The Nassau Guardian reported on January 10th that 2012 will be a year of substantial growth for Schooner Bay Village, in which the development will go ‘from construction to community’, with an estimated $30 million spent on further infrastructure, new homes, amenities, and the project’s first businesses. Developer Orjan Lindroth and head of marketing James Malcolm provide commentary:
Major milestones this year for the South Abaco development include up to 30 homes completed, installation of infrastructure and the introduction of the project’s first businesses.
Construction is now booming with 12 homes at various stages of completion on the island and another four on the mainland.
Orjan Lindroth, the key developer behind Schooner, told Guardian Business an additional 16 are in the pipeline for the coming year.
“We should have somewhere around 30 houses this time next year,” he said. “Schooner will become a village, on the way to becoming a town. The heavy civil work involving the harbor is done so it’s much easier to see it move from construction to community.”
James Malcolm, head of marketing, called 2012 a “big burst”.
“Now we’re getting powered up with the opening of the harbor, and everything has been very deliberately orchestrated,” he told Guardian Business.
Malcolm added that up to 20 boats should also be moored at Schooner or more by the end of 2012. A fuel dock should be installed this year and Schooner is now the only harbor within 20 miles in any direction.
Less glamorous but just as essential to the development is the installation of infrastructure now underway. Electricity, water, and sewerage represent a major capital investment, Malcolm explained, providing utilities for up to 140 lots. Costing in the range of $8 million to $10 million, contracts have already been awarded, he said.
Meanwhile, a complement of commerce is expected to follow the housing and infrastructure boom. Schooner has already started to host symposiums in an effort to identity worth candidates for its first “12 core businesses”. Blackfly, the elite bone fishing lodge, has begun construction at the mouth of the harbor,and is slated for completion in January of next year.
Lindroth noted there will be four different food and beverage outlets in place by the end of 2012, including Blackfly, a deli and a general food store.
“We are very focused on food because we think it’ll be a tremendous driver for those to see and understand,” Lindroth added.
“With these four food outlets we want a representation of excellence in local cuisine.”
One of the more impressionable food and hospitality outlets for 2012 also includes the seven-bedroom Beach Club, Malcolm said.
“We’re putting a pool in, expanding the deck, building tennis courts and the building next door will be a bed and breakfast,” he told Guardian Business.
Beginning this year, Schooner is also offering weekend packages for prospective investors to check out Schooner for themselves and stay at the accommodations.
“This is really intended to be sales driven, but it’s also intended to give them the chance to experience the place, not to do the tour, so to speak,” he said.
Malcolm said the development has “literally come to life” as residents move into their homes.
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January 10, 2012
by Jeffrey Todd
Guardian Business Editor
