MARIGOT--Architect Mauricio Lanari has indicated the latest reincarnation of the former Le Belle Creole Hotel is a project currently “very close” to realisation but still hinges on agreement concerning “two or three issues” before a definitive green light is given.
The long-running 13-year-saga of trying to re-open the Mediterranean-style property in Baie Nettle ravaged by hurricanes and abandoned since the 1990s has never materialised despite investment in numerous studies and presentations of at least half a dozen projects by different companies.
In each case optimism turned into disappointment for various reasons, whether it was issues over zoning, financing, or just a change of heart. Remarkably, Lanari and the American owner of the 10-hectare property, Robert Trown, who bought the land in 2004 are still on board after all these years.
This time around it’s a new project, a new hotel group, new financiers, and renewed optimism. But Lanari insists on caution. As yet there is no artist’s impression to see and he is not allowed to divulge the name of the hotel group but it is a “five star plus” brand.
Making a difference, Lanari suggests, is that this hotel group understands the French system.
The issues mentioned refer to “guarantees” requested by the two financiers, one a French bank, among other things. The names of the latter are also not disclosed.
“If these issues are resolved it will obviously be very good news, but if they are blocked it’s a different story,” he states. “We will know in two or three months from now.”
The approximately US $150 to $200 million project calls for a 150-room hotel in addition to 20 villas. The plan is to demolish the old buildings but retain the original stones.
“When the old buildings were scanned the iron contained in them was destroyed and turned to powder and the foundations as well were destroyed,” Lanari explained. “That’s very dangerous. But because of the history we will mix modern Caribbean design for the new buildings with the old stones to keep the spirit of the place. It will be a very high level of service. Some of the villas will be available to purchase but generally 70 per cent will be managed by the hotel.
According to Lanari, all parties are happy and have signed pre-contracts and the Collectivité has accepted and agreed with the concept.
“President Daniel Gibbs is really pushing hard to make this work, to facilitate everything. A lot of jobs will be available for local companies in the construction phase, the demolition phase and of course when the hotel is open. The hotel group will come here one year ahead of opening to train the employees. Five star plus requires a level of service that probably we don’t have in St. Martin.”
He added the previous hotel project some years back called for a tower block which was at first refused and later approved. This time, however, there is no tower building in the plans, making life easier for Service Urbanisme, and no zoning to change which would create more delay.
“The building levels are two floors and a half. We don’t have to make any changes and we are abiding by the rules and regulations. A lot of materials for construction will be purchased here and the deal we made with the government is to employ the maximum amount of St. Martiners. The demolition will take about five months. We will also reuse as much of the concrete as possible, breaking it down by putting it through machines for the roads on the property, and using the stones. It’s going to be a very green project too with the request to use solar panels.”
In other details, due to the expense of water on the French side it is envisaged the hotel will produce its own water as landscaping and maintaining greenery is a big part of the project. There are many beautiful trees on the property which will also be saved.
As far as building permits are concerned Lanari said this will not be a problem because in the French system there is a Certificate Urbanise Operationnelle which requires one to commit to respecting certain laws and conditions. This certificate was approved for the project.
“We didn’t do the design yet but the idea is approved and that will lead to issuing of the building permit,” he clarified.
Opening of the hotel, if the project goes ahead, would be at least two years away.
