A PROPOSED multi-million dollar mixed-use resort project for Long Island could employ as many as 875 workers at the peak of construction between its two components, assessments conducted for the developers have projected.

The forecasts for the Port St George and Caribbean Heights projects, which if approved will be constructed on land adjacent to the island's existing Stella Maris resort, projected that construction worker numbers employed on the Port St George component would range from a low of 135 to a peak of 675.

And on Caribbean Heights, initially conceived as an 188-unit condo hotel and spa, to be located on an 18.8 acre site in Phase III, section two, of the Stella Maris subdivision, construction worker employment was projected by Norton Consulting, a real estate and leisure advisor company working for the developers, to range from a low of 20 to a peak of 200.

Combining the peak construction employment for the two projects would mean that some 875 workers would be employed on the Long Island development at the height of construction.

On Port St George, during the low point of construction, some 25 workers were forecast to be employed on the marina; a further 10 on the golf course and associated facilities; and 100 on residential/commercial construction.

At the construction peak; the number of workers employed on the marina would increase to 115; grow to 80 on the golf facilities; and some 480 working on the residential and commercial construction operations.
The forecasts were made on the assumption that the marina and golf facilities were completed in two years, while 40-man construction crews were assumed to be able to complete 10-12 custom homes or 25-30 production homes annually.

When it came to full-time operations, the projections were that Port St George would directly employ 342 staff. These would be split between 20 marina employees; 31 at the golf facility; 140 in hotel operations; 40 in "community operations"; and a final 111 in the town centre.

Estimates for the Port St George Town Centre employment were based on it having 16,500 square feet of retail space, each shop having an average size of 1,500 square feet.Restaurants were projected as having an average size of 3,000 square feet and seating capacity for 100 persons.
The employment projections for the developers said: "The Port St George project will be the major employer on Long Island and will influence employment on-site at the development and will have the potential to effectively attract new businesses (and additional employees) to the area.
"Quality of life for native Bahamians will be enhanced by the development of the project. The Port St George development will be act as a catalyst for other projects that will also positively impact employment in the area."
The original masterplan for Port St George, which is subject to change, called for a development that features a boutique hotel with 146 'suites/villas; some 60 boutique villas; plus waterfront lots of for boats between 80-100 feet in length, and a further 60 boat slips for vessels between 40-60 feet in length.

Other components of the original masterplan. developed in summer 2006, call for some 306 residential lots between 1/3 to ? of an acre in size with a golf course view; 61 oceanfront residential lots; 331 multi-family lots for either single family or town homes with 200 boat slips; 119 lakefront lots; 144 multi-family, condo flats or commercial plots; a beach club; and Town Centre, which features a yacht club, marina with 200 slips casino; condo flats; retail; restaurants; Customs and Immigration posts; a Harbour Master's office; and fuel and docking facilities.

On the Caribbean Heights project, which is conditional on Port St George going ahead, full-time direct employment created by that component is expected to be 197 jobs,of which 173 will be in hotel operations and 24 in sports and dive facilities.

The Government and developers staged a Town Meeting on the project and its potential impact on Long Island last night. It has already received approval in principle from the Government, on condition that the developers meet four criteria.These are holding the Town Meeting; submitting a completed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); consultations with the utility companies, which started in March and will be completed once the Masterplan is revised; and providing evidence that all necessary financial backing is in place.

Ian Moorcroft, one of the directors and project principals, said the proposed funding partners met with Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette last week.

Source: The Tribune