Trust not told old homes faced demolition
(CNS): The National Trust for the Cayman Islands has confirmed that it wasn’t told in advance about the recent demolition of two heritage homes in George Town, even though one of the landowners is a member of the National Trust Council. The loss of Captain Ainsley Bodden’s House and Captain Benny Bodden’s House along the harbourfront on North Church Street earlier this month to make way for a new development caused significant outcry and highlighted the lack of legislation to protect Cayman’s traditional and historic buildings.
The loss of the two traditional Cayman houses, both built in the 1930s, demonstrated the inadequacy of the provisions in the current planning laws. However, the government has asked the National Trust for advice on updating the current statutory framework for protecting the country’s built heritage.
In response to inquiries from CNS about the demolition of these two old homes, the Trust said it was “renewing its call for the public to engage in dialogue with the National Trust about any relocation or demolition plans owners may have for heritage homes and historic landmarks, especially those listed on the National Trust’s Heritage Register, like the Bodden homes were”.
But a Trust spokesperson noted that under the current legislation, “homeowners are not legally bound to do so”, which makes the preservation of what remains of the islands’ built history challenging and requires the cooperation of the owners.
There are some provisions in the Development and Planning Act, the regulations and the dated 1997 Development Plan regarding protecting historic buildings, especially those in historic overlay zones, but the Trust told CNS that those provisions require significant strengthening and specificity.
“The National Trust was commissioned by the current government to form a sub-committee in January 2022 to inform them on updating the statutory framework for protecting built heritage in our islands, and the National Trust has been in the process of creating a document that will assist the government in this regard,” the Trust said.
“It is expected that the input from this National Trust Sub-Committee will help to strengthen the limited protections that exist presently while adding new provisions that will be fit for purpose going forward.”
The Trust maintains a register of around 350 historic sites, including where the buildings have already been lost, but there is no special designation and all of the country’s historic buildings are at risk unless the Trust can acquire and maintain them or the owners are willing to preserve them.
While it is costly to maintain old buildings, there is considerable support in the community to find the resources to maintain culturally or historically significant sites and buildings.
Earlier this year the National Trust launched a new Historic Preservation Fund so that people can make donations that will be used to buy old-time buildings and historic structures.
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Category: Community, Local News
How could the National Trust not know? This story has been in the news for well over a year or more. As far back to when Woody was said to be considering purchasing the home next to Foster’s West Bay.
Why haven’t the Trust or other concerned citizens in this field advocated for legislature change to bridge that gap to covering these structures being protected and owners having to inform the Trust? This is not the first circumstance to have come up about the demolition of historic structures or properties in Cayman.
It takes someone to step forward and advocate. I did so for maintenance and affiliation; stemming the new Children’s Law. Someone should have spoken up and spoken loud. These demolitions are an immense loss to Grand Cayman’s history.
More culture destroyed on North Church Street. Now the Smatts colourful cottages are being destroyed. Very sad. It is all pulling at my heartstrings. I think it is time for a March.
Perhaps Mr Bryan can explain why there has been no planning application.
What???
No planning application because Kenny say so..???
Surely this can’t be true, please someone from planning comment.
Rumour has it that Mr Arthurs on North Church Street is next to go. New dive shop planned. Yes time to March.
March for what? If this is true, Truman and family do not see the historical and cultural value in preserving the property much like most Caymanian families as of late with regards to selling their private properties, what are you expecting to do about it as a common citizen?
Now they trying demolish the skatepark. National Trust really need to step in and save this historic landmark.
The Trust needs to seek a court order prohibiting any and all destruction of historic properties until the legislature deals with it. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!!
Yes at best they need to try to gain an injunction, and hopefully the legislators can address this. Our historic architecture is slowing being replaced also.
What is left of the old slave walls in Bodden Town will be next.
An absolute disgrace that more of Cayman’s heritage is being destroyed. What makes matters worse is that one of the landowners is involved with the National Trust. Beggars belief. Something needs to be done so that these historical buildings have preservation orders on them going forward to stop this wanton destruction. What will future generations have to look at? Blocks of concrete.
Were they told about the Slave Wall in Webster’s Estates being torn down?
rumour has it that the websters rich-folks got their current slaves to take down the old slave wall…
Yet we still have the Glasshouse. Go figure.
Kenny knocked down historic homes for his failure of a beach project. No difference.
You think this is bad? Wait until Schilling tears down the Scott’s Development building, also on the Historic Register of the National Trust.
Reminds me of when they tore down Seymour’s Jerk. Trust wasn’t consulted then either.
We need less cultural appropriation in these Islands. One of the best ways to understand and appreciate another culture is by listening to those who are a part of the fabric of that society. Listen to their stories, understand the implications behind the aspects of their culture that you are interested in, and use that understanding to broaden your view. Cultural respect benefits consumers, stakeholders, and communities and supports positive health outcomes.
So which bit of the wooden hut that was almost completely rebuilt after major internal works do you consider to be of cultural significance and why? I am interested in the huts so I can understand the implications behind that aspects of your culture.
Exactly. And I know I’m gonna get bashed by this, but why are we supposed to be up in arms about the loss of buildings built in the 1930’s? That’s really not significant, people.
gimestory
Boring.
Wooden huts can only be considered of cultural significance to somewhere with no culture.
National Trust, the biggest oxymoron in Cayman
World Class Civil Service….
Wooden hut of historic cultural significance.
The Trust cannot be trusted.
The Trust is irrelevant.
They take themselves far too seriously , and have for years stood in the way of legitimate advancement in the public interest.
You mean the ‘shacks’ that were functioning perfectly well as a bar/restaurant and an art gallery/shop. Those ones? Fool.
Like Da Fish Shack.
Crumbling old shacks and fish shack had been turned into a restaurant so not really a historical home. Personally I think it’s excellent to demolish them, could build a great ocean view modern restaurant there.
Who cares about this except a few old ladies at the national trust?
I didn’t even know Da Fish Shack was gone, that’s how kept under-wraps this was. I was planning on eating there this weekend!!
Can’t say I’m surprised. Only went there once and the lady behind the bar couldn’t have made it clearer how much serving a beer was inconveniencing her!
service was shocking…
None of their business. They will be even further isolated when their next chairperson is installed.
Isn’t Olson Anderson the Chairman?
CNS: He resigned in June.
Wait until you see who they plan to replace him with. No more donations from me or my businesses, that’s for sure. Cancelling my family membership as well.
There are two people running for the position of Chairman. Instead of cancelling your family membership you should go to the AGM and vote!
There are two candidates standing
Christina Pineda (who used to be the Director of the Trust a few years ago) is the ‘approved’ candidate.
Melanie Carmichael, who has been a member of the council for many years, is the ‘challenger’
Who wants to bet it’s someone from DART?
Worse, the cruise tender lobby.
Trust wasn’t going to do anything anyway
The former “Fish Shack” house:
-nothing (obviously..) on the interior is original. Long ago gutted and completely rebuilt as a restaurant/bar, with kitchen, washrooms, bar, with an added back deck.
-that roof is not original. It had been replaced at least in the last 20 years that I know of, and probably more prior to this.
-I know at least some of the exterior has been replaced. But what remains is somewhat rotted and would need to be replaced (if going with the expense of restoring anything else).
So if this was to have been “restored” to original form, the entire interior would be a fresh rebuild as would most of the exterior. So, essentially you would end up with a replica, with nothing from the 1930s on that place. Might as well do a fresh, whole new replica if we want to depict what a house looked like in the 1930s.
There’s an old Scottish joke about Robert the Bruce’s ax being held by a tourist shop in Stirling. Dates from 1315, and the handle has only been replaced 7 times and the head 4 times.
The old Ship of Theseus philosophical question reduced to a truly banal form by those trying to claim some significance to a wooden hut.
For those that know, all I have to say is Trigger’s broom
How did the trust not know ….. everybody knew about the impending end of those two buildings for years
They are economic with the truth. They need show us the correspondence.
Why? What difference would it make. They have no power to do anything about it anyway. I may as well ask you what you knew about it.
The public need know the truth that is the answer to your point. Of course I know more then you because I did some research.
Do not let the truth get in the way of a good story.
yawn….shacks demolished….big deal ..move on or can we just admit cayman has very little real culture or heritage?
Yes you are absolutely correct, as all this is just a bunch of cry babies making noise to get some attention. We need to knock down these slum dwellings and put up beautiful modern buildings.
2:09 PM: I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not. In the case you are not, you’re very disrespectful and you should NOT be in Cayman if this is your view on what our ancestors built with little to no resources. Go back home!
Ancestors?…laughable.
Actually they were built by 3 generations ago family for me, so what’s your point?
It amazes me how so many posters on here are so dismissive of Cayman and its history, however recent, and the Caymanian families associated with it. To be honest its pathetic and I wish people would grow up.
They were sold by your family. What’s your point?
Without knowing the facts you are not exactly in a position to judge.
Fact is that they were sold by your ancestors. Prove me wrong.
So…….you’re arguing over a now demolished house that was SOLD by your ancestors? Why didn’t they keep it in the family? Why didn’t you fight hard for it? You could’ve made every attempt to repossess the property but I ain’t heard ntn about anyone doing that. Just a bunch of ppl talking about save the cayman heritage sites and no real action.
Well chum, this is our island now and we want nice modern energy efficient buildings so the old junk has to go. They are just old termite infested shacks anyway. Sorry
1:55 pm I hope you’re living in a paradise with real culture and heritage, and if you’re not already there I hope you’ll soon be.
As for 2:09 p.m.,
All travel restrictions are lifted making it easier for disrespectful visitors to leave.
It was always fairly easy to leave. But before you throw rocks at an outsider for not respecting our old buildings, name one thing you, our government or frankly anyone has done to preserve them? If we ignore our own heritage, what right do we to get angry when others treat it as dispensable?
I totally agree
What culture you have is being covered by concrete daily.
Replaced by dancehall and drugs more like.
What culture was there?
Cayman culture is now a mix of old Cayman corruption and new Dart coercion.
That council member should be kicked out of the National Trust and reported to the supervisory body of any other profession he may be involved with. Disgraceful conduct.
He probably doesn’t care as he skips all the way to the bank.
That’s the problem…..no one cares.
Bingo. No stopping the money train!
National Trust AGM next month. Why don’t you join, and go along so you can vote for better candidates?
No. I don’t care.
They were told. Just another cover up by NT.
They were not told.
They were told.
Poor termites are all homeless now.
What’s Rackham’s in terms of distance that they would need to travel? 1000 miles to their next meal?
Please put a preservation order on Rackams as that is the old Puritan Cleaners HQ whose owner was Carinal Da Costa, one of Cayman’s country and western singers.
If only there were a mechanism for obtaining ‘preservation orders’ Chris.
I’ve submitted one for Balboa Beach.
Bit late as most of the beach is not there. Red Spot Beach does remain and used by the cruise ship passengers despite lack of proper entrance due to fishmongers blocking access. they need go,