Indigo Bay Estates to save
trees, keep light low for turtle
CAY BAY--Indigo Bay Estates, a 148-acre property under development, hopes to become an environmental model for other projects to follow by heeding environmental concerns such as saving indigenous trees and installing low lighting to encourage turtles to come ashore.
Prepping of the land for infrastructural work begins today, Monday. The official groundbreaking is set for July 8. The first phase of work will take a year and the first units will be turned over to buyers in the summer of 2009.
Extra equipment has been added to complement the existing agreement between Indigo Bay and United Federation St. Maarten Heavy Equipment Operators, represented by Etienne “Tochie” Myers.
Archaeologist Dr. Jay Haviser of St. Maarten Archaeological Centre, who has been contracted to conduct a survey, is already at work on the property to locate and collect any artefacts of interest.
In a press release, Project General Manager Steve Smith said, “Although natural amphitheatre terrain provides unique challenges, it will ensure that the vast majority of the future residents enjoy magnificent ocean views.”
Plans are underway to save indigenous trees on site by transplanting them to a temporary nursery, then replanting them on site when the infrastructure is complete.
Smith said, “The indigenous trees and plants we are saving will be supplemented with lush tropical foliage and other landscaping to create the greenest development in this region of the Caribbean.”
Indigo Bay Estates will mirror recommendations for environmental groups, according to Smith. “Indigo Bay will reuse many of the recycled by-products into the landscape zones. All this will help alleviate the burden on existing island services.”
The project will make use of energy-efficient technologies, recycle wastewater for irrigation, and install a “smokeless burn” unit to dispose trash.
Lighting on the replenished beach will be altered and surrounding areas protected to encourage turtles to come back to nest, added Smith, who has been associated with St. Maarten for 15 years.
Expressing his view on combining nature and development to work effectively together, Smith said Indigo Bay would not look like any other developments in the area. “It will be low density and homes within the complex will complement the natural beauty of the land. Parking space will be in abundance, but most of that will be underground and out of sight.”
Though a gated community, the estates will have public access. “Our goal is to provide an environment where people can live, work, and safely relax in an eco-friendly environment unrivalled in our region.”
The pre-sales programme has exceeded expectations and sales are running ahead of schedule. Smith said people who have seen the project can rest assured that the final vision will be in line with the site plan.
Indigo Bay has made plans to donate land to the government for the new link roadway expected to go through Cay Bay to alleviate traffic on Cole Bay Hill and surrounding areas.
Indigo Bay’s architectural theme is classified as “English Tropical.” Using varied tones of white, the entire valley will have a Bermudian Hillside Village feel with splashes of Charleston, South Carolina and Key West. A mixture of condos, townhouses, and single family villas will be built surrounded by hiking trails, sidewalks, recreational facilities and parking space.
Plans are being finalised to announce the property’s name associated with a well-known resort.
Local contractors and businesses that want to offer services for the project can deliver their information to Century 21 Island Realty in Simpson Bay, the exclusive sales agency.
Information about Indigo Bay can also be found at www.indigo-bay.com. The website will be updated in the coming weeks with even more information.
