New Development

Fit for a Queen:

qarenderingQueen Angel Condominium Resort
By Kathy Borsuk

Not everyone chooses to live beachfront, especially as prices for such properties on Providenciales escalate into the stratosphere. Investor representative Cosmo Kerr has long recognized the need for reasonably priced condominium suites in a prime location that offers panoramic views, a range of amenities and easy beach access. He believes that the new Queen Angel luxury condominium resort offers all of that and more.

Queen Angel Rendering

The Queen Angel rises majestically on a sloping hilltop property just southeast of Turtle Cove. Views from the site sweep across Providenciales’ north shore, encompassing the picturesque Turtle Cove Marina and superb sunsets over the ocean-etched horizon. Upper floor suites boast 360 degree views that revolve over the island’s southern shores and cays. Steady tradewinds ensure that the elevated resort enjoys a comfortable breeze year-round.

Its central location above Turtle Cove — Providenciales’ original tourist mecca — allows Queen Angel owners and guests to walk to no fewer than six restaurant/bars, an array of watersports, fishing and boating operators at the marina and a selection of shops and services. The Queen Angel’s beach access road leads directly to the golden sands of the 13-mile long north shore Grace Bay Beach; plans are to landscape this lane to create an attractive beachfront path.

In keeping with its tropical, seaside theme, the Queen Angel’s three residential buildings are aptly named the Mahi-Mahi, Amber Jack and Eagle Ray. Cunningly placed on the 2.6 acre site to ensure the best views, the 56 units on three levels include studio, one bedroom, deluxe one bedroom and two bedroom suites, with sizes ranging from 658 sq. ft. to 1,446 sq. ft. for the upper level penthouses. Completed suites are move-in ready, outfitted with everything required for tropical comfort, including large private balconies with oversize sliding glass doors; split level air-conditioning and ceiling fans; ceramic floors and wall tiles; eight-piece kitchen appliances; Kohler bathroom fixtures, in-unit washer/dryers; private closet safes; multi-port telephones and cable TV/satellite dish conduits.

While the building design reflects a romantic Colonial/Spanish influence, the interiors function to bring the out-of-doors inside. Kitchens overlook bright and open living areas with balcony views of either ocean vistas or lush tropical gardens. Larger units boast ensuite baths (some with deep soaking tubs), breakfast counters and walk-in closets. Complete furniture packages are included in the price.

The Queen Angel also provides for the recreational needs of its guests. Buildings are grouped around a large central pool and outdoor Jacuzzi, surrounded by an expansive deck and connected by a series of gently winding garden paths. The fine dining restaurant and informal cabana bar and grille feature prime ocean views and there is also an on-site spa and fitness center. A secure, gated entranceway and ample guest parking are other tasteful touches.

Cosmo says he envisions the Queen Angel attracting a wide cross-section of the market. “First of all, as a clean, modern, European-style (not all-inclusive) resort with highly competitive rates, it will appeal to the middle-range guest, such as vacationers on a budget and business travelers. I also anticipate condominium purchases by companies who conduct a lot of business in the Islands; it would be an affordable and appreciated way to house staff and entertain clients. We’ll also be targeting business conferences and group meetings. Finally, I believe that local residents would enjoy living at the Queen Angel — I certainly plan to! Condominiums offer low-maintenance, exceptionally secure housing and the Queen Angel’s prices, especially pre-construction, are still affordable.”

In fact, Kerr believes the Queen Angel makes an excellent investment for several reasons. “The property will be professionally managed as a resort hotel, so owners will benefit from a rental income. Because we are targeting business travelers, we anticipate high occupancy rates year-round, not just in the peak winter/spring tourist seasons. And because of the property’s excellent location, the investment can only continue to increase in value.” It seems that many agree with Kerr’s assessment — about 1/5 of the units are already sold.

Kerr, a sales associate at RE/MAX TCI Ltd., can take credit for much of the Queen Angel concept. A group of Canadian and American investors owned the land for several years, and asked for Cosmo’s advice on developing it. They agreed with his ideas, attracted more investors to the project, and have put much of the responsibility for managing its development into Cosmo’s hands. “This,” he says, “has been a fantastic learning experience, going through everything from government procedures to creating marketing materials.” He adds that there is much interest in the project among the Turtle Cove community, who view the new hotel as an opportunity to revitalize the area.

qagroundbreakingQueen Angel Groundbreaking

In putting together the construction team, Cosmo chose from among skilled local talent. Architect Kevin Been finalized the initial drawings, Chal Misick is project engineer and contractor Princie Harris will do the building. Norman Saunders Jr. is the project lawyer. Ground-breaking was in late November, 2003, with construction to take place in one phase over the next two years.

For more information, contact Cosmo Kerr at (649) 941-3394 or 231-0042 or e-mail cosmo@tciway.tc.

Toscana on Grace Bay

By Kathy Borsuk

What does the Caribbean island of Providenciales have in common with the timeless countryside of northern Italy? More than you might think. Both share an ethereal golden light and proximity to brilliantly hued turquoise seas and refreshing breezes that carry the tang of salt. Italy’s Tuscany region is often described as the wellspring of Italian culture, from where Renaissance art originated — a tangent to Providenciales’ own development Renaissance. And soon, there will be a slice of Tuscany in the Turks & Caicos.

Toscana on Grace Bay is one of the island’s newest proposed condominium resort developments. A collaborative effort between U.S.-based City Bay Developers, the architectural firm of Netta International and local designer Mike Fenimore of Innovative Interiors, the team says they’ve dedicated the last three years to researching just the right location, concept and design that would appeal to the upscale market they wish to attract. Toscana is located directly to the west of Coral Gardens on a wide stretch of ivory beach that fronts the White House Reef snorkeling trail.

The developers believe that the Toscana experience will be truly original to the Islands. “We want our owners and guests to feel like they are in a northern Italian village. Everything at Toscana will support this theme.” Architect Nicholas Netta has re-created a typical Tuscan piazza (long central plaza) around which the buildings are grouped. Offering a magnificent vista to the sea through a gracefully arched breezeway, the piazza’s highlight is a series of infinity edge pools that lead towards a beachfront oasis with a swim-up bar and restaurant. Another prominent feature is a sculptured fountain, the centerpiece around which life at Toscana revolves. Diners in either the trattoria or casual espresso/gelato cafe can enjoy outdoor dining, vibrant with the sights, smells and sounds of a seaside Tuscany town. Jacuzzi spas and private alcoves will offer quiet places for reflection under the dappled shadows of lofty palms.

Toscana’s gated entrance leads to the Grand Villa, reminiscent of an Italian country estate. Besides serving as the reception lobby, with a signature two-story atrium, it will house an internationally acclaimed wellness spa and fitness center, as well as a formal restaurant and shops offering the latest fashions, jewelry and sundries.

Condominium suites occupy six, four story buildings on the rectangular, 4 1/2 acre site. Utilizing Mediterranean design elements, including arches and columns, and the earth-toned colors of ochre and sienna, the elevator-serviced buildings house massive 2,500 sq. ft., two-bedroom suites that could very well be the secret retreats of nobles for which areas of Italian Tuscany were known. Nick Netta explains the advantages of the design, “We made each suite into a corner unit to take advantage of the wonderful views across Grace Bay. The open floor plans lead seamlessly onto expansive private balconies that wrap around each unit, inviting the splendor of the outdoors into your private living area.”

Interiors are of superior quality, utilizing travertine marble, custom milled cabinetry, solid granite countertops and an assortment of custom hardware and fixtures. Says Mike Fenimore, “We want to allow our buyers the freedom to express their personal style in every detail.”

Besides working to ensure that the Toscana’s atmosphere evokes its Tuscany namesake, the developers say that service is a top priority. “We know that our upscale clientele value first-rate service and careful attention to detail and our goal is to meet the standards of the world’s finest luxury resorts.” Other amenities will include an on-site sports center, offering truly island-style activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing and horseback riding.

Toscana on Grace Bay is represented by Landmark Realty Ltd., an established local firm led by Doug Fenimore. He anticipates strong pre-construction sales, limited to a first-come, first-choice basis offered under a risk-free reservation policy. He believes, as do most savvy investors, that pre-construction purchasing offers maximum returns. Owners can also profit from renting their units when they are not using them. In support, Toscana will offer professional on-site management and an international marketing and reservations system.

For more information, contact Doug Fenimore at (649) 946-5118 or via e-mail at landmark@tciway.tc. Or, visit the Toscana sales center located at the beach off Penns Road.

The Waterfront. . . the evolution of lifestyle

By Kathy Borsuk ~ Artwork courtesy Simon Wood Associates

function is often best defined by simplicity . . .
The natural world is rich in examples . . . the sheer strength of a spider’s web; the aerodynamic curve of a bird’s wing; the explosive speed invoked by a shark’s powerful tail.

The Waterfront is a cutting-edge new condominium development that melds the concept of functional simplicity with the pristine natural environment of the Turks & Caicos Islands. The result is an evolution of lifestyle matched in few places on earth.

The Waterfront Aerial ShotThe Waterfront occupies nearly seven acres north of Providenciales’ Leeward Marina, with 700 feet of water frontage on Leeward-Going-Through Channel. In this pristine natural environment, describing the colors of the landscape gets tricky. “Turquoise” only hints at the sea’s intense blue tones; “verdant green” doesn’t quite capture the brilliant hues of the mangrove backdrop. The only answer, believe The Waterfront’s developers, is to keep the living spaces elegantly simple, and let nature speak for itself.

And nature has much say in The Waterfront experience. Views from the residences stretch beyond the channel to encompass the nature reserves of Little Water Cay, Mangrove Cay and the Caicos Banks. Fragrant sea breezes tinged with the hint of pine waft across the site, and the sound of seagulls punctuates the soothing lap of waves over the textured ironshore. Nature allows The Waterfront to serve as a sanctuary for unraveling the senses and replenishing the soul.

The Waterfront is being developed by James Slattery, Managing Director of The Waterfront Company Ltd. Simon Wood Associates are the architects and designers, with Connolly Zahm Properties, led by Joe Zahm, acting as the exclusive sales and marketing agent and management consultant. This group’s previous triumph was the creation of Point Grace, one of Providenciales’ original five-star properties and still the standard bearer by which suitors are judged. The Waterfront offers a somewhat different experience . . . a new island chic . . in both attitude and architecture.

Joe Zahm explains, “We see The Waterfront appealing to the hip and trendy upscale traveler who is searching for a design-driven property providing good value and an active lifestyle based around the water.” Poised at the gateway to the Caicos Cays, The Waterfront is an ideal location for people who enjoy boating, diving, fishing or simply exploring the Islands’ rich ecosystems.

The Waterfront’s architecture is trend-setting as well. Christened TiMo (Turks Island Modern) by the developer, it blends elements of the country’s traditional Bermudian-based style with a clean, sleek, modern design, resulting in a tropical minimalism that well suits The Waterfront concept. Rory Stevens, representing SWA Ltd., explains, “TiMo’s clean lines and simple forms mirror the vivid beauty of the environment in which the play of light and bold coloring of fauna, sky, sea and sand form the primaries in the landscape. In framing themselves against the typically cloudless sky, the heavy white-washed walls appear to deepen rather than detract from this brilliant blue, while subtly reflecting the changing colors of the day and providing a clean canvas for the continuous dance of bright light and cool shade. Precise use of render, stone, glass and timber provide a palette of textured surfaces to complete the sensory experience.”

He notes that while TiMo embraces the traditional forms of local architecture, driven primarily by the exacting climatic conditions of the Islands, it is also sensitive of the lifestyle requirements and materials of a 21st century development. “There is a greater use of glass and steel alongside more traditional materials such as stone and timber, which are manipulated to suit the contemporary style. By example, the use of rough hewn timber poles may be reminiscent of the Islands’ original vernacular (think Arawak homesteads), but their application will emphasize the development’s intention to be appropriately modern.”

The Waterfront InteriorAn Asian minimalist philosophy of “less is more,” shapes The Waterfront interiors. Black slate floors and sheer walls of glass frame the environment and the innovative use of space floods the rooms with light and sea breezes. Zahm is excited about SWA’s unique design of the studio apartments. “By using glazed walls around a triangular shaped bathroom in the middle of the suite, the space is divided into separate living and sleeping areas without losing any of the light flowing in from the entry and terrace areas.” James Slattery points to the functional simplicity of every element in the apartments, from the modular furniture and built-in dressers and cabinetry to unique bathroom fixtures. He says, “We want each element to be thought-provoking and the living experience to be sybaritic.”

Expertly located across The Waterfront property is a central hotel with reception area, concierge and Internet lounge and three condominium residence buildings, including signature studios, one bedrooms and flexible two and three bedroom lock-out suites. (Owners can include these suites in the rental program and a comprehensive management plan is offered.)

Shared by residents and guests are a sandy beach cove, two waterfront pools, a floating dock and boat slips along the channel. An active lifestyle is further encouraged with a fitness center, spa and tennis court, with dive shops and watersports charters a stroll away.

Stylistic, cutting-edge and appealing to a high-tempo crowd is the best way to describe The Waterfront’s dining, entertainment and shopping areas. Rory Stevens adds, “We see these areas as a magnet for residents, guests and the island population to enjoy a relaxed, yet youthful experience.”

Oasis Construction will build The Waterfront. They have emerged as a TCI builder of choice, the result of ongoing success at providing a high quality product without losing sight of the finishing touches. Ground-breaking is anticipated for mid-2004, with the project expected to be completed in over two years.

With an average price in the $300,000 range, its developers believe that The Waterfront offers a viable waterfront alternative to beachfront property. And with style, substance and function coordinated to succeed on all levels, The Waterfront is a step away from tradition that sets its own precedent.

For more information, visit www.thewaterfront.tc



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Gary James at Provo Pictures (www.provopictures.com) used a drone to photograph this bird’s-eye view of Dragon Cay off Middle Caicos. It perfectly captures the myriad of colors and textures that make God’s works of art in nature so captivating.

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