help feeling the overriding desire of the developer is to cram as many units as possible into the limited acreage available to maximise profit.
We can almost guarantee that a 3br will rent for more than $3,500, they go for that and more next to the dump and this would have to be seen as an improvement over that project.
@Ralph W – you are absolutely correct, sir. I rented a 3BR apartment next to the dump from 2010-2012. The rent went from $1600 to $1800 in the time. As you correctly stated that number is now approximately doubled. I suspect the 3BR places in that proximity to town are going to fetch more than $4500 per month.
Looks amazing and a nice development that reflects the standards Cayman should have and an image we should be proud to promote as well as greatful that people wish to invest in us here in Cayman. Looks much better and more attractive that whats currently there. Additionally, that development will ultimately make the surrounding properties and neighborhood increase in value and attract more business and money spent in our capital of George Town.
I don’t think that $2,200 for 1 bedroom is affordable by most people working in George town. This cannot still help workers that are only earning minimum wages. House rental fees in cayman is outrageous. I think what cayman need is really having regulation for the rental rates.