ORIENT BAY--Frank but respectful exchanges took place Tuesday afternoon on the site of the new Orient Beach restaurants on parcel AW34 where elected officials and technicians listened to the tenants’ complaints in an effort to resolve issues that have surfaced pertaining to the structures.
The meeting followed that of Monday’s where a delegation of tenants met with President Aline Hanson, and Vice-Presidents Guillaume Arnell and Wendel Cocks to air their grievances.
Tuesday’s meeting and walk-through of the structures included the presence of Semsamar project supervisors Steve Titus and Olivia Peramin, Directeur de L’Aménagement du Territoire for the Collectivité Ronald Gunot, Director of the Collectivité’s Sustainable Development Department, Romain Perreau, and Controller for temporary occupation permits, Vincent Rodriguez.
The latter is also responsible for the rules and regulations for occupying the new units. The project’s architect was due to arrive later.
With the floor open to everyone Guillaume Arnell indicated he was representing President Hanson and sharing the burden with Wendel Cocks to solve the issues.
“We are here today because the Collectivité wanted to give this area a substantial face lift,” Arnell said. “We can no longer be falling behind the Dutch side and their projects. If we want to attract more tourism we have to have quality structures and services. The effort made here will not be wasted. We are determined that it will be a success and enhance the French side.”
He cautioned, however, not to expect immediate solutions.
Wendel Cocks thanked the group for its patience and admitted that “technical issues” had caused the delays since the original October 15 completion date of the project.
“Construction projects simply don’t finish exactly on time; if you build your own house you will know it does not get finished exactly on a set date,” he reasoned.
Tenants, however, were encouraged by the news that the 2,500 euro restaurant rent fixed by the Executive Council will be sent back to the Council to be reviewed again. This was the main complaint voiced by the group particularly when that rent has to be paid through the low season. The Council meets every Tuesday.
The tenants, concerned about what is left of this season still insisted they would not sign contracts or take possession of keys until they had better news about the rent.
“The Collectivité is charging double for a smaller space than we had before, and with a shorter lease,” complained one tenant. “They want us to do everything their way. We have the will to do it but after seven months of no work it’s difficult. And these restaurants don’t have a beach bar as such. We want the keys to get started but the rent is too high.”
One of the design flaws evident in the interior of the restaurants was that of the restroom door opening out to the dining room tables, instead of opening to the side away from customers or at the back of the restaurant.
It appeared this anomaly could be solved by having the restroom door open at the side of the structure, and moving the adjacent kiosk far enough away for entry and exit.
The white canvas awnings that cover the decks were deemed not suitable and would simply get blown away in high winds. Tenants wanted a different solution to cover the decks.
Another complaint was the duration of the temporary occupation permit (AOT) that each tenant will receive. It has been reduced to three years instead of five. This was a decision made by the Collectivité in order to have more control over tenants who defaulted on rent payments, Rodriguez explained.
There were no complaints from those persons operating the small art and craft kiosks. One water sports operator did complain that his structure was too small and the rent of 600 euros per month too high.
Arnell noted he had asked the restaurant tenants to produce an annual income statement of their business which will assist in the Council’s review of the rent figure.
The largely cordial meeting was evidence the Collectivité wants to find a compromise satisfactory to all parties while continuing to correct the structural defects.
