Although I am not a golfer, I can see why people enjoy the sport. Taking a tour around the Provo Golf Course is like taking a sojourn from everyday island life. In contrast to the fairly arid, flat landscape over which I conduct my typical work routine, the golf course fairways are lush, emerald green and fresh-smelling. Our quiet electric cart whirrs up and down gently rolling hills, dotted with ranks of palm trees and battalions of brightly flowering bushes. Placid lakes, home to graceful water birds including ducks and flamingos, appear around most turns, and steady trade winds blow away any traces of heat and humidity.

I’ve been visiting and writing about the Provo Golf Course since its opening in late 1992 . . . and it just keeps getting better and better. This is due to a long-term commitment by the HAB Group, the course’s owners and founders, towards making the course a showpiece for the Turks & Caicos Islands. The course’s staff, including longtime Director of Golf Dave Douglas and Course Superintendent Jason Bailey, are similarly committed to making enjoyable every round of golf played by member and visitor.

A history lesson

I still have the original magazine produced when the course opened, describing it as the “Caribbean’s Newest Golfing Destination!” Articles within tell of the 1989 decision by the Turks & Caicos Water Company (a division of the HAB Group) that creating a golf course would be a good step towards promoting tourism in the Islands. Since Provo has a semi-arid climate with neither abundant rainfall nor ground water, fresh water to keep the course green would have to be produced, and who better to do it than the fledgling water company? Renowned golf architect Karl Litten was chosen to design the 18 hole course and a $600,000 state-of-the-art computer irrigation system was set up to keep the grass green with approximately 250,000 gallons of desalinated water (now 300,000 gallons) being pumped daily through 14 miles of laid pipeline.

Ground broke for the project in May 1991, with Gregori International, Inc. of France serving as the contractor, based on their extensive experience in landscaping and ground sculpting. Early photos show the scant topsoil being scraped into mounds for reuse in topping the course and heavy equipment digging into the hard coral rock beneath to build elevation into land lying almost at sea level. As environmentally conscious then as now, the developers preserved as many native trees as possible, along with the natural lake, which today bisects the front and back nine.

The stately clubhouse, center of course activities and welcoming portal to visitors, was designed as one of architect Simon Wood’s original projects on Providenciales. Its traditional West Indian-style architecture became among his renowned designs and the comfortable, rotunda-like interior remains a popular gathering place for golfers, with the Fairways Bar and Grill serving meals on its terrace overlooking the 18th hole.

The course earned accolades from the beginning, and by 1996, a Golf magazine writer for Caribbean Travel & Life rated the course among the Caribbean’s top 10, a rank held today and enhanced by a four star rating from Golf Digest in 2007/08. The 18-hole, 72 par course offers a rousing test for golfers of all calibers. If offshore breezes are blowing strong, the 6,705 yard championship course becomes “extremely interesting” with a slope rating of 136. For the casual golfer, blue, white and the women’s red tees (marked with colored conch shells) reduce the field to 5,036 yards. According to Dave Douglas, “The course is designed to offer a larger green area if the approach shot is a long one, while shorter approaches will be to smaller greens tucked behind bunkers or mounds. In between the different hitting areas, you have large waste spaces. This requires players to utilize good course management, hitting the ball to specific targets rather than just blasting away with their driver or fairway wood.” The course places a premium on accuracy and has given up only a few holes-in-one over its teen-age lifespan.

Keeping it fresh

It seemed like old times (except for a few more wrinkles and gray hairs between us) as Dave Douglas gave me the 2009 golf course grand tour, driving one of the brand-new fleet of electric carts. He explained that over $1.5 million had been invested by HAB Group over the last year on landscaping and refurbishment projects. This included over 900 new palm trees, a combination of Winin, Areca, Sable and Washingtonian varieties — all non-susceptible to the deadly lethal yellow disease that killed many of the original coconut palms. Adding color along the fairways and around the greens are hundreds of flowering trees, including cassia, Hong Kong orchid, pink tabby, frangipani, African tulip, gumbo limbo, tropical almond and bottlebrush, along with verdant bushes such as bougainvillea, oleander, copper leaf and Ficus, with sea oat grass adding a natural fringe. Besides doing its part to decrease global warming, the exuberant new landscape adds interest and beauty to the course.

We also cruised past new water features created on the 7th and 17th holes; the last a sinuous lake designed to add drama to the end of the course. This brings the total number of lakes to 12, with water on seven holes on the front nine and six holes on the back nine. Interestingly, the course remains so close to sea level that builders needed only dig down a few feet for the water table to fill the new ponds. While the flamingos were busy elsewhere, Dave assured me that they are regular visitors, along with egrets, heron and other waterfowl. Also adding a challenge for course regulars are two new tee-offs on the 13th and 18th holes.

Indoors, the refurbished clubhouse sports fresh decor in the rotunda, a larger bag storage facility and an expanded and updated pro shop, from which guests can rent premium Taylormade Burner clubs, or purchase logoed shirts, shorts, golf shoes and extra balls. Other club facilities include a warm-up driving net, chipping area, putting green and tennis courts. Tee times start at 7 AM until dusk, the course is rarely crowded, and on-line reservations are available.

Hosting the Caribbean’s finest

With all this “gussying up,” you might think company’s coming! And it is. For the second time (the first was in 1999), the Provo Golf & Country Club will play host to the 53rd Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships on August 3 to 8, 2009. Bordier International Bank & Trust are the headline sponsors of the prestigious event, expected to draw 140 golfers and nearly that many “followers.”

The Caribbean Amateur Open began in 1957 with only two countries; since that time it has evolved into the largest annual golf event in the region, contested by 10 countries, including the Turks & Caicos Islands. Each country sends 14-person teams to compete in five divisions, including the Hoerman Cup (five-man team); George Teale Memorial Trophy (three-woman team); Ramon Baez Trophy (two amateur men aged 35 and over); Francis Steele Perkins Trophy (two senior men aged 50 and over) and the Higgs and Higgs Trophy (two super-senior men aged 60 and over). The 2009 competition will see Puerto Rico looking to retain the title they won last year in the Cayman Islands.

Spectators are welcome and TCI residents are encouraged to come out and cheer on the local team. The 1999 event was touted as one of the best championships ever hosted by a member community. As host country, the Turks & Caicos Golf Association (TCGA) is expected to provide accommodation for all visiting teams, use of the golf course for six days, on-island transportation, breakfast and dinner for all players, an opening ceremony, flag raising and dinner and a prize-giving and closing party. Obviously, much sponsorship is needed and packages are available to suit any budget. For more information, contact Tournament Director John Phillips at claymore@tciway.tc.

The million dollar mark

With over 160 members, the Provo Golf Club maintains a strong local players’ base and a full roster of members-only events to complement the many annual golfing tournaments. Since 1996, charity golf events have quietly raised over $1 million for local charities and worthwhile causes in the Turks & Caicos Islands. This amazing achievement for such a small golfing community is, in large part, due to the many local corporate sponsorships, great participation from local golfers, and the hard work of the golf club staff. Many of the tournaments have a 16 year history, and are still going strong.

Over the years, some of the worthwhile causes have included:  the National AIDS Awareness Foundation, the British West Indies Collegiate, P.A.T.H.E. (Provo Association for the Handicapped and Elderly), the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Turks & Caicos Cancer Society, the Turks & Caicos Kidney Foundation, the Kiwanis Club, the Turks & Caicos Football Association, the Turks & Caicos Golf Association, the Angelo Rizzoli Foundation and the Clement Howell High School.

A golf course lifestyle

Part of the HAB Group’s long-range plans for developing a golf course was the concurrent development of the 200-acre surrounding resort community, blessed with the “greenest grass on Provo.” To my surprise (I hadn’t toured the course for many years), much of the project is well underway. This includes 70 townhomes in five different developments — Fairways, The Palms, The Retreat, The Enclave and The Enclave II. Each features 2-storey, 2 bedroom/2.5 bath (some 3 bedroom) townhomes fronting the fairways, with private patios enjoying a sweeping golf course view. These have proven extremely popular for long-term rentals and investment growth, with many renters becoming townhome buyers and later purchasing land and building their home on the golf course.

There are also 15 Club Villas (with plans to build another 12). These are unique in that each section has 3 separate  2 bedroom/2.5 bath units, with two units on the bottom level and one on the second level. Lower level units have a den that could be made into a third bedroom.

Each development has its own pool/patio, with the white sands of Grace Bay just a short stroll across the street. They are managed in individual strata groups, and many offer discounted golf and tennis membership.

Of the private residence lots, 13 are now graced with beautiful single-family homes, taking advantage of built-in infrastructure including asphalt roads, underground water, electricity, telephone and cable television lines and a main sewage line. Besides a choice of 38 remaining lake view, fairway or greenside locations, an added benefit for home or lot owners is golf club membership.

The HAB Group also operate highly regarded luxury resorts on Grace Bay — the award winning Villa Renaissance, luxurious Regent Grand Resort & Spa and the forthcoming development The Vellagio. Guests staying at either resort receive free golf during their stay from now through April 2010.

Although it may be some time before I ever swing a club (or curse at a golf ball!), I look forward to another ride around the course for a future story. I have no doubt Provo’s tranquil oasis will be more lovely than ever . . . and I won’t have to worry about my score!

For more information, visit www.provogolfclub.com or call 877 218 9124 or 649 946 5991.

The Shore Club development honors local ecology and cultural history.

By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photos By Jon Nickson, eyeSpice

Going forward sometimes means going back; back to the roots; uncovering the soul of a destination. That reflects the mindset behind the creation of The Shore Club – The Hartling Group’s latest Providenciales resort condominium project. Following the highly successful and popular The Sands and The Regent Palms properties on world-famous Grace Bay Beach, developer Stan Hartling is taking a somewhat out-of-the ordinary approach here.

The Shore Club is nestled in a remote, secluded spot on Long Bay Beach, a sweeping expanse of sand with a wide natural dune and verdant border of indigenous vegetation. Besides making careful efforts to protect and enhance the area’s unique ecology, The Shore Club will also serve to promote a cultural authenticity not usually found on glamorous Grace Bay. As developer Stan Hartling explains, “I’m enthusiastic about creating real estate that is more than just the buildings and amenities. I’ve always felt this Long Bay location has a personality all its own, representing what is genuine and natural – the ‘old Caribbean’ if you will – and I want to share that with the folks who will live at and visit The Shore Club.”

Long Bay Beach stretches the length of Providenciales’ easternmost shore, yet has always retained an air of privacy. Traditionally, access was either by boat or via narrow paths cut into the vegetation, and the beach is mostly used for beachcombing, horseback riding and strolling by owners of the large residential villas well-spaced along the swath. It also serves as a perfect place to spend a lazy beach day with family and friends, your own private “day trip” without leaving Provo.

The Shore Club occupies the beach’s northern end, a quiet, sheltered cove that for years served as the ideal spot for the country’s fishermen to “knock” and remove conch from their shells, tossing these now-abandoned homes into the shallow bay. In the lush tropical highlands nearby, Loyalist planters operated large cotton plantations, and remnants of the 200 year old walls still stand.

As a Providenciales resident for over a decade, Stan Hartling absorbed all of this information and lore, turning it over in his mind until the time seemed right. He says, “Because many of our owners buy units in each of our projects, I listen carefully to and respect their opinions. And I felt that many of our buyers were looking for a more remote, less commercial location. Concurrently, they place a higher value on authenticity. They’re looking for a property that has a soul, and I believed I could create that at The Shore Club.”

It took Hartling nearly two years to accumulate the parcels of land, eventually securing a large tract with 820 feet of prime beachfront. And from the beginning, he wanted owners and guests to feel like they were on an island all their own, the kind of place that would feel unchanged from the past and into the future. “We deliberately kept the density low and the building height to five floors so we wouldn’t overwhelm the site’s natural grandeur. The Shore Club’s architecture reflects a Barbadian influence, purposely designed to feel intimate in both size and scale.”

Hartling’s extensive knowledge of his buyers’ desires helped fine-tune the property’s design. “Our owners appreciate that there are many factors that enhance their stay, including the landscaping, views, beach access, placement of pools, dining and bar areas and recreational options – all the little things that make each day an experience to be cherished.”

One of Hartling’s most important goals is to protect the property’s pristine beach and dune area during construction, while enhancing and preserving it long-term. Ezekiel Hall, from HallTech Ltd., an independent environmental consulting firm, was called in during the early stages of planning. One of the project’s first steps was to remove decades of broken conch shells that had accumulated in the shallows and washed on shore. Hall explains, “These shells can sometimes act as a barrier to sand accretion, so we used a water jet to gently push away the sand, then the shells were carefully dug out and removed by hand, bringing the beach back to its natural pristine state.”

Because Long Bay Beach’s plant biodiversity is much higher than Grace Bay Beach and the dune itself much larger, Hartling issued a strict edict that the entire dune area be cordoned off during construction. Efforts are being made to save as many indigenous plants as possible throughout the site and appropriate dune grasses will be transplanted to preserve this important buffer zone. Well-marked beach access lanes and wooden planking will help keep guests from disturbing the sensitive area.

In fact, Hartling is proud to say that The Shore Club will be the first TCI resort to maintain their beach under “Blue Flag” status. This international designation symbolizes a commitment to proper beach management, along with providing environmental education and a code of conduct to beach users and maintaining excellent water  quality and safety procedures.

Starting from the approach road off Leeward Highway all the way to the shady paths meandering through The Shore Club property, formal landscaping will be eschewed for a more natural approach, incorporating vignettes of TCI history. Stan Hartling explains, “I envision the paths to have a very organic feel, similar to what you would experience walking along an old plantation road in North Caicos. We’ll use leafy ferns, silver palms and other  native plants to create that sense. We also plan an interpretive  nature trail, incorporating natural history and local lore.”

Hartling has already started the five-year process of  revegetating the corridor leading from Leeward Highway to The Shore Club site, lining the road with fountain grass to soften the edges and planting over 200 trees with the intention of creating the look of a long “plantation-era” lane.

To enhance authenticity, Hartling adds, “We discovered nearby the remains of cotton plantation walls from the Loyalist era, and we thought it would bring the property to life to rescue and incorporate the stones as a natural part of the landscaping.” Dr. Neil Hitch, director of the TCI National Museum, roundly supports this effort, “It’s a good start and we’re happy to see a developer who places value on preserving and integrating history. Doing anything to save local artifacts is better than destroying them with a bulldozer. Each artifact may hold the clue to a new discovery.” Hitch sees this plan as typical of Hartling’s long-term support of museum projects, including the search for the slave ship Trouvadore and assistance in securing a site for the Providenciales branch of national museum.

Besides placing value on the site’s natural attributes, eco-friendly solutions are built into The Shore Club’s  design. The open reception area, dining room and common areas diminish the need for air-conditioning, relying on the tradewinds to do the job. The extensive use of fountains, pools and ponds act as natural cooling areas. Low-key lighting saves energy and diminishes the resort’s beachfront impact. The Shore Club will also utilize lowland near the site to capture and retain rainwater for irrigating landscape and roads. Other areas will be developed into a community park and pillar-spaced hedges have already been planted at the project’s border to help allay construction noise and dust for neighbors.

With an unmatched location from which to savor the sunrise, moonrise and sunset, Shore Club guests may feel as though they are living on an exotic, remote island, unchanged throughout history. However, all of Providenciales’ amenities are within a two-mile radius and  the resort itself will be throughly upscale in its facilities – just executed in a totally different way.

Hartling reports that construction and site development of The Shore Club will progress at a controlled pace, respecting the environment, culture and community every step of the way. “This is not a fast track project. I have such a strong affection for the area and it’s not easily reproducible. I want to make sure we do our best to honor the true soul that exists in this unique site.”

For more information, visit www.theshoreclubtc.com.

By Bobbi Misick

Grand Turk [is a] low key charmer that holds wild architecture, remnants of the island’s colonial past,” reads the website for travel-guide authority Frommer’s, noting the island’s “friendly small-town vibe,” and calling it “Mayberry by the sea.” This Old-World, small-town charm is one thing that sets the Turks & Caicos Islands’ capital apart and encourages a large supply of development opportunity.

In fact, every detail of the Wyndham Cacique Royale Beach Resort is intended to promote Grand Turk’s understated greatness—from the resort’s positioning before the glorious peach and purple sunsets to the buildings’ gabled entryways and metal rooftops, a wink to Bermudian architecture, and names like Nanichi that testify to the ancient heart of the project.

Separated from South Caicos by the 22-mile Columbus Passage, the seven-mile-long, bean-shaped island maintains buildings and establishments that have—in the modern sense—been there forever, with a lazy layout that resists industrial change. An aerial view of Grand Turk reveals pointed roofs with zinc coverings formed around frothy salinas and carelessly drawn roadways, similar to neighborhoods on the outskirts of London or (more aptly) the center of Bermuda, from which much of the Caicos architecture and infrastructure is derived.

Zoom in to find an enchanting island where donkeys, horses and cows freely roam the quiet streets, eating bushes and blocking roadways; where large buildings, out of use for decades, stare out onto the reef as if remembering times past and waves crash below an old lighthouse (now a historical attraction).

These endearing qualities helped foster local developer C. Washington Misick’s long-term relationship with Grand Turk. He served here as a police officer in the 1970s and later founded the first branch of 27-year-old real estate agency Prestigious Properties (the oldest agency in TCI) on Grand Turk’s historical Front Street. Misick eventually represented the major settlement of Overback Salina in the Turks & Caicos parliament for 16 years.  Although he’s since relocated to Providenciales, where he and partners own the seven-year-old Alexandra Resort & Spa on Grace Bay, Misick chose to build his second condo-hotel resort community—the Wyndham Cacique Royale Beach Resort—on Grand Turk.

“I just think it’s a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community of Grand Turk that has given so much to me,” Misick sighs. “I want to create something that not only I can be proud of, but the people on the island can be happy with.”

Washington Misick had originally hoped to introduce an establishment to revive the sleepy island’s economy during his years as Turks & Caicos Islands’ Chief Minister and Minister of Development (1992–1995)—after the shift in commercial centers from Grand Turk to Providenciales in the 1980s—but was unsuccessful. He recalls, “I thought a resort was necessary to revive the economy and provide jobs. I wasn’t able to do it as Chief Minister, but as soon as I was, I acquired the land and I did.”

Misick purchased beachfront property on northwest Grand Turk, a “picturesque and tranquil location” that added to the project’s appeal (among other factors) for Wyndham Hotel Group, says Marco Roca, Senior Vice President of Development for Wyndham’s Latin America and Caribbean division. With an expansive development plan underway, as the first branded beachfront resort property in Grand Turk, Cacique will instigate an industrial renaissance for the island, boosting the profits of local tourist-oriented businesses and providing nearly 200 new jobs on location. The project will consist of 251 studio, deluxe studio, one and two bedroom residences situated directly on the beautiful beachfront location.

“The completion of this commercial venture has been a dream of mine to contribute to the economy of Grand Turk and to give something back for the confidence of that constituency in me,” Washington reiterates. “We’re excited to bring such a tremendous hotel brand into the Turks & Caicos Islands. In terms of presence in the marketplace, Wyndham is one of the largest hotel companies in the world and certainly in the Caribbean, with 6,000+ hotels worldwide and approximately 500,000 hotel rooms.”

With 24 resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico—including hotels in neighboring countries the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic—the folks at Wyndham know the key components to a luxury Caribbean resort. “The Cacique project was always of an upscale, high-end nature,” Marco Roca emphasizes. “we are proud to be a part of this development and are available to assist and approve where we feel there is a need.”

Roca’s team suggested an “increase of all public spaces,” expanding on the deluxe amenities package to include a convivial lounge in the reception center, a second restaurant, a banquet space and other additions to the already planned state-of-the-art spa, dive and watersport facility, shops and bar and grill.

“Basically, we want to create a luxury resort with a sort of old-world charm, but with all of the contemporary amenities. Branding Cacique Royale with the Wyndham name brings all of the amenities of a four-star resort,” Washington Misick says.

“The Wyndham Cacique Royale Beach Resort in Grand Turk will promote tourism and introduce thousands of travelers to this wonderful island, with its colorful history and culture, friendly people, beautiful beaches and exciting recreational activities,” Roca adds. “Wyndham Hotels and Resorts has had a long standing appeal in the Caribbean by developing properties that work well with the local setting and embrace the community in which they are located.”

In this respect, the Wyndham Cacique Royale Beach Resort blends with the rich local history and architectural aesthetic of Grand Turk, paying close attention to even include pre-Columbian, Taino (or Lucayan) Indian references such as the name Cacique—the term for chief in Taino culture. This theme carries over into naming all areas on the site with traditional Taino terms like Baqua (sea) given to the beachfront cottages and Nanichi (translated to mean “my heart” or “my love”) as the name for the resident spa. “I wanted to build a resort that in every respect reflects the history and culture of the island,” Misick says.

He also named the 1,000-foot stretch of beachfront on which the resort lies Pirate’s Bay (residents of the Turks & Caicos Islands have long assumed the responsibility of naming streets and special locations as a way to speed along the government process), as a reference to Grand Turk’s noted history of piracy in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

But perhaps the architecture is Cacique’s best example of history. The Baqua cottages’ simple, functional design is synonymous with Bermudian homes and will be painted a bright pink that blends in with the magnificent sunset views along the shore.

“Grand Turk and South Caicos are the places where you can see the most examples of Bermudian and Turks & Caicos architecture,” Misick’s son and project architectural technologist Chuck Misick says. “The resort is designed on one side to give you that cottage-style feel of living in a traditional house on Grand Turk. The buildings have the appearance of a sturdy monolithic limestone structure that Bermudian architecture is so recognized for.”

Beginning in the late 1600s, Bermudian sloops traveled to the Turks & Caicos Islands transporting salt from Grand Turk and Salt Cay (leaders in the industry during the milling era) to North American colonies.  Many Bermudian sailors relocated along the archipelago as the first Colonial settlers here. In fact, Misick traces his own lineage back to Bermudian sailors who settled in North Caicos.

“The phrase ‘Washy’ used was, ‘Try to Bermudify it,’” chuckles Brian Macdonald, the OBM International architect responsible for Cacique’s initial drawings, while showing off the development’s original designs. Having worked for an OBM competitor in Bermuda for over six years, Macdonald knew where and how to add the right touches to the project, careful not to make anything seem fake or out of place.

Larger buildings like the Karaya Suites stray from the cottage model, but continue the Bermudian-Caicos aesthetic with accents like hurricane shutters and traditional Caicos style railings. Gabled entryways and corrugated metal rooftops further illustrate the Turks & Caicos’ longstanding relationship with their fellow colony in the North Atlantic. “The goal was not to copy, but to interpret the history of Bermudian architecture for today,” Macdonald comments.

Bermudification aside, Cacique’s suites are anything but ancient.  Misick called on award winning, Texas-based interior design firm Duncan and Miller Design to craft an effortlessly comfortable atmosphere in every room with porcelain tile flooring, granite countertops, brand name Kohler fixtures, stainless steel appliances and solid wood cabinetry. “Our goal was to design something with lasting value, something classic and simple in design,” Duncan and Miller’s Shantell Travis explains. “We wanted to keep a fresh clean palette that would showcase and create a backdrop for the breathtaking view. We wanted to offer something that would inspire a calm, serene environment for the guest.”

Ensuring that all the elements of design, architecture and location work together to pay homage to the local surrounds, Misick, Roca and their associates wish to showcase Grand Turk’s intrinsically enchanting quality. “Grand Turk has a ‘trapped in time’ feel where it seems as if you’re taking a step back into history, where time seems to stand still and nothing else seems to matter but the moment you’re in,” Chuck Misick says.

It seems if anyone could stay true to Grand Turk’s cultural ambiance, Washington Misick and his team can. Cacique Royale—the “Royal Chief” is a testament to old and new existing in harmony.

For more information, visit

www.WyndhamCaciqueRoyale.com.

By Laura Brander

“La Vista Azul” is an exotic phrase that rolls off one’s tongue as waves might gently lap a shoreline. “The blue view” is exactly what this Providenciales North Shore development can boast, terraced into the hillside overlooking Turtle Cove and the myriad of blues that make up the beauty of Grace Bay. This Mediterranean-inspired community offers a total of 78 luxurious residential units as well as a commercial plaza beautifully nestled into the 3.5 acres of multi-leveled topography.

The Turtle Cove address currently offers the convenience of six restaurants, the very popular Player’s Club casino, the Cocoloco night club and a variety of shops and services. Sports enthusiasts will find several fishing charters, dive operators and boating excursions that set out from the marina. And four miles of powdery white sand stretch from its entrance for those that are drawn to the world famous beach and pristine waters of Grace Bay. All of this is just a short stroll from La Vista Azul.

The five residential buildings take full advantage of the elevation with its magnificent view and cooling tropical tradewinds. The first two buildings are home to the development’s private gym, spa, and games room — set just above sea level — while three levels of residential units climb the hillside in a terraced fashion. These units are unique in that they all incorporate landscaped rooftop gardens as extensions to their balconies, borrowing from the terrace below to produce a generous 350 square feet of outdoor living space. The next two buildings are set along the ridge, with a lofty vantage point of up to 80 feet above sea level. These front four buildings are positioned so that most units enjoy unobstructed views of the ocean. The fifth building sits to the back of the development with partial ocean views; a botanical garden adds an element of privacy between it and the front four. This particular building is excellent value for the investor or long term resident looking to buy, as units are offered at a substantially lower cost, with the same high caliber of living space. The ridge buildings have the luxury of covered parking, while the terraced buildings include space to their front.

Each of the five buildings incorporates the full range of floor plans. You can choose a spacious studio with full size kitchen of approximately 700 square feet or the larger “studio plus,” a junior one bedroom similar in size to the larger studio, yet with the added element of separate bedroom privacy. There is also a larger one bedroom plan or . . . perhaps you’d prefer a top floor, two bedroom Presidential penthouse of almost 3,000 square feet of living space? The privacy balcony off the master bedroom and the ability to lock-out the second bedroom are both very alluring features.

All interiors will include stone tile floors, custom cabinets and vanities, stainless steel GE Profile appliances and the beauty of Kohler fixtures. Solid wood doors add an element of privacy and are used for both interior and entrance applications. Safety is a priority; impact resistant sliding doors lead out to your terrace with shuttered windows for hurricane protection. Presently, a high end furniture package is included in the unit price as an incentive to purchase.

Three swimming pools will grace the development on the upper terrace, from which residents may enjoy stunning sunsets and ocean views. Water will spill from this upper terrace and cascade down between the front two residential sites amidst lush landscaping. The focal point of a central fountain amidst the commercial plaza (emulating one on the upper level) ties the two components together, one complimenting the other. There will also be a fully equipped fitness centre with indoor hot tub.

Residents and guests alike will benefit from the commercial side; the on-site inclusion of gift shops, convenience store and coffee shop will complete the La Vista Azul community. The 16 commercial units are also offered for sale to the astute investor or business operator as a strata entity.

The two men behind the development fell in love with the island and recognized its potential after visiting on vacation. One left his Toronto home to build another in the Chalk Sound area and then later went on to bring the Queen Angel resort condominiums to Providenciales. The other, a gentleman from Chicago, initially bought several units in the Queen Angel before joining the initial developer to purchase the property down the street.

Construction of La Vista Azul has been underway now for several months. Interested parties don’t have to wait before watching their dreams realized. Completion of their blue view is anticipated by the summer of 2009, an estimated 24 months from beginning to end. Added development bonuses? A percentage of the remaining units are still available through vendor takeback mortgages, maintenance fees will be extremely competitive, and the professionally managed rental program offers a higher percentage to the owner than most other developments on the island. With units ranging from $240,000 to $1.3 million, this development offers spectacular views, excellent value and luxury accommodations without paying Grace Bay waterfront prices.

For more information on La Vista Azul, phone 649 941 8118 or toll-free 877 832 6141 or visit www.lvaresort.com.

By Mila Schukin ~ Photos By Patricia Duff

Despite being known as “the birthplace” of modern-day Providenciales, Turtle Cove is very underappreciated, in my view. Although Princess Radziwill and friends hung out here in the 1960s and 140-foot yachts are frequent visitors, Turtle Cove has a calm, lazy mood that would soothe the soul of the most frenzied “Type A” personality. In and around its meandering byways you’ll find pale bridges over canals, upside-down bronze mermaids floating in air, tipsy crewmen tossing wahoo entrails to sharks and the Tiki Hut, one of Provo’s oldest restaurants. At dusk everything turns silver and mauve (a moment before it was turquoise and gold). Little marketing of Turtle Cove takes place and, to my knowledge, little has been written about its history. Considering the well-heeled, enterprising renegades these Islands attract, I’m sure there’s much to know.

In the 1980s, an event called “Sunday Brunch” took place every week at the Tiki Hut. It was attended by Turtle Cove’s early developers and a man named Russell DeCoudres was one of the habitués. He was a former U.S. Air Force pilot and realtor from Florida who came to Providenciales in 1975 and spent the rest of his life around Turtle Cove Marina. Another man might have bought a condo in Nassau and taken things easy. Russell, instead, journeyed to a remote, little-developed island, where it was arduous to get supplies, with few prospects for generating income — an obstinate, restless romantic in search of a dream.

Russ DeCoudres didn’t want much. Just a place close to a nice fishing area. With a great view. A view of an other-worldly harbor, plus Grace Bay. Also very private, in the middle of thick virgin “bush”. And a good location wind-wise and access-wise. Better a bit elevated in case of weather. Plus room to grow peppers and tomatoes maybe, and lots of handy firewood for cooking fish, if propane ran out. Sun, of course. He wanted space, freedom and total self-sufficiency, with hummingbirds and geckoes at his doorstep.

In 1982 he built Breezy House for his family. Halfway up Suzy Turn from Turtle Cove Marina, right below the top of the ridge, it’s probably the geographical centerpoint of Provo, a short walk to the harbor and Leeward Highway both. But because the cove is still relatively undeveloped, the view is of low, 113 hillside stretching away in all directions. A few white Caribbean-style roofs nestle in the green distance. At night the long arc of Grace Bay’s lights is both close enough and far enough for total enchantment. From a mariner’s perspective, the site Russell chose is the still-water part of a wave, just down from the crest, where you avoid the rough conditions of peaks and troughs but still see 360º around.

Rumour has it that there was already a concrete, two-room house on the one-acre lot, with power connected. It probably sparked Russ’s imagination: I can see him getting up on the roof, and his mind starting to work. Essentially, he merely added another storey, but how he did it is important. He built the second floor of wood, entirely open-plan, with a cathedral ceiling and jalousie windows and doors on all sides. (For the uninitiated, jalousies are horizontal glass louvers that you crank open for the desired amount of ventilation; they make the indoors feel like outside, but are not manufactured any longer. They are rare even on Provo). The bedrooms downstairs thus stay shady and cool longer, while the upstairs living area is open to tradewinds, light and the great open sky all day long.
Everyone knows wood construction is subject to termite and hurricane hazards in the tropics, but there’s no question the “feel” of a wooden structure is natural, airy, weightless. If you care to take chances it’s worth it, for the sake of feeling that you’re shaded and dry, but still in communication with the living world around. (And of course, it would have been difficult to add on a concrete second story, but that’s another matter.)

He built a deck at the back, looking down on the cove, partially screened for sleeping and partially open for sunning. Two sets of French doors lead from the living area to this deck, and when the doors and windows are all open, the house is a high restful aerie nestled in a soft private forest. Standing on the deck you look over billowing ironwood trees and gumbo-limbos to the reef beyond, and if you’re lucky, glimpse sails moving slowly out to sea.

His next concern was clever planning for efficiency and comfort. The house already had a 20,000 gallon cistern, and Russ installed a large solar panel near the water heater. He constructed what was probably the first sunken tub on Provo. By the kitchen, a small pantry and adjoining powder room create a flange that breaks up the interior space just enough; the window over the kitchen sink has a view of the water, while to the side a larger window shows who’s coming up the drive. Lots of fans hang from high white rafters. He laid floors of ordinary light coral tile, unifying the space and adding cool subtle color throughout. Shuttered storage nooks and cabinets were tucked in discrete corners. A central, nautical-type stairwell descends to the “hold” from the main floor. Best of all, the handrail of the steps that lead up to the entrance is a 12-foot high stone buttress. It is a single powerful note of distinction on an otherwise plain structure, but it also made it possible to place a full utility room underneath its arch.

Lastly, to the simple 20 x 40-foot rectangle Russell added a few low-key gracious touches. Flanking the front door are flowery stained-glass sidelights, rustic but bright. Getting such things to Provo in the early 1980s could not have been easy. Glass block with a wave pattern separates the master bath from the utility room, and the original powder room cabinet top was mottled resin with an integral scallop shell sink. He put crown moldings in the bedrooms and made all the windowsills of white marble.

Outdoors, low native-stone walls encircle the front garden and drive. He trucked in soil and planted aloes and a single Royal Poinciana — the most glorious of tropical trees, imported God knows how — beneath his front door.

The house is well-organized and uncluttered in the way a well-made boat is, and as perfectly proportioned, with a few suitable ornaments to gladden the heart. One can only marvel at the controlled creative effort that went into achieving something modest, graceful and complete.

How I bought the house

Shopping for a house on Provo with my realtor Rex was a lot of fun, but I didn’t find anything I liked for a long time. Breezy House was a small old listing in the back of the TCREA Real Estate magazine and seemed like a last resort, but it did say Turtle Cove, so we went to look. Later I learned it was Russ DeCoudre’s house and that after his death, his children had rented it out for some years and finally put it on the market in 2002.

I was privileged to have Wendel Ewing as the contractor for restoring Breezy House. His father had worked for Pastor James Williams, foreman on the Kempe projects featured in a previous issue of Times of the Islands. Patiently, tenaciously, Wendel devoted endless hours working out solutions that provided modern luxuries without violating the integrity of the place. It was so easy to work with someone who didn’t miss a date, who was always one step ahead and whose main ambition was to accomplish what was necessary, get it done in good time and done right, in spite of delays and complications getting suitable replacement parts and fixtures. It is due to him that Breezy House is what it is today.

We made only essential alterations. Besotted as I was with the exotic yet homey character of the house, I wanted to preserve it all; thankfully Wendel had the wisdom to understand what was salvageable and what required fundamental reconstruction. There were no errors of judgment on his part. The cracked tiled tub in the master bath really had to go, so it was scrapped and replaced by a Jacuzzi I think Russ would have enjoyed. The second bath was also rebuilt into a clean cool refuge.

The kitchen required tricky reconfiguration in order to accommodate bigger appliances, but remains basically the same compact space. The partitioned deck was merged into one huge mosquito-free area. We lounge, read, surf the Web, eat, drink, entertain and sleep there — only bathing and cooking facilities are absent. Following Russ’s lead, we tried to buy all we needed on-island, and made use of local products, such as ground conch-shell countertops made by Phil Thompson, where possible.

I haven’t mentioned the one element that did introduce vibrant change — color! Recently arrived artists from Haiti painted the house in shades they selected themselves, with splashes of pomegranate, aqua, squash, marine blue and purest white. Like one of those old children’s novelties where crystals grow and bloom in water, each color seems to have been born to ornament its space and flatter its neighbor. I think Russell would have appreciated his pink-and-beige Breezy House transformed into a sparkling little sloop anchored on a West Indies hillside.

Life in the Turks & Caicos was very different for everybody in 1980. Living on Provo, Russ kept body and soul together by selling real estate lots when there were not many people here to buy them. He worked with developer Ford Carter, a connection of his from Hialeah and Delray Beach in Florida, sold land for Provident Ltd. and built the very first home in Long Bay.

But Russ was much more than a real estate agent. Often impolitic, frugal to a fault and a bit cantankerous at times, he was nonetheless in many ways the happy spirit of Provo. Warm and interested, welcoming and helpful, gentle in nature, Russ befriended people who needed a friend, reeled in stray expatriates for sumptuous Thanksgiving dinners, and made his home a haven filled with food and good company for visitors to the island. He would go out of his way to assist newcomers, provided a roof overhead and a bed when they were needed, and gave many an Islander and ex-pat a helping hand. Because he kept his ear to the ground and generally knew what was going on, he took on the task of writing a community newsletter to tell about local happenings, who had visited and why, social events, the latest real estate items and general gossip. In many people both on the island and abroad, Russ DeCoudres and his cheerful Breezy House kindled a real and lasting affection. Sadly, Russ’s sojourn here ended in 1993 when he was forced to return to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with his ailing wife Liz. He died in Florida not long after she did, at age 86.

The life-loving artistic streak in the DeCoudres family is alive today in Russ’s grandson — artist Graham Weinroth, who lives in Florida but depicts the people and places of the Turks & Caicos Islands in his sensitive, color-saturated canvases. He names his grandfather Russell as having been his chief inspiration. Russ’s oldest son Frank, who helped him build Breezy House, now lives back in Florida too, as does his second son. Russ’s nephew Graham recently sold Jumbie House, Russ’s second property on the lot below and now resides in Grand Turk.

Russ DeCoudre’s home probably won’t remain here forever — its tenuous historical significance won’t override the commercial value of the land it’s on. Suzy Turn is already much noisier than it was in Russ’s day. Anyway, its meaning would be lost in the coming crowd of townhouses and apartments. I don’t care too much, and I think neither would Russ — it’s enough for a while to be part of a place that gives so much back in return.

I’d like extend special thanks to Alan Duff for supplying photos and recollections of Russ and to Hugh O’Neill, who provided background information about Providenciales in the early days.

By Kathy Borsuk ~ Illustrations By dbox Inc.

Dellis Cay has always been a rare and magical place. Tucked between Fort George and Parrot Cays along the string of jewels between Providenciales and North Caicos, seekers of the secluded have prized its sugar-sand shores and vibrant turquoise waters for ultra-private beachgoing. As well, a quirky combination of tide and currents makes Dellis Cay the best place for finding shells in the Turks & Caicos Islands.

Dellis Cay will soon share its treasures with a handful of highly discriminating clientele. Recently purchased by Dr. Cem Kinay, the 560-acre private island is now part of the prestigious O Property Collection, an innovative, design-driven international real estate development group. Kinay promises to make Dellis Cay among “the world’s rarest living experiences” with a limited collection of private villas and residences.

The vision behind The O Property Collection (OPC), according to Dr. Kinay, chairman and CEO, is to become the world’s first design-driven premium property developments. Kinay believes, “Design is an interactive part of the living experience. Design creates the basis from which essential concepts like comfort, technology, aesthetics and ecology work together to achieve balance.”

For the Dellis Cay project — OPC’s debut and the cornerstone of the pioneering company — Kinay united a cadre of the world’s leading architects and designers who share his philosophy. Together, they will sculpt a magical luxury destination community, where unobtrusive structures complement the cay’s exquisite natural setting, and interiors effortlessly fuse nature and functionality. Amenities and service will be peerlessly managed by the award-winning luxury hospitality group Mandarin Oriental Hotels, owner and operator of 21 of the world’s most prestigious hotels and resorts, and devoted to combining “21st century luxury with Oriental charm.”

Each of the architects is devoted to the development of one portion of the island. From Milan, renowned Italian architect Piero Lissoni has created the Mandarin Oriental Hotel & Residences, along with the nearby Beach House Residences and Beach & Ocean Villas. From Tokyo, Kengo Kuma was chosen to create the Spa at Mandarin Oriental and the Spa Lake Villas, while Shigeru Ban lends his expertise to the design of beach villas and over-the-water villas linked by a discreet deck. Singapore-based Carl Ettensperger will design a set of the Caribbean’s first over-the-water villas to follow the natural curves of the shoreline, while offering unobstructed views of the sea. London’s David Chipperfield will design and develop a natural peninsula on the north shore, where residents will indulge in magnificent views of the glistening water and protected lush mangroves. Also London-based, Zaha Hadid has overseen the Dellis Cay Master Plan and will create luxury residences, beachfront villas, a commercial building with restaurants and boutiques and a marina planned for the cay’s eastern flank. Each of the architects will contribute to developing the western end of the island, where buyers will have the opportunity to choose one of the astounding villa designs as their new home. Plans are for the Dellis Cay project to be completed in three phases over the next two to five years, with the first phase, described below, scheduled to open in 2009.

Blending into the scenic southwestern shore on an unspoiled 35 acre beachfront site will be The Residences at Mandarin Oriental Dellis Cay. Surrounded by porcelain-white sands, sheltered coral reefs and protected mangrove reserves, the secluded hideaway will feature 25 exclusive hotel suites, 17 private stand-alone villas and 78 multi-roomed apartments.

The hotel — simple and elegantly designed — will be the first visible building when arriving by private boat from Providenciales. An open sequence of public spaces on the ground floor will interweave services, restaurants, pools and facilities. The upper two floors are reserved for the hotel suites and residences, while the gracious roof is dedicated to exclusive penthouses with private pools. All accommodations are designed with expansive outdoor terraces and balconies providing panoramic views of the ocean, beachfront and lushly landscaped grounds. Completing the picture are infinity-edge swimming pools, sun decks, tennis courts, a beach club, a well-equipped business center, a library and resort boutiques. A choice of innovative cuisine, emphasizing fresh, local ingredients, will be featured at the signature restaurant and bars in a variety of settings, both indoor and outdoor.

The dramatic 30,000 sq. ft. Spa at Mandarin Oriental is set in beautifully designed pavilions that seem to float over a tranquil lake. The spa will focus on a holistic approach to wellness, including inspiration towards lifestyle improvements, with 15 individual rooms and VIP couples suites, state-of-the-art heat and water treatments, an outdoor Watsu pool and a fitness center.

Opportunities to own within the Mandarin Oriental include two-bedroom residences and one-bedroom duplexes, with only four, three to four bedroom penthouses available. Each of the 24 residences is a home of its own, with interior design highlighting the building’s generous proportions and luxurious appointments.

At the Beach House Residences at Mandarin Oriental, nine buildings provide a variety of living possibilities, from spacious two-bedroom residences to three-bedroom duplex penthouses. Distributed around a central pool, the buildings are surrounded by distinctive water areas interconnected by walkways offering private beach access. Each beach house residence enjoys unobstructed ocean views and is fully serviced by the Mandarin Oriental staff.

Tucked away along the northeast and southeast areas of the hotel are the five to six bedroom, 4,000+ sq. ft. private beach and ocean villas, also designed by Piero Lissoni. Understated and discreet, these villas promise complete privacy and a luxury of space indoors and out.

Under Mandarin Oriental’s precise managment and legendary service, residents and guests will enjoy a five-star luxury hotel experience, with 24 hour room service, concierge, housekeeping and doorman services and a host of entertainment options. The apartments and villas will be managed for private use or to be included in the property’s inventory of accommodations. “The idyllic location and spectacular design of this development provides Mandarin Oriental with another opportunity to showcase our hideaway concept to those in search of a private sanctuary,” said the group’s Chief Executive Edouard Ettedgui.

For more information on the Dellis Cay development, visit www.delliscay.com, stop by the showroom at Saltmill Plaza, Providenciales or phone 649 941 7201 or toll-free 1 800 644 0533.

North Caicos condominiums past and present share a common dream.

By Jody Rathgeb

Historical Photo Courtesy Karen Preikschat

Recent visitors to North Caicos might have noticed a new look on the island and interest in a type of development that takes a turn away from North Caicos’ traditional communities. You might call it “condomania.” While Providenciales has been seeing a great deal of joint-ownership resorts for some time, it is only recently that condominium developers have made a big push on North Caicos. That push has set off a development boom that includes St. Charles on Horsestable Beach, Royal Reef Resort at Sandy Point and more projects in the works.

St. Charles, a project of TCI’s Belvedere Development Ltd., plans a total of 90 condominiums. The first of its residential unit buildings opened in 2006, along with a large pool, casual outdoor restaurant and a swim-up bar. The furnished units include terra cotta tile, marble counters, television, Bose sound systems and disappearing doors. Future buildings will form a horseshoe around the pool, with service buildings located behind the beachside resort.

Meanwhile, developers Frederick Paatz and Mark Hall are building Royal Reef Resort on the island’s northwest shore. The completed project will offer 160 condominiums and a 45-suite hotel built to the standards and amenities required for an international five-star designation. Marketing materials promise three restaurants, a spa and fitness center, shops, tennis courts and other luxury amenities.

These condominium resorts are just the beginning, too. Also planned are two more by Belvedere along Horsestable Beach, and the Fairmont Three Cays near Three Marys Cays, with an opening target of 2009.

The development on North Caicos, which has been seen as a natural next step across the island chain from Providenciales, has sent real estate prices soaring. Beachfront lots are rapidly disappearing, and as the condos rise and loom over once-deserted beaches, other forms of development and infrastructure support projects expand on the “condomania”:

• At Bellefield Landing, construction of a deep water harbour is under way. The government-sponsored project should be complete by summer 2007.

• Developers Jim Gillette and Dale Piergiovanni are creating the North Caicos Yacht Club and Marina near Sandy Point, across from Parrot Cay. The project features canal-front properties for private homes and commercial outlets, plus a full-service marina. Gillette and Piergiovanni have already created several subdivisions on North Caicos: Pumpkin Bluff, Seaside and Sandcastle Estates.

• Another government project is improvement of the North Caicos Airport runway and plans for a new terminal.

• Other support and infrastructure plans include new roads and repaving; progress on a long-planned causeway to Middle Caicos; a new community center that will double as a hurricane shelter; a fire station for two trucks designated for North Caicos; and the recent opening of a branch of TCI Bank Limited.

Condominiums, however, appear to be the major element of the island’s current building boom. Why condos, rather than private homes, boutique hotels or other types of development? Walter Gardiner, past board president of the Turks & Caicos Real Estate Association, notes that the developers are following market demand, and the current demand is for condos. And like the word “condominium,” the reasons begin with “C” — cost and convenience.

Gardiner says that as property prices climb, condominiums are attractive as a way for buyers to afford an island home. Resort condominium developments increase that attractiveness by allowing the buyers to make some income from their suites when they are not in residence. Also, the idea of being part of a place run by a management company allows for stress-free visits. “The condo is more carefree, because there’s someone to look after the place when you’re gone.”

As the developers give the market what it wants, he continues, there will be a spill-off effect for other parts of the tourist industry, such as restaurants, shops and tour companies. Eventually, the spill-off will once again boost residential development as those who started out in a condo may decide to build on their own.

Ironically, North Caicos’ “new” interest in condominiums is not really so new after all. In 1982, the island saw the opening of Ocean Beach Condominiums, a 10-unit complex, by Peter Preikschat — an event that predated even the condominiums of Providenciales. “Ocean Beach is the first built condominium in the Turks & Caicos,” Preikschat recently told his daughter Karen, who now manages the complex. “It wasn’t the first registered, but it was the first built.”

Preikschat visited North Caicos for the first time in 1978, not long after the island’s first hotel, the Prospect of Whitby, was opened by Peter Prouding in 1974. Preikschat soon bought land from the Prospect with the intent of building a condominium complex. His reasoning was a combination of the cost factors that still hold good today, plus a variation on the old saw, “There’s safety in numbers,” with the idea of owners being able to pool their resources for maintenance and security. As a builder in Canada, Preikschat had some experience with condominiums, but the concept was a new one for the Islands, and among the early struggles was the effort to get the place registered and bylaws put into place.

That was by no means the only difficulty. North Caicos in those years was a very different place from what it is today. As construction on Ocean Beach began in 1981:

• Preikschat had to run a cable from the Prospect’s generator to get power; Whitby was the last of North Caicos’ communities to receive its own generator.

• Communications were accomplished only by one of four radio phones, including the “bush phone” that was “like talking through a tunnel.” Karen Preikschat recalls speaking with friends in German because otherwise there was no privacy. Only collect calls could be made.

• It took one hour to travel between the site and the airport, because the roads “looked like the moon.”

• A small diesel concrete mixer and a hand-run block machine provided materials for building. No scaffolds existed on island, so Preikschat had his crew build some from wood.

• Ships coming to the Turks & Caicos shared cargo space with the Bahamas, giving the more developed country priority. It took Preikschat three months to get his first shipment of materials to North Caicos, and then he discovered the steel for the project had been lost overboard along the way. There was only one government barge between Provo and North Caicos, and Turks Air arrived just once a week. After the hotel was running, the Preikschats used an Indian freight canoe to get groceries and other goods from Provo.

Peter Preikschat recalls that he lost 50 pounds during construction, but managed to get the first five buildings completed in 13 weeks’ time. Despite the fact that Preikschat, originally from Germany, was a Canadian, the project was a very local one. He relied on his foreman, Johnnie Misick, to handle all personnel matters, and hired local men who had the skills for tile, electrical and plumbing work. The learning curve of going “all local” went both ways. With such slim island resources, Preikschat had to learn a somewhat more improvisational way of building, and the local men were introduced to such new ideas as interior stairs and swimming pool construction.

Preikschat’s wife, Lois, and daughters Karen, Michelle and Veronica would take turns accompanying him on his trips to North Caicos, so that they could attend to his domestic needs and keep him free from having to think about laundry or cooking while plans and construction were underway. Left on their own otherwise, they learned to take advantage of local goings-on, such as impromptu music jams and dances at the schools, during their visits to the island.

The first guests arrived at Ocean Beach in 1982, and 1983 saw the hotel’s first official tourist season. Karen Preikschat, then 22, arrived to manage the place and has stayed ever since. Today, she marvels at how “easy” things seem to be for the developers of St. Charles and Royal Reef.

Those developers wouldn’t entirely agree. Indeed, the challenges they face mirror those of Peter Preikschat — primarily that of getting materials to North Caicos. It may no longer take three months to wait for a shipment, but until large ships can dock at Bellefield, developers must still cope with “tide too low” and other complications of the shippers. Indeed, what any Islander has had to cope with in daily life — no fuel on the island, maybe, or no butter or flour — is being shared by those who would create luxury spots offering reliable Internet service and fresh prosciutto on demand. When asked about their biggest challenges, Paatz, Gillette and Philip Misick, managing director of Belvedere, all replied that getting goods and materials to North Caicos is the biggest frustration.

That will most likely change when the deep water port on North Caicos is complete, but that challenge also binds past and present. And although North Caicos appears to have only recently gone “condo mondo,” on closer examination the island’s story is a circular one. Yesterday’s modest first condominium and today’s mega-buildings share a common dream of affordable, sustainable island living.

The Watermark is distinquishing itself among Grace Bay resort condominiums.

By Kathy Borsuk ~ Renderings Courtesy Apollo Developments

Being a person necessarily surrounded by paper, I’ve always associated the term “watermark” with the translucent design visible when a page of high quality paper is held to the light. It symbolizes a certain elegance and Žlan, a step above a sheet of utilitarian copy machine paper; and its message is sure to be worthy of attention.

In the Turks & Caicos, The Watermark is an aptly named resort-condominium project that is already distinguishing itself on Providenciales shores. Not only is it located on one of the best remaining sites on Grace Bay’s beloved beach, it offers an ideal combination of intimate luxury and investment possibility, and is the country’s first member of The Preferred Hotels & Resorts collection of properties.

The location

The Watermark occupies the last commercial property on Grace Bay’s western flanks, with 400 feet of beachfront for only 52 residences. Here, the beach is especially wide, with a gentle slope into the warm turquoise sea. Less densely developed than central “Gold Coast” sites, The Watermark’s eastern neighbor is another upscale condominium resort, The West Bay Club, and to the west lies 1,200 feet of protected national park land, allowing a luxurious sense of space and tranquility, while preserving views and property values.

In close proximity along the newly paved Lower Bight Road are the marina, restaurants, shopping and boat and diving charters of Turtle Cove Marina, a centerpiece of ever-expanding options. A trip in the opposite direction brings easy access to the supermarket, retail outlets and offices of Graceway Plaza.

And, of course, there is the beach. Nearly twice as wide here than in other areas of the north shore, the sand is fine and white, the expansive views those of azure ocean and show-stopping sunsets. A mere 800 yards away is one of the island’s best snorkeling sites; sailing, windsurfing and kiteboarding in the area are legendary, and 12 miles of unobstructed beachfront await exploration. The Watermark overlooks Sellar’s Cut, the island’s principal boat access through the barrier reef, promising a daily parade of yachts and fishing boats.

Plans are underway to improve the Lower Bight Community Park bordering The Watermark. Landscaped gardens, a small local craft market and a children’s playground will be managed by the nearby government Environmental Center.

The design

“Classic Caribbean style with a contemporary flair,” describes The Watermark’s sleek design, created by one of the Turks & Caicos’ most distinguished architectural firms, Simon Wood Associates (SWA). Blending traditional Bermudian-based design elements such as the curved, peaked roof, white rendering walls and colored shutters with modern, clean lines and the extensive use of glass brings forth an uncomplicated effect of intimate luxury, without formality.

The concept extends to the interiors of the studio, one, two and three bedroom floor plans, artfully arranged in two buildings over five stories. Each residence is beachfront, with ocean views of top priority. Expansive terraces, floor to ceiling windows and sliding glass doors blur the line between indoor and outdoor living. Oceanfront master bedroom “spa suites” introduce ocean view tubs (and glassed shower!) to let your senses soak in the exquisite seaside panorama; other bedrooms are raised with pocket doors to also take advantage of the seascape.

The 3,468 sq. ft. penthouse embraces 100 feet of deck, with a private rooftop pool. Open floor plans in every suite highlight light and space, with a variety of lockout options to maximize rental flexibility. Interiors, artfully created by Florida-based D’Amico Design Associates (DADA), emphasize simplicity and beach tones with the use of built-in appliances and natural wood in furniture, flooring and cabinetry. Units are pre-wired for the latest in communications and entertainment technology, with wireless, high-speed Internet throughout.

The amenities

The Watermark is one of few TCI properties to be designed and built from the beginning as a five-star resort, following the trend set by premium hoteliers such as the Ritz Carlton and The Four Seasons. The property will feature a world-class restaurant with indoor air conditioned and outdoor garden terrace dining, a chic beach bar, and spacious conference facility and business center. It will also include a spa and state-of-the-art fitness center, with four spa suites and a yoga pavilion opening into a tranquil garden retreat, with trickling waterfalls and fountains complementing the murmur of ocean waves and palm trees rustling in the gentle tradewinds.

Making first impressions count, owners and guests arrive at the cantilevered porte cochere and pass through the reception building’s entrance gallery into a sun-drenched central terrace, lushly landscaped with tropical plants. Along with their first, stunning ocean view, guests find the huge, infinity-edge pool, in which floating, palm-tree shaded “leisure islands” offer a signature twist (and unique place to relax). It’s a short stroll along the boardwalk to reach the beach, where lounge chairs and shaded tiki tables await. Pool and beachside catering and towel service make life even easier!

Underground tunnels simplify the transfer of luggage, laundry and room service, with minimal disruption to guests enjoying the peaceful seafront setting.

The developers

For this story, I spoke to Rob Ayer, managing director of Apollo Developments, a group of individual investors who are backing the project. Rob said the group chose the Providenciales location after visiting 16 other countries, including sites in the Bahamas and Nevis. He explains, “We believe that the Turks & Caicos Islands is a very special place, and that Grace Bay is the best beach in the world. The real estate and tourism market is quite vibrant right now, but we were also comfortable with TCI being a stable British territory, with the US dollar as its currency.”

Calling on his expertise in building long-standing, profitable businesses, including commercial development in Canada and the founding of a successful technology company in Seattle, Washington, Rob Ayer, a Canadian citizen and TCI resident, carefully selected a stellar team of local firms to develop and bring The Watermark to fruition. Besides SWA as architect, he chose the long-established company of BCQS Limited as project managers, with Saunders & Co. as legal advisors and Marathon Design Works for advertising and marketing.

The investment

Among the project’s most significant “watermarks” is its partnership with The Preferred Hotels & Resorts collection of properties. Preferred Hotel Group brands over 300 of the finest independent hotels and resorts in 52 countries, including such outstanding sites as Sandy Lane in Barbados, Peter Island in Tortola, BVI, Atlantis in Paradise Islands, the Bahamas, and Amelia Island Plantation Inn in Florida. The collection features over 60,000 hotel rooms and is known internationally for its premier locations and superior standards of quality, service and luxury.

As a result of this branding decision, Ayer explains, The Watermark will benefit from the Preferred Group’s strong marketing engine, global reservations system and high-end data base, which will support high occupancy, premium room rates and even select for a class of guest that is likely to “live lightly” within the rooms. He adds that this association is sure to benefit the entire destination, another indication that TCI is, indeed, “on the map” of luxury destinations world-wide.

With the decision to operate as a branded hotel made early on in The Watermark’s planning process, the developers invested $8 million in “back of the house” features to ensure its optimal running. This includes a dedicated reception area and concierge service. At the same time, the condominiums were designed with maximum flexibility, so they could readily be rented as studio and one bedroom hotel suites, with lock-out features to protect owners’ privacy. Other efficiencies, such as solar water heating, high-efficiency air conditioners and upper-end appliances, will help ensure that owners maximize their return on investment through rentals.

The Watermark will be operated and managed by Prism Hotels, a privately held hospitality company that has overseen projects such as The Hilton Hotel & Spa in Cancun, Mexico, The Marriott Grand Cayman Resort and The Plantation Resort & Golf Course in Crystal River, Florida. Ayer says they chose Prism based on their industry reputation for operational excellence among the hospitality ownership and franchise community.

Richard Sankar, the Prestigious Properties sales agent representing The Watermark, alerts potential investors to The Watermark’s excellent value and potential. He believes the decision on the part of the developer to engage a professional hotel management company early in the development cycle, combined with the resort’s membership in the Preferred Hotel Group will yield significantly higher than normal annual returns. This will differentiate The Watermark from other condo developments on Provo and translate into better appreciation for the buyer.

Ayer believes that The Watermark owners get the best of both worlds. “For their personal enjoyment, they get a luxurious vacation home designed by top architects and interior designers, outfitted with world-class amenities and run by a professional management company. As an investment, it benefits from the proven marketing and operational expertise and rental track record that properties in the Preferred Hotel Group have established. Even by Turks & Caicos’ successful standards, this is a one of a kind opportunity.”

With prices ranging from $450,000 to $2.5 million, by early December 2006 nearly 50% of the units had been sold. Ground-breaking for The Watermark is set for January, 2007, with anticipated completion scheduled for Fall, 2008 in a single phase construction process.

For more information, visit www.thewatermark.tc.

By Kathy Borsuk ~ Renderings Courtesy Windsong Resort

This slogan for a popular perfume commercial kept repeating itself in my head as I wrote this story. That’s likely because thoughts of the Windsong Resort condominium project conjured up the same dreamy, romantic notions as the perfume advertising . . . in this case, referring to a luxurious, carefree lifestyle on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Windsong is among the latest resort condominiums to be built on the western side of acclaimed Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales. It occupies a lengthy swath (450 feet) of sugar-sand beach between The Residences at Coral Gardens and a number of single-family homes. It’s part of a private, peaceful, neighborly enclave, made all the more so by the developers’ decision to limit Windsong to only four stories and 50 condominiums spread over three beachfront buildings.

Windsong is the kind of place where you’ll find a number of niches to feel at home. It might be on a lounge chair sunk into the deep, golden sand outside your door . . . or floating in the warm, tranquil waters with mask and snorkel, watching the lively action of a bustling reef just offshore. On days when you feel like relaxing around a pool, there are two from which to choose: one for quiet contemplation, sunbathing and reading, another for family-inspired fun. Both are front and center to the entrancing view: deep blue sky, glittering turquoise sea, and an extra-wide band of pristine beach. When hunger and thirst strike, satiation is as close as the open air oceanfront cafe. Accessed via a dramatic waterfall bridge and several steps down from the pool deck, diners have underwater views into the pool through a saltwater aquarium. In the evenings, entertainment will focus around the piano bar.

The Windsong offers a choice of one, two and three bedroom condominium suites, ranging in size from 650 to over 4,000 square feet and priced from $450,000 to $2,000,000. With something for everyone (including unbelievable penthouses with open roof decks complete with Jacuzzis), all enjoy outstanding ocean views, enhanced by “disappearing” pocket doors to balconies and terraces for maximum exposure to the magnificent Grace Bay seascape and refreshing tradewinds.

All master bedrooms also boast ocean views through private balconies. Travertine floors offer a visual extension of the indoor-outdoor feel. At the same time, all the details are taken care of. Stucco exteriors and an aluminum roof are well suited to the seaside environment and all buildings include sprinkler systems in case of fire. Many units are also designed with lock-out studios, to help owners earn a rental income when they are not in residence.

Molter & Company, an award-winning real estate project management firm, leads the development of Windsong Resort. Well-known as one of the preeminent development and construction firms in South Florida, the company combines a decade of hospitality management with over 20 years of real estate development, with projects ranging from luxury oceanfront villas, waterfront condominiums, single family homes and townhouses to clubhouses and marinas. Under the leadership of Jim Molter, the company has earned a long-standing reputation for innovative design, quality craftsmanship, sensitivity to community and environmental concerns and financial integrity.

Jim Molter is Windsong’s developer, and will serve as its resident manager once the doors open early in 2008. With a friendly, down to earth manner that complements his extensive knowledge of construction and hospitality management, Molter’s attitude mirrors the charm and intimacy only made possible in a smaller development with an on-site manager.

He enthusiastically describes a number of enhancements that will welcome residents and guests with open arms. “We have an elevator that will travel directly between the reception building and guest rooms, to make it easy to transport luggage, groceries, gear. There’s convenient underground parking and individual, secured storage spaces for residents. We have an open air pavilion that’s ideal for weddings and family gatherings and a business/conference center to cater to the small meetings market. Our spa and wellness center is a great place to unwind and de-stress.”

Most importantly, Molter wants Windsong to feel like a warm, welcoming home in the tropics, an echo of the way “old Provo” used to be. Towards this end, he says “I’m planning lots of special events to bring together guests, residents and our local neighbors, things like themed buffet nights at the pavilion, movie screenings in the conference rooms and game nights.” In spite of its peaceful location, Windsong is close-by to a number of excellent restaurants and the supermarket and within easy driving distance to the airport, shopping areas and the Provo Golf & Country Club.

Molter says that plans for Windsong have been in the making since 1999, when the land was purchased along with a residential home on site that is currently being used as the sales office. Windsong’s lovely design, blending sophisticated architecture with casual, carefree waterfront living, was created by the architectural firm of Peacock + Lewis, best known for their innovative golf course clubhouse designs in the southeastern United States. They teamed up with Conservative Architects, headed by TCI native Anthony Walkin, who provides knowledge and skill in working with the various local agencies. Landscaping is designed and implemented by Sages and Company, a Florida-based landscaper with over 25 years of experience in high-end residential estates and condominiums, specializing in landscape “themes” that complement a project’s architectural details. Construction by locally based JACA TCI Ltd. started in May 2006.

To date, over 70% of the units have been sold, many to savvy investors who anticipate an excellent return, not only due to property appreciation, but also to a well-managed rental property. But besides the financial incentives, an investment in Windsong is also an investment in your well-being: sun, sea, sand and a Windsong lifestyle will see to that!

For more information, visit www.windsongresort.com

By Kathy Borsuk

It doesn’t seem fair. These days, a sun, sand and sea drenched lifestyle in the Turks & Caicos Islands, especially on Providenciales, appears reserved for the rich (and/or famous). A glance through the local real estate association’s magazine turns up beachfront condominium prices typically well over the million dollar mark (and rising each quarter). In fact, one local realtor estimates that over the last five years the average unit price for Grace Bay condominiums has increased over 150%, from $531,000 to $1,395,000.

Have investors who don’t feel comfortable paying such prices been left out in the cold?

Fortunately, some developers are beginning to carve a niche for luxury condominium projects that are close to, but not directly on, the beach. This simple distinction can make the properties more affordable, opening up the possibility of a Caribbean vacation get-away, retirement and/or offshore investment to folks whose net worth may not be astronomical. The Villa del Mar Hotel and Resort is one such development.

The Villa del Mar holds a well-positioned “off the beach” location in Grace Bay. Its two acre site is directly south of the prestigious Grace Bay Club, with a palm-lined beach access walkway adjoining the grounds. From here, it’s a short and enjoyable stroll to world-famous Grace Bay Beach, with its sugar-soft sand and shimmering turquoise waters. At the same time, Villa del Mar’s prime Grace Bay address puts you within easy reach of many of the island’s top restaurants, several shopping plazas, spas and the Provo Golf & Country Club, as well many business offices.

Although there’s plenty to do along the “Gold Coast,” you might not want to leave home. Villa del Mar’s architects and planners conspired to create an enclave of tropical comfort, with all the amenities of a four-star resort. The three, four story residence buildings are designed in Spanish Mediterranean style, with classic pilasters, curving arches, an abundance of balconies and attractive clay tile roofs. Each suite overlooks the wide central courtyard, across which curves a sinuous pool surrounded by extensive decking and tropical landscaping. (Bathers enter this unique pool by walking in straight from the pool deck. The bottom gradually slopes down, letting you lounge in shallow water or wade down to deeper water for a swim.) Destined to become THE spot for relaxing and enjoying the indolent climate, this locus also includes a tiki hut entertaining area for socializing and an air conditioned exercise pavilion housing a well equipped gym.

Only 42 suites are available – 18 deluxe studios, 18 one bedroom suites with dens and 6 penthouses. All are furnished in upscale fashion, with “indoors” embracing the “outdoors” with large, window-lined balconies and terraces, featuring sliding glass doors. Care in planning is obvious, with features on par with those of more expensive properties, including travertine floor tiles, custom lighting and ceiling fans, Kohler faucets, custom cabinets and marble-topped vanities, owner’s closets, breakfast bars and separate showers and bathtubs. One bedroom suites include a stainless steel appliance package of range, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher, while studio suites are furnished with a bar refrigerator and microwave. Complete furniture packages are also available.

Villa del Mar is ultimately intended to operate as a four star resort, offering well appointed rooms at very attractive prices. With Grace Bay evolving as the island’s business and tourism center, the suites are expected to be popular with business people looking for comfortable rooms that are close to their meetings and fine dining, as well as families and couples during their diving, fishing, golf and beach vacations. For owners seeking investment opportunities, this means certain income potential through a managed rental program, which includes an on-site management and concierge office.

Other well thought out features, including trellis-shaded parking areas, all-concrete construction and elevator access, speak to the experience of the project’s development consultants, The Kaitlin Group of Toronto, Canada. Kaitlin’s core business is land development, typically conceiving and executing a project from start to finish. To date, they can boast of 25 developments completed or well underway, including waterfront vacation properties and golf and resort communities.

The astute team chose Providenciales for their first foray into the Caribbean after researching a number of locations. The up and coming island met their most important criteria, including being a safe and inviting location with beautiful beaches, easy air access from many countries and an abundance of fine dining and sporting activities.

Greg Greatrex, representing TCI-based Temple Group, was appointed to assemble the local development team, including TCI-based engineers, designers and builders, to ensure the resort’s construction is handled flawlessly. With over 1/2 of the units sold in the first 60 days of offer, Greatrex urges interested investors to act quickly, as Villa del Mar is among the last pre-construction properties available in this prime area. With prices starting around $400,000 and expected to follow the area’s strong upward trend, this prime investment opportunity will not last long. Construction is anticipated to start by November, 2006, for completion in the fall of 2008.