Almost there

Construction on the long-mooted multi-million-dollar Pierhead Development Project is scheduled to start later this year.

Leading real estate developer Sir Paul Altman, who represents the single developer behind the scheme, gave the assurance on Tuesday that despite the long delays, the project was still in the works although he did not commit to an exact start date.

He told Barbados TODAY that as recently as Tuesday, he was involved in eight hours of meetings on the project which has been in the pipeline for more than 20 years and was taken over by a new investor just under two years ago.

“We are into deep meetings…. These projects don’t happen by flicking your finger. There are about a million moving parts so we are working diligently to get started. So that’s the good news,” Sir Paul said.

“The target date is later this year…as soon as we get Town Planning approval…. There are so many submissions that the Government requires – an Environmental Impact Assessment, Heritage Assessment, Traffic Assessment, Social Impact Assessment, all types of assessments. So we are submitting everything required and waiting,” added the businessman who last June had declined to give any indication of when the project would finally commence.

The project had been touted as one that would revitalise Bridgetown, create new business opportunities for small entrepreneurs, boost the economy, and attract major investment to the country.                                   

Sir Paul told Barbados TODAY that the proposed project will enhance, maintain and protect the Screw Dock, otherwise known as the Dry Dock, located at the mouth of the Careenage. and which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bridgetown and its Historic Garrison.

“We are in a UNESCO World Heritage location, the key element of it being the Screw Dock. The old Screw Dock is one of the only two ever built in the world and we are doing what you call a mixed-use development,” Sir Paul said, explaining that would include “residential, retail, restaurant and everything you would find in a mixed-use development”.

“It is [also] respecting the fact that it is a World Heritage location and it is a mixed-use development that is going to have a significant impact on Bridgetown. It stretches from the

beach at Carlisle Bay to the Careenage. So it goes from Carlisle Bay back to the Lift Bridge which used to be called the Swing Bridge,” he added.

Sir Paul declined to go into any further details regarding the project, pending approval from the Town and Country Development Planning Office.

However, it had previously been announced that the development, encompassing about 10.8 acres of land, would include activities such as residential units including condominiums and apartment complexes, commercial buildings including office complexes, marina facilities, a Maritime Museum highlighting the maritime history connected with the Dry Dock, restaurant and beach club facilities, amusement, recreational and entertainment facilities, water-taxi services, parking facilities, vending facilities, and duty-free shopping facilities.                                                                                               

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb