The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

DEVELOPERS behind Eleuthera’s French Leave Resort and Marina say that they hope to have a “quiet opening” this November with the launch of four cottages and several amenities, adding that investment in the project to-date was approaching $8m.

Eddie Lauth, chief executive of Shaner Capital, the financing arm of French Leave operator/developer the Shaner Corporation, told Tribune Business: “Right now we have the fourth hotel cottage under construction. The first three were completed just about last November but we have been unable to use them because we don’t have power to the site. “BEC was on site for a little bit this week but we haven’t heard anything yet. We are hoping to get power this week and if we get power this week, hopefully we won’t have any further delays for a planned quiet opening for November of this year.”

Mr Lauth added: “We’re expecting the 1648 Bar and Grill, the fitness, the gift shop and reception, the events plaza, the events lawn, the wedding pavilion and marina slips, maintenance, laundry and generator for all back-up power to be included in that phase.

“All the underground utilities are and the stone pathways are all in. We are still completing the parking areas. We have the road which will go from the harbour village to French Leave Beach. Additional landscaping is to be completed so we still have quite a bit of work between now and November but as of right now we are still on schedule for a November opening.”

Mr Lauth explained that the 1648 Bar and Grill, which will seat between 80 and 100, will be open to guests as well as the public, adding that the resort’s fitness centre would also offer special membership to locals.

“We will have the pool, which will be for hotel guests only, and a special events lounge and a special events plaza with the wedding pavilion. We will be able to start doing special events beginning in November as well.

“Each hotel cottage, which are two two bedrooms and two one bedrooms, that we will open up, each one will come with its own golf cart for beach access only. In November we are also hoping to open with a facility for our yacht slips which we will be able to accommodate. We should be able to accommodate five to eight yachts. All the utilities are also in place for the two mega yacht slips which can accommodate yachts up to 180 feet. All the underground utilities for power and water is already at those two slips,” said Mr Lauth.

Mr Lauth said that the developer was awaiting government approval to commence construction of the first two hotel cottages on French Leave South Beach. “We are also planning to start the first two hotel cottage on French Leave South Beach, which is the southern end of French Leave Beach. We are waiting to get our amended hotel agreement to be able to start that as well,” said Mr Lauth.

Mr Lauth noted that phase one of the project would include 11 cottages, with an additional 19 in phase two. “The entire build-out plan is 30 hotel cottages as well as the infrastructure. It’s our intention to continue building cottages right along the seafront.”