Waterfront tourism project moves ahead as bids invited

More than a year after government first purchased land, for $5.6 million, for a tourism attraction along the George Town waterfront, the project appears to be moving forward.

Government last week invited bids for architectural services to take the planned tourism hub, which it is calling the Waterfront Tourism Experience – Project forward.

The PACT administration, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan has said, initially planned to invest $1 million in the project to get it established.

The request for quotations, which was posted to government’s online Bonfire procurement portal, has invited interested parties to submit non-binding quotations for architectural services.

The tourism ministry, in a response to Cayman Compass queries on Tuesday evening, said, it is “the Ministry is pleased to note the RFQ bids for the architectural designs began on January 11th with the aim to award the contract in April 2023”.

“The RFQ for the construction bids will begin in September 2024 with the aim to award the contract in February 2025. Construction is planned to commence in March 2025 and continue through to March 2026 and if all goes as planned, a grand opening will take place in June or July of 2026,” the Ministry added.

The Waterfront Tourism Experience Project (TWEP) was introduced to Parliament by Minister Bryan in his 2021 Budget contribution speech on 29 Nov. 2021.

According to the RFQ, the architectural services – which include design development, construction drawings, interior design and statutory authority approvals among others – will be needed for a period of two-and-a-half years and will wrap up at the commissioning phase, set for July 2025.

“There will be a need for Consultancy Services during Construction on an as need basis between July 2024 and July 2025,” the RFQ added.

The deadline for submissions is 17 Feb. at 5pm.

Project aims to boost activity in George Town

The project site is located on North Church Street on the old Resort Sports property, just north of the Lobster Pot restaurant.

Government had purchased the land through a Public Management and Finance Act Section 11.5 transaction.

Transactions under that section are reserved for emergency or exceptional circumstances and are done without Finance Committee approval, but must be reported to the committee at its next sitting.

The buildings that were on that site have since been cleared and the area prepped for construction.

The plans for the project include parking for 45 cars, a ground floor restaurant/bar, upper floor dining hall/events venue, kitchen, pergola restaurant/bar, patio with pool and cabanas, concrete deck/seaside landing and 10 craft market stalls.

Bryan, when the project was first announced, said the almost two acres of land along the George Town waterfront will be used for a tourism attraction that will not only train and employ Caymanians, but also showcase authentic local culture.

“The biggest selling point of that area as a future tourism attraction is the breath-taking ocean view. And at almost 2 acres in size, the site has the necessary width and depth to adequately provide a world class, multi-purpose experience,” he told parliament.

The site will also be used for the local craft market which has been operating out of the site earmarked for the planned Seafarers Park.

That project, which was announced at the January 2021 National Heroes Day celebrations  by then Premier Alden McLaughlin with the groundbreaking held the following month, has been on hold.

Back in November 2021, Bryan, speaking during his submission to the budget debate, announced the plan for the waterfront tourist attraction which, he said, would be transformed into a “multi-purpose tourism venue that would integrate training, leisure and entertainment in one central location”.