
Great Harbour Cay is the major island in the north Berry Islands, approximately 50 miles NNW of Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas located on New Providence Island. The available inventory of undeveloped and/or unsold property includes:
- Airport with 4,575 foot runway, arrival & customs building, and commercial center adjacent.
- Marina with 80 slips for craft from 30 to 120 feet with facilities, shops and restaurants.
- 18 hole golf course (routing plan and base) and club house (structural components only). Driving range, tennis area and Villa sites included.
- Potable Water Utility with Water & Sewer Franchise.
- Fuel dock and warehouse.
- 1800+/- platted lots by updated inventory of 7/21/98, of which approximately 775 are considered "available" and the balance designed for future development.
- Beach club area with snack bar.
- Major Resort Hotel site.
- Undeveloped Haines Cay with 3.5 miles of beach front readily accessable from Great Harbour by bridge or ferry Private island exclusive resort site (Hawksnest).
- Commercial sites.
- 30 "Private Island" sites on 8 smaller cays.
Great Harbour underwent a period in intense and successful development
in the late 1960's when famous persons such as Cary Grant, Douglas
Fairbanks, Jr., and Brigitte Bardot vacationed there. Development
lagged and then stopped in the late 1970's and the island has been
quiet since that time. The recently elected Bahamian government
has made a sincere effort to revive the tourism based industry (especially
on the outer islands) and great progress has been made and interest
rekindled in the smaller islands.
The natural beauty of this island chain is extraordinary. Great Harbour Cay has 7 miles of ocean front beaches that include isolated enclaves, caverns, and open expanses. Haines Cay has 3.5 miles of beaches. At the point of closest approach of Haines, Great Harbour, and Hawksnest, there are 10 to 15 acres of white sand shallows with star fish, sand dollars, and other shallow water creatures. Such an area is perfect for a family oriented development that could include Hawksnest as a "couples only" enclave. Combined with the renovated golf course which will be one of the very finest in the Bahamas, the full service marina, and other island attractions of fishing, diving, tennis, the island is poised for a major renaissance. Local inhabitants will welcome such activities, and their town, restaurants, and local shops will add to the island experience.
Certain actions must be taken immediately, such as repaving of the airport and repair and renovation of the water utility. The existing routing plan for the golf course is excellent, having been originally designed by Joe Lee and constructed by Golf Force, the Jack Nicklaus construction company. A small hotel should be begun immediately to provide lodging for the initial visitors and guests, and 60 rooms are proposed adjacent to the beach club.
The ability to provide the full spectrum of resort amenities for the projected cost is unique for any property this close to the United States. That all infrastructure and amenities can be delivered to a full scale development within 1 hour of Florida by small aircraft for less than the asking price of raw land on other islands makes this a truly unique opportunity.
The existing "Heads of Agreement" between the current developer and the Bahamian government specifies tax and import duty relief for tourism oriented projects. There is also a grant from the Bahamian government for several of the smaller neighboring cays. All agreements, schedules, grants, licenses, and permits will need to be validated and/or reconfirmed by the various governmental agencies as a condition precedent to closing. In addition, a certified chain of title and title insurance must be achieved for the individual lots. Extensive due diligence will be needed to verify that the buyer is indeed receiving clear title to the various assets.
The Bahamas is becoming a recognized international financial hub based upon its favorable personal taxes (zero sales tax, and no taxes on income or estates). It is expected to attract residents from around the world, and Great Harbour Cay will be poised to attract its share of residents and guests based upon its full range of amenities. |