By Kathy Borsuk

When Phillip Misick was brainstorming for a name for North Caicos’ first condominium resort development, it was his father Charles that came to mind. “My dad was a founding member of the Turks & Caicos Islands Progressive National Party (PNP), served for over 15 years in the Legislative Council and was committed to our family,” he recalls. “This was the best way I could think of to honor him.” And so the upmarket project currently being erected on one of North Caicos’ loveliest beaches became the St. Charles.

North Caicos, located 12 miles northeast of Providenciales, bears little resemblance to its bustling neighbor. Life on the lush “Garden Isle” is still slow-paced and gentle, its peaceful silence broken only by the voice of nature . . . a splash of wave on a deserted beach, the wind’s whisper through a pine, the throaty gobble of a Cuban crow. Freshwater ponds dot the landscape and flamingos and other rare birds make their nests in the protected wetlands. The 1,400 or so residents live simply in the style of their ancestors, dining well on the harvest of the sea, vegetables from field plots and tropical fruits plucked from trees growing in their yards. To first-time visitors, this step back into the joy of natural beauty and tranquility is a potent attraction. To Turks & Caicos aficionados, it’s a reminder of the days when Provo was still young.

Horsestable Beach, North CaicosThe St. Charles enjoys 500 feet of uninterrupted frontage on Horsestable Beach, centrally located along the island’s north shore and ankle-deep in pristine white sand. Each of the resort’s 90 one, two and three bedroom condominiums enjoys the spectacular sea view, with generous balconies poised to position “the perfect hue of blue” as a major feature of the decor.

Principal developer Phillip Misick has for many years wanted to bring such a project to his home island. When his first opportunity came about 12 years ago, it was simply too soon. Now, with most of the prime beachfront on Providenciales sold and/or under development and real estate prices there in the stratosphere, North Caicos has become a reasonable alternative. When approached to sell the Horsestable Beach property in his role as managing director of Prestigious Properties, Misick decided to assemble a group of investors and develop the fabulous 8.5 acre site himself.

An admirer of the style and layout of the distinctive Turks & Caicos Club in Providenciales, Misick asked its architect Anthony Walkin, president of the local firm Conservative Architects, to join his development team. The St. Charles design, Walkin says, “reinterprets classic island style in contemporary materials and construction techniques” and includes many functional elements, such as hurricane-resistant glass and ceiling fans in every room, that come from intimate knowledge of the Islands. The Johnston Group are building the St. Charles, bringing to the table nearly 25 years of construction experience in the Turks & Caicos and successful work on Misick’s last project, the Alexandra Resort & Spa.

Residences at the St. Charles will be in six, four story buildings, strategically positioned for the best ocean views and maximum exposure to the refreshing tradewinds. Floor plans are designed for an easy, open traffic flow that suits a laid-back Caribbean lifestyle. Whether one, two, three bedroom or penthouse, each unit has one or more private terraces fronting the living/dining areas and, in corner units, the master bedrooms. Three bedroom suites can be divided into self-contained studios and two bedroom groupings to expand rental options.

Although North Caicos is beloved for its rustic charm, Phillip Misick says the St. Charles owners and guests will have the best of both worlds, with unrivaled luxury and convenience. Residences are fully furnished with the owners’ choice of fine furniture collections and appointed in every detail, from china and silverware to bed and bath linens, with central air conditioning, Bose sound systems, large-screen Sony televisions and built-in Internet connections. Upscale design features include Travertine marble floors throughout, granite kitchen countertops and marble in the bathrooms, stainless steel G.E. and KitchenAid appliances and Kohler and Moen fixtures. The carefree life includes everything from 24 hour security to housekeeping and maintenance.

With most St. Charles owners expected to include their condominiums in the resort rental pool, the property’s amenities rival those of Providenciales’ finest offerings. Buildings encircle a huge freeform beachfront swimming pool, complete with a center island oasis of sunning areas and a hot tub, a separate kid’s pool and a swim-up bar and grill. Elevated observation decks let beachgoers enjoy the sweeping view up and down the coast, while tiki huts offer a shaded respite from the sun. Nestled among the property’s acres of fragrant gardens are a restaurant/bar, tennis courts and croquet lawn, full spa and fitness center, dive shop, grocery store and laundromat. Guests are greeted by bellmen under the porte-cochere at the reception center, where a full time concierge can help fill guests’ “to do” lists.

Not that there is a lack of activities on North Caicos (besides a favored pastime of “chilling out.”) Water enthusiasts will thrill to snorkeling and scuba diving on unexplored reefs and sailing or kayaking in the azure seas. Fishing for tarpon and bonefish in nearby ponds and flats is superb, with deep sea and reef fishing another option. Many visitors scooter or bicycle along the island’s paved roads, exploring the haunting colonial cotton plantation ruins at Wade’s Green or exotic flamingo flocks at Flamingo Pond. Small restaurants and bars tucked away in each settlement offer a chance to socialize with friendly North Caicos natives and the celebrity hideaway of Parrot Cay is nearby for a day’s outing among the rich and famous.

Construction of the first buildings started in January 2005, under the ongoing logistical challenge of getting materials and equipment to the site. Currently, all imported items arrive at Provo’s South Dock, are transported the length of the island to Heaving Down Rock, sailed by barge to Bellefield Landing in North Caicos and trucked to the site east of Whitby! Tides affect the process, Misick explains, and the barge can be delayed by untimely low tides. Fortunately, the planned deep water port will make the project’s last phases somewhat easier.

Nevertheless, Misick is pleased to report that the project is on schedule to complete the first phase (one oceanfront building, the pool and service areas) for occupancy in Spring 2006. Phase two, which includes buildings two and three and the reception area, main restaurant and spa and fitness center, will begin construction in early 2006, with completion in about one year.

Ironically, it’s already fairly hard to buy into the project. Phase one is nearly sold out, with offerings of the second phase not scheduled to be released until March 2006. Of the initial purchasers, Misick says some are first-time visitors from the US and Europe who are attracted by North Caicos’ peaceful charms; others are TCI residents or long-time visitors who especially appreciate the seclusion and privacy now lacking on Provo and look forward to being “ahead of the curve” of investment appreciation. In fact, pre-construction buyers have already netted a substantial return, as prices for the remaining units have increased dramatically. With quality and amenities comparable to many of Grace Bay’s beachfront condominium developments, prices are still about 40% lower than on Provo.

Misick says he expects values to continue to climb, as future plans for North Caicos come to fruition. Besides the port, road and airport improvements, he alludes to a possible direct Ft. Lauderdale air link and on-island customs and immigration clearance for visitors. He adds, “As the St. Charles and other resort projects open, services on North Caicos will continue to expand, especially shopping and dining options.” That, in turn, will spur construction of luxury residential homes on the many privately held sites within the next five to ten years. He suspects that real estate prices will reflect the scarcity of available land for sale already being experienced.

Phillip Misick is proud to bring development of the scale of the $70 million St. Charles project to his community. He explains, “This type of project is long overdue. It will give the North Caicos population jobs ‘at home,’ so they don’t have to travel to Parrot Cay or Provo for work. It will also expand the base of goods and services here and attract visitors who may not have planned to stay on North Caicos due to a lack of lodging, including local government officials and businesspersons. It opens up a wealth of opportunities for small businesses to cater to resort guests, too. All of these elements can only benefit the local economy. Everyone I know is eager for the St. Charles to open.”

North Caicos is currently accessed via inter-island aircraft or boat from Providenciales. The airstrip is paved and open to private planes.

For more information on St. Charles condominiums, call Prestigious Properties at (649) 946-4379 or visit www.stcharlestci.com.