CPA green lights Dart’s tunnel extension
The Dart tunnel on the West Bay Road
(CNS): The controversial application from a Dart-owned firm to extend the West Bay Road tunnel was approved Wednesday by the Central Planning Authority. The 400 foot structure already under construction will now be extended to include the recently acquired Royal Palms site. Planning permission was denied in November for the 170ft underpass extension because Cayman Shores Development failed to demonstrate sufficient reason to increase the structure, but they returned before the committee to justify the extension. Dart representatives also indicated future development on the tunnel could be far higher than the current plans indicate.
During the meeting it was explained that at the time of the prior application, the acquisition of the adjacent Royal Palms site had not been completed. Since Royal Palms was acquired, that site has been incorporated into the planned development, providing sufficient beachfront for a 5-star hotel on the Coral Caymanian property.
“The negotiations with Royal Palms took many years and although we always thought it was close, there was no certainty,” Dart Real Estate President Jackie Doak said, as she explained why the original application for the underpass had not covered all of the now proposed 595 feet. Consideration had been given to making a joint planning application with Royal Palms, but it was determined that was not something they wished to do, she added.
Ray Howe, General Manager of DECCO projects who was also at the meeting, spoke about what will go above the tunnel in future. Howe said it could hold three storeys, if desired and approved. But speaking hypothetically, he said that with the necessary beams and supports in place, it would be possible to build even ten storeys on top of such a structure.
Meanwhile, Doak confirmed in the meeting that there are currently no firm plans in place for the top of the structure. “We want to make sure we have the appropriate time to design a truly exceptional hotel,” she said.
The National Roads Authority has stated publicly that while the superstructure of the underpass, as currently designed, can accommodate loading factors associated with low-rise buildings, as shown on Dart Realty’s Master Plan, the risks associated with buildings on top of the underpass will lie with the developer and not the NRA.
Arguing the case for the extension, the Dart officials said they would extend the agreement currently in place between Royal Palms and Island Pine Villas, which allows vehicles from Island Pine to park on their property. This was welcomed by the CPA members, some of whom expressed concern about Island Pine residents having to park on the street. Doak also stated that there were no future plans to extend the underpass any further or incorporate Kenneth Dart’s own house on Seven Mile Beach into the plans.
During the meeting pedestrian safety was also discussed. Officials said they would be protected by a raised walkway with barriers along either side of the tunnel, while elevators and stairs will be incorporated into the structure so people are not compelled to walk through the entire tunnel. The issue of alternative travel routes for oversized equipment and vehicles was also addressed, while the committee was satisfied with the planned public access routes to the sea.
In a statement after the CPA announced the approval, Dart said that it welcomed the decision.
“Dart Real Estate welcomes the Central Planning Authority’s decision to approve its application for an extension to the West Bay Road underpass,” officials said. “Dart Real Estate believes an elevated development plane spanning all of the Camana Bay oceanfront property offers the best opportunity for connectivity between Seven Mile Beach and the Town Centre.
“The objective of the extension was to enhance existing infrastructure and to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety along the north-south corridor of Grand Cayman. Dart Real Estate believes this would enhance the experience for residents and visitors, whether they are walking, cycling or driving. Dart Real Estate remains committed to Camana Bay’s growth as a true sea-to-sound community and its continued investment in the Cayman Islands,” the company added.
Category: Local News
The Cayman Islands has 99 miles of coastline, To date Dart has put two buildings on 7 mile beach and is planning a third. Combined they represent maybe a 1/3 of a mile. Lets have some perspective here.
If you want a nice quiet beach you really don’t have to drive that far. The government is pushing their tourism industry to generate dollars. 7mile beach is a big part of that push, and those people need places to sleep.
I would prefer he build a tunnel and set the hotel back then have a towering skyscraper 50 feet from the water line, with hundreds of umbrellas crowding the beach to boot!
planning won’t approve a 10 storey that close to the waterline…the statement from Dart Group was yet again deliberately misleading, wrapped up as some form of ‘woe is us, look what we’re doing for the greater good’…..having said that, your point about 99 miles coastline is valid although we need Dart to build us more roads to get out there!!
a 10 storey building has already been approved and built that close to the waterline – it’s called The WaterColours
cave people don’t like facts….
the real story here is that this ruling is a huge slap in the face to the NRA…..who for unknown reasons, decided to object to the the tunnel after the fact…clearly on spurious grounds.
i am glad the incompetent nra were put back firmly in their place.
Why are we so focused on this DART tunnel extension when we should be focused on crime!?!?!??!??!
Oh wait… I forgot. Folks only suggest that there are more pressing issues to deal with on island when the issue is same-sex marriage.
Huh?
Every time same sex marriage comes up, commenters say we should be focused on crime instead. Every time just about any other issue comes up, including this one, you don’t find a single comment that says we should focus on something else. Just pointing out the hypocrisy.
Ok. Thanks
Whatever. Just focus on the crime.
It’s about time something went right for Dart, good for them…i’m tired of the little people winning ….can we put another roundabout on top of this tunnel? i love them…especially those with all the spokes to nowhere, they look ace…..
U R Phunny
you believe its to nowhere?
This is a cynical slap in the face if the Island that put out the welcome mat for Dart.
An ugly gash across the seven mile corridor to feed their greed , without showing any consideration for the gentle place that was .
how do you really feel? don’t hold back…
The ugly gash is George Town…that needs repairing and fixing up badly. Anyone who has seen a finished Dart project knows it is going to look good, even if they cant admit that, because to do so would betray their own prejudices.
You. Go live in a mall. Right now!
When Dart is gone it will be a long long time before the next big spender comes
along
OK
Fabulous news. DART has brought modern class and sophistication. I do hope the moaners stay away, the ambiance could only be improved.
I do believe the moaners (except me) we’re here first. If you are not from here (like me) you should quickly go back to where you’re from and create some modern class and some of that sophistication stuff… there.
As one tourist said to me “Dart has brought has brought something as contrived as Las Vegas to Cayman”. All we need now is for our sell out MLAs to pass casinos and Dart will be first in line. The MLA gravy train continues and I can’t see how we remove this vulture’s work from our island short of a mega tsunami.
He makes plenty money selling alcohol already. Plenty.
It’s the Golden Rule – the man with the gold makes the rules! Some favour short-term gain (jobs, money in the economy, greater tourist “attractions”), for others there is a greater concern for the longer-term negative impact on the Island. Sadly politicians are largely driven by short-term popularity. IMHO, Mr. Dart seems to be turning Grand Cayman into his personal playground. Whether each development on its own is “nice” is not in issue. What is in issue is whether unbridled, piecemeal development according to one person’s undisclosed master-plan should be permitted by the population.
I love how “jobs, money and the economy” are unworthy “short term gains” in your mind. Spoken like someone with a good job and money.
I think you need to rethink what is in the “long term interests” of the country and try to be objective about it. Thank goodness nobody 50 years ago claimed every construction project was an aberration putting short term economic gains in front of long term environmentalism. We’d have a beautiful, impoverished island like all our neighbours (including Cayman Brac) and we’d all be going to work in the States, where we would be expatriates as unwelcome as they are in this country.
This isn’t really long term vs short term. An infrastructure project is pretty long term. It’s just your preference vs those of others.
Nailed it !!
Boom
I would forgive your statements if you one that can’t see past your allowable tenure here. I beg to differ whether most of the pro Dart statements are from those under his employ or those who do not have a vested stake in these islands.
Well put, while Dart continues to dig Gold from the mine, we get the shaft.
Well now that that’s been approved I wonder if DECCO will share the works with some of the other local contractors whom are very qualified – or will they give it to the “same special ones”. Let’s wait and see.
The DECCO cartel will keep all of the work for themselves obviously.
Let’s all meet on the golf course to discuss the very unlikely possibility of that happening….wrapped up much too tight and cosy.
Ah you mean that employer of qualified Caymanians? Yes, they really ought to be stopped.
And that my friends was the end of caymanians having access to the beach. Dart doesn’t want public beach to exist anymore either so that will be the next to go.
That why they cancelled calicos lease. They want all common people far away from their developments
Hmmm. Probably true. Sad. I really do feel bad for what is happening here.
yawn…baseless drivel…
Your comment is stupid.
DART this, DART that. Have you seen the improvement to the 7 Mile public beach area!
Honestly, parking alone is a plus! You no longer have cars zooming past the beach endangering children’s lives etc.
Stop hating on DART, rather, hate your own people who could have done exactly what DART did, but they so damn mean with their money they refuse to invest like that in their own Country.
Signed: NATIVE.
Native go home!
Have you been to public beach lately? There is nothing worth saving, the place is a dump with all of the vendors, foot massages, rental chairs etc… CIG created the mess at public beach, not Dart.
They cancelled Calico’s lease! Say it ain’t so!!
What Public Beach? That has already been taken over in case you haven’t noticed.
Getting rid of Calicos (if true) would be doing us all a favour, especially late at night when the drugs are out…
Dart owns Calicos?
Owns em and wears them.
yep!
Government should set aside a section of land on SMB for a beach bar. Let an investor pay for and build the facility in exchange for a long term lease. That way we have a place to go with amenities (food beverage bathrooms) forever.
That’s a direct benefit to Caymanians and residents through use and revenue collection in lease payments.
before Dart you did 75 mph passing that beach
Whether anyone remembers or not, Seven Mile Beach did have its own island charm with only three storey buildings hidden behind trees allowing the beauty of the beach and seas to be the main attraction. Now everything keeps changing into a concrete ugly mess. How much longer will we have to put up with continuous construction! How many more years? Don’t like going there anymore. Too sad.
yes when we used the nearest bush for a restroom
Whatever.
When is the British Government going to step in to preserve their treasure? They’re too busy with Brit-exit.
Treasure? It is seen more as a liability.
Brexit will solve everything, including this issue.
The Cayman Islands is not the British Government’s treasure and it has no business dealing with domestic matters.
Lots of judgement being passed on both sides. Let’s see what the finished product looks like.
People have no self control and rather get worked up with their doom and gloom comments. Sad.
Yeah and when we all agree the finished product is an eyesore, then what?
Is your complaining on CNS making an improvement/difference in the outcome? I think not.
People have a predisposition to complain loudly about the things they have the least ability to impact; yet expend little energy in the things they can truly change.
I think modern day society gets too distracted by the headlines. Social media feeds this to us daily.
Then the opinions come flying from all directions. But there is no action, no accountability.
An example of action versus mere opinion. One can appreciate the comments and EFFORTS of those who see plastic in the sea and beaches as a problem. It is a BIG problem. Instead of just sharing their opinion of the day, there are people who actually do beach clean-ups, educate all of us of better practises, and provide options and solutions for residents and businesses to consider. That is constructive and helpful, and includes action.
Words are hollow.
Action speaks volumes.
What if people become more active in solutions against crime. Became active for young boys who don’t have a father figure. Help organize teams and sports for young boys before they are wooed into the thug life.
Take a look at what matters to, what you are passionate about, and put your energy into helping change that.
“He hath founded it upon the seas” becomes “they have lost it amongst a sea of greed and concrete”
Dart’s big toy layout just getting bigger – and uglier
Dart is doing what the Cayman people could not do thank for dart he brings work for all.
You are way missing the bigger picture by enchanting yourself with a little shiny thing.
09/03/2018 at 10:33 am – Your comment is SO spot on!!
People around here LOVE their little shiny things, eh!
As another example, I’ve never seen such a small group of people covet a car so much…
What next? A wall all the way around the country of Caymania? Border controls through the the tunnels and the renaming of Grand Cayman to North Cayman and South Cayman.
Just wait for the backlash when the pedestrian tunnel becomes a magnet for begging and crime – not to mention once tourists are attacked under there! Unlike the other tunnel to nowwhere this one is in a heavily pedestrian area and the longer it is the higher the chance of crime.
Great imagination, Cayman style…anything to have a go at Dart. Has anyone been attacked in the other underpass? Or under this one even though it is a mess and under construction? No. Stupid is as stupid does.
Grow up.
Dumb comments can come from anywhere, don’t assume the comment was written by a Caymanian or someone in Cayman.
The other one is wider, shorter, brighter, and has cars travelling at speed. It is nowhere to hide or sleep or get up to anything. This other one is narrower, probably longer (definitely after the extension), is currently completely unlit, and has a lower speed limit with cars in closer proximity to pedestrians. And they’re talking about putting 10 storeys on top of this tunnel, so forget about natural light coming in, ever. If we are going to have any social blight from these tunnels it will be the one on WBR.
The other one is finished you tool.
How about waiting till its fully constructed. I’m sure it will be very well lit and pedestrians safe – safer than the rest of West Bay Road
why don’t you wait until you see the finish plan
crime could be right by your door
Please explain why the tunnel attracts crime – and why the longer it is the higher the chances? I would have thought that we no exits other than the ends, it would be far harder for a mugger to escape the longer the tunnel is, as compared to WBR as is now when they can just run off through a condos parking lot, but perhaps I am missing something.
A voice of reason, a beacon of light in the darkness of hatred.
How about a pedestrian tunnel under Harbour Drive, this will speed up traffic and give the cruise sheep some much needed exercise in negotiating two sets of stairs.
How about building a boardwalk above Harbour drive and second floor shops in case global warming causes the sea to rise? At that point we’ll be glad to have Dart like individuals living here. Stop s#$%^&*g where you eat,drive and live.
Thank you for a better island.
It’s not really a tunnel. It more like he’s building a second layer on top of cayman.
Screw Dart, what this island needs are more developers like Mike Ryan.
LOL!
Well, we still have Mr Ryan of course – just not the money he promised CIG.
Remember when he was writing McKeeva’s speeches. Damn dat funny.
Based on the thumbs down it appears many on this site aren’t clever enough to recognize sarcasm when they see it! Unbelievable!
Soooo… In the U.S. congress is looking to pull back restrictions on banks against virtually the entire countries view… and in Cayman the local billionaire secures a controversial overpass against virtually the entire countries view…
It’s almost… as if… they specifically time these major controversial issues around another distracting issue… like international women’s day… imagine that… makes you wonder if all this gender inequality bs is just a massive distracting tool…
Anyhow… the week belongs to the billionaires…. happy international women’s day !!!
Don’t let the Anti Dart bots and cave dwellers fool you because they like their own comment-drivel on here…half of them don’t understand what time of day it is. This, I suspect, will be a great development. Everyone mumbled about the ETH and Kimpton…now everyone loves it. Its a Cayman ting.
The Kimpton is a land grabbing overpriced blot on the landscape
Not really, restaurants on a par with everywhere else. My there really are a few antiDart bots working hard on here. All negativity, none of it makes sense and it’s all rumor and subterfuge.
And that my friends says it all.
Yet another collection of overrated and expensive restaurants for those who can’t eat a proper meal. Or gift shops that real people either can’t afford to shop at or can’t find anything above size 4.
We have become inundated with poncy shops and eateries that offer nothing except a cooks ego on a plate.
From Kaibo in the North to Pappagallo in the West, why can’t these places see that good food doesn’t have to be portioned for a two year old or for anorexic ladies that lunch, it just needs to be wholesome, well cooked and value for money.
So if the only argument is for another tranche of poncy restaurants concealed in concrete carbuncles, keep it, we don’t need them.
Im off for a $12 curry at Health City.
If I don’t have money, I go to the places I can afford, and I don’t begrudge those that have more the right to spend more in Cayman which benefits us all.
I was for it, but god it’s ugly.
Everyone loves it???
also caymanabay
Everyone loves it?? The Kimpton may be nice inside, but on the outside it looks like an ugly design of a monstrosity that just doesn’t belong there.
That’s cuz it doesn’t belong there. It belongs in Dart’s back yar….. oh
with out Dart what would we have?
I don’t know. What did you have without dart? We’re you dead or something?
Lots of other things. He’s bought all the real estate worth buying along the SMB corridor. (Almost) all of it. Has been buying it for 25 years. Who knows what the opportunity cost is? All we know is what we in fact got and will get in the (near) future.
Other people could have bought it, they didn’t. Dart did. Why all the bitching? I bet you would sell too if you were offered enough.
Then you obviously haven’t been in there, or read the comments from guests about it. Their clients love it.
You are a tube
I believed in Cayman enough to start a new business and invest my money here. I now no longer have faith that the island has the future I hoped for. I don’t believe that this is a positive sign and it underscores all that is wrong with the Government having no vision of their own. My heart bleeds for the future of the island and the generations to come who Dart is robbing of the enjoyment of their own natural environment (and don’t cite a non-naturally formed deepened public beach because that is a farce too).
Sounds very trumped up…don’t feed the troll.
Based on your comment, yes, definitely do not start a business here or anywhere….
I don’t know. Sounds like he might be a conscientious business owner. Don’t understand why you wouldn’t want that? Oh wait, you might be evil. Are you evil?
ergo, if your *opinion* regarding development doesn’t match another’s *opinion* then you claim moral superiority.
You must be fun at parties.
just make sure you have more money than Dart
Anti Dart Bots back out…in the space of an hour anti Dart comments got huge numbers of up votes, whilst pro dart got similar numbers of thumbs down, and no other article on here, including one on a violent and horrible murder got that kind of activity….unless Caymanians are worried more about this than murder?
You are spending too much time on here.
These two tunnels need to be connected by a third tunnel. Rather than have an exit in the middle of each tunnel to connect them, there should be roundabouts in each so that drivers do not have to use any of the other roundabouts to get in the correct lane. There should also be a roundabout in the middle of the connecting tunnel in case someone changes their mind about switching tunnels and needs to turn around. Finally, the connecting tunnel will be drilled underneath the pedestrian overpass, with metal ladders leading above-ground, to provide maximum connectivity. This is essential to our future plans (but we haven’t asked ourselves why we need it now, or at all). We look forward to receiving approval.
With a description like that we will be going round in circles until we disappear up our own backsides…
That’s the beauty of a roundabout, you cannot disappear even up your own backside. You can always keep going and end up exactly where you started.
You haven’t seen my car…
you are the first to know that is rubbish
This is just replacing natural beauty with man made construction “beauty”. Only those that don’t respect and appreciate the natural environment will support this project.
Do you mean like the Central Planning Authority?
Was any other decision expected??.The last time was just to appease the Caymanians and make the CPA/NRA look like they were looking out for us…
Government has been bought and paid for along time ago and each successful government just renews the DART agreement.
that’s because its good
What a surprise !
As I said in the previous article when permission was initially denied, it was all a big charade. They were always going to get it. Dart hadn’t filled in the forms correctly. They probably thought they didn’t need to given how much of a certainty it was. His ownership of this island is completely out of hand and I’ve heard he’s just acquired the Scotiabank building in town too. Ready for the new cruise ship port maybe?
So.. exactly how are they addressing the issue of oversized load? What if it can’t fit through either tunnel?
LIFE has a Facebook page. Check it out sometime.
there is a truck route through camana bay.
“Dart representatives also indicated future development on the tunnel could be far higher than the current plans indicate.”
Of course they are going to build it to the maximum 10 stories. And of course its going to be yet another Dart eyesore.
If there were no restrictions in place you can bet he would be building grotesque highrises all over the place.
Dart real estate and its architects need to move to another part of the world where their ugly designs belong.
It is an ugly claustrophobic monstrosity that 7 mile road did not need. What next?????
hey dart, while you at it, why not build a bridge from brac to lityle cayman? you own point of sands anyways?☺
Wrong, build it from West bay to GT round-a-bout to connect to East-west Arteriel going through Central Mangrove with connections to Northside and East End. That way people don’t have to go through tunnels. We can then decentralize George Town and stay and find jobs and not need a car. Done.
“enhance the experience for residents and visitors” I am going to be really enhanced traveling even further inside a tunnel.
No surprise. I saw it coming from miles away which is really sad that our Government is so predictable. It’s like watching the WWE. Everything is controversial and the public has no say in anything. Our politicians have either no backbone or they’re profiting from this in some way.
Both!
do you know what is revenue
Unbelievable. Not surprising though when you have the Chairman of the board also being the biggest supplier of building material. He’s creating his own business, why would he ever turn any development down.
Don’t forget the guy who draws up the plans for dart is married to the boss at dart!
He made do much money on Ivan I thought he’d never stop smiling. I even bought some of his wet lumber
Of course! Why exactly is the extension to this ghastly structure needed? Generally, I support Dart’s various developments and jobs for Caymanians, etc,etc., but not this!
I drive visitors every day and not one of them who’ve seen these tunnels have had anything complimentary to say.
Anyway, Government (CPA) caved for the $$$. Whats’ new??!!
people who have never been through a tunnel have never travel
Close down the LA except to operate as a sub-commitee and move everything thing else to Caymana Bay. Ultimately our Govt has become very limited in purpose so why not save the country in millions on rent and civil servant pay in Planning and be done with it.
This is a huge statement of really where the upper hand is held and that of a defunct Government, – devastating…
a victory for common sense and due process. well done cayman.
there was no due process without leverage,
prove it.
The NRA Agreement.
http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/mpchome/publications/nra-agreement-3rd-amendment
A fine example of due process, whether you like it or not.
yes!….. take that cave people
that has to be the most arrogant and self centered comment I’ve seen. Carry on in blinkered world and you’ll be just fine.
Tunnel person. Ignoramus!
Sad sad.. may God help us.
A really sad development in these islands. I cannot believe Someone actually thought up a tunnel on West Bay Road, but it actually got approved, then extended!!!!! Unbelievable.
yup … the two tunnels will be used as check points to socially control the movement of population. With CCTV camaras. They say its to fight crime. Yea right!
CNS, delete the words, “Dart is working with them” … don’t want to instill false theories
Follow the money!
hey dart, why not make a canal from north sound to west side thru 7 mile beach….would be excellent for the fishermen and tourist operators a like? immagine snorkelling/ diving the wreck then scoot across to stingraycity and rum ppint! tourists and locals would love it??☺
Already in the works..to hell with environmental impact assessments
as usual …dart is already on it…
That’s why there’s a bridge over land just north of Kimpton on the by pass. A Canal is planned there – from yacht club to where they want to move the rocks from SMB!!
All these developments will be great for Caymanians…at least the Caymanians that are being created daily and work for Dart.
Which development is that? Jackie Doak has said she still has no idea what they are going to build there?!? A tunnel to nowhere predicated on a plan that hasn’t gone beyond sketches…the only Caymanian that benefits is Ken Dart and a very small circle of papered staff that still don’t know the plan.
You really think he is going to spend millions and has no game plan. Just like the ‘I don’t know what we are going to do with it’ when they purchased all of Britannia al. Omeplete bull*hit but good old Alden believes it
Oh please…Alden doesn’t believe it…just supporting it pays him so well.
God is good.
god is a myth.
Dart is god.
No, He is a hit.
Easy on the thumbs down, God reads CNS every morning.
Why the hell were they able to start building this tunnel without firm and approved plans in place for the hotel? So now we are going to have a dark ‘tunnel to nowhere’ for years before anything is built on top of it.
Try to keep up 9.09…
no the tunnel will be finish first
The first decision was a ruse.
DART owns this government just like the last three before it. These are the DARTMAN ISLANDS your politicians have sold you all out in the same manner locals sell their lands and businessness to the main driver of the Cayman economy.
The Central Planning Authority do not have the power to approve an application once they have made a decision or determination to refuse it.
The Development and Planning Law outline the process of dealing with a refusal on an application. The next step in the process is an appeal to the Planning Appeals Tribunal. Any member of the public can therefore lodge an appeal against this approval by the Central Planning Authority and they would be successful.
This was not a matter for the Central Planning Authority to even consider, it should have gone through the Planning Appeals process. Just another grave mistake by people who don’t have a clue of what they are doing. This whole ‘tunnel’ needs to be demolished and removed from public land.
Sea lawyer, tthere was nothing preventing the applicant from making a new application and the CPA dealing with it.
All Darts developments look great when finished, which is more than can be said for some of the other eyesores that other developers are putting up. That is the main reason he gets his work approved. But you go ahead and count his money, just don’t let that jealousy get the better of you. He is also adhering to what he promised CIG in return for other deals. How often do people keep their word? Dart does. And you moan about it. Says a lot about your character.
You are a mere paper Dartanian. No say for you. Us sixth generationers will make your decisions for you.
Dude get it right, “Dart Town”
The good news is, once they’ve connected the North Sound and SMB, that’ll be their grandest ambition achieved and they won’t do anything with the thousands of acres elsewhere that they own. Oh wait… Stay tuned to find out what other massive projects you will have absolutely no say on, wherever DART wants them, whatever crazed fantasies they have dreamed up.
Where we expecting any other decision?
This is a great day for us Caymanians because look at all the new jobs which will be created. Thank you Dart organization! Again our Honorable Premier along with the Unity team helped get this job done.
Jobs for who?
Look around the tunnel and tell me how many Caymanians you see working there now?
lol
I have spoken to many repeat visitors about the development on seven mile beach and they are all sad to see what is happening. The general consensus is that Cayman is losing it’s charm and is changing for the worse!
Whatever “charm” SMB had was lost by 2000.
yawn…absolute nonsesne….if that was the case, cayman brac would be overflowing with tourists….
grand cayman has record tourists numbers…..pretty good for a place being ‘spoiled’ by development………….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
If you’re developing something purely for visitors and not the immediate population aren’t you missing something ?
how can you make something for visitors only ?
Do the visitors build it, provide for it’s maintenance, supply it with goods or work there?
A little critical thinking couldn’t hurt.
This seasons record numbers are so high partly because of the damage done to other parts of the Caribbean by the hurricanes.
9:42 According to DoT we are enjoying record ‘arrivals’. Based on feedback from some of the hotels that isn’t translating into record room bookings. There’s something screwy about these tourism figures.
The majority of tourists do not stay in hotels.
Idiot.
8.43, right now no-one likes it, it looks horrible. However it is not complete for those who are not so observant. When you look at Camana bay, the Kimpton etc you just know its going to look good when it is done. My only concern, less places for jo public to be on the beach…we need more proper licensed sunbed and shade facilities, with proper food outlets for Caymanians and residents, albeit it may cost a little.
Losing…. You mean LOST! When, will the leaders of this island grow a pair. It’s so easy for us to forget the connection between our consumer habits – our attraction to shiny and new things – and how much it’s actually costing us.
I also speak to a great many returning visitors and I have met no one who welcomes the changing feel of SMB. It may take a few years of people experiencing these changes before they decide, as one set of friends recently has, that other islands are worth visiting – for a number of reasons including value for money, pristine beaches, good diving and an escape from high rise blocks.
People we have visiting love it…Royal Palms is not great loss…tacky, drug infested den that it is.
Dude that class of tourists will change to higher paying tourists
only a few place on earth where there is no change, you better hurry
NIMBYs
Aaaah boy like one poster said the govt that soldout Cayman and Caymanians!
You understand that the CPA is not part of the government, right? And that the NRA, which is controlled by the government, objected?
What is the CPA a part of? Wouldn’t it stand to reason they are govt? If not, another Banana Republic move…
Wrong way around – Caymanians sold out to Dart
to be fair… it was CAYMANIANS that sold dart a lot of the land in the first place and then kept voting the same people in that let him do what he wants. They should have sold it to their own if they didnt want him to do these things and stopped voting in fools that have no spine. But it is WAY easier to be greedy and then blame everyone else for the monster you created.
3.02pm.., yes Some Caymanians have sold their land to Dart, but they never sold our roads to him… our corrupted government gave our roads to him. Go figure that one!!!
Someone or some people is going to suffer for what is being done to Caymanians. Treason.
the last i checked… the government is made up of Caymanians… so Yes… CAYMANIANS sold the roads to him.
The best public roads in Cayman were built by Dart and then given to the government.
He builds better roads than CIG ever did.
I just wish he would finish the Esterly Tibbetts ..That has been going on forever..What’s with the constant stopping and starting? Tired of road construction..
what would their own do with the land ?
Brap Brap