The developer proposing a 10-storey apartment block in a commercial George Town zone has stood firm with his project design, expressing willingness to, at most, reduce the planned 160-plus units by six.
During a Central Planning Authority meeting in April, members shared their concerns about whether the density of apartments falls within the regulations for this particular zone.
When Legoland Real Estate’s Eduardo Bernal appeared before the authority’s meeting on Wednesday, 19 June, he said the number of units is crucial, both for this project and for guiding the general direction of growth on Grand Cayman.
Legoland presented its plans to the planning board again for ‘The Eldemire’ apartment complex. This $95 million project would include 162-units in a new complex on Boilers Road, an area which does not currently have an apartment building of comparable size.
Speaking to the question of density, Bernal said in Wednesday’s hearing that this complex would have fewer units per acre than the One GT hotel and Kapok, both 10-storey structures.
He said The Eldemire would have 110 units and 128 rooms per acre – 72.24% of the gross floor area.
Most of these units would be geared toward the needs of young working professionals and small families and would be available for rent at about $2,000 a month, he said.
Fixing a ‘ghost town’
The Central Planning Authority’s main point of contention in April was that zoning regulations say no more than 80% of a building in this ‘general commercial’ zone can be residences.
However, Bernal said that, with the basement parking and ground-floor reception area, the plans fall within the rules.
Offering more housing within the heart of George Town will be key to reducing traffic congestion from central and eastern districts, he said. Currently, he added, the capital city becomes a “ghost town” on weekends and overly congested when people travel there for work during the week.
He said he hopes projects like this would help more people live closer to where they work and potentially within walking distance.
Bernal said this project aligns with efforts to revitalise George Town, making the government’s investments into improving infrastructure more valuable to residents.
When the authority members asked if some units could be replaced with commercial amenities, like a café, Bernal said this would typically be part of a well-balanced project. However, given the amount of non-residential development in the area, a mostly residential building would bring greater balance to the area as a whole, he said.
Reservations
Board members expressed several lingering concerns, particularly whether the project deviates too much from the intended purpose of the commercial zone.
They also questioned whether the basement parking technically counts toward the required 20% commercial area.
Members also asked if resources, such as schools and grocery stores, are within a practical walking distance for residents, or whether car-driving residents would only further congest downtown streets.
“This is the most developed area in Cayman,” Bernal said, adding that there are plenty of adequate resources near the proposed site.
In its report to the planning authority, the National Roads Authority previously noted the estimated impact on traffic near Boilers Road would be “moderate” – which one board member said is unusually high for NRA project assessments.
As the rainy season kicks off, one member also questioned The Eldemire’s ability to handle heavy rainfall, especially given how close it is to a nearby hospital. Bernal reassured members that while a storm like Hurricane Ivan may be one thing, the complex should be able to handle most weather.
The board’s decision on the planning application will be released at a future date and made public in the meeting minutes.
International Mall hearing postponed
At Wednesday’s meeting, the Central Planning Authority was expected to consider an application for a $40 million mixed-use complex in central George Town, but this was postponed.
Members agreed they found it necessary to await an official report from the National Roads Association before proceeding, especially considering the possible effects on the largely residential area of Ellery Merren Drive.
International Mall Ltd. has proposed building a set of apartment and commercial buildings on the empty lot. The site is currently on ‘primary habitat’, which is more mature and typically includes dry shrubland and forests.
The Department of Environment advised the building designers to reconsider the entire site layout to preserve as much native vegetation as possible.
This project proposes three two-storey commercial buildings, and seven two- and three-storey townhouse buildings. Combined, the two- and three-bedroom townhouse units would offer up to 96 bedrooms. Zoning regulations establish a limit of 70 bedrooms for the 4.36-acre parcel.
The layout also has a pool and a two-storey building with a gym and meeting space.
Related Videos
