The Tribune

A leading real estate broker has called for Nassau to be viewed as a city, where its occupants now have to build up rather than out.

“Build up, not out, and provide for green space and harbour views,” said Mario Carey, founder and president of MCR. “We have always treated Nassau with kid gloves; as if it were a small village that needed coddling, afraid to touch the height of buildings while allowing windows, doors and other architectural elements to change so much that most structures would no longer qualify for an historic register.

“So we are caught in a time warp; pretending to protect and failing to move forward.”

Mr Carey said the time has come to look at Nassau with a view to the future as well as the past.

“There is a way to preserve Nassau’s vintage history and the architectural integrity that defines the city, while creating a skyline that maximises best land use,” said Mr Carey.

He is calling for a land plan that would allow high rises (20 stories or higher) to the east, west and south of downtown Bay Street, creating a central area from East Street on the east to George Street on the west of a two-story or current height maximum.

“All major cities that are known for their vitality have a residential population,” said Carey. “Nassau is dead at night. Why? Because no one lives in the heart of Nassau.

“Re-zoning to allow luxury developments of multi-use buildings with office or retail space on the ground level or first two floors, and residential units above, will add/bring new life to a city that is extremely underutilised.”

Mr Carey suggested that “only imagination would limit” what new development could mean to the city’s economy and life.

“I have a vision of a new historic Nassau with a variety of attractive buildings, with green space and courtyards cradling the centre of the city, protecting important historic properties including Parliament Square,” he said.

“Right now, we have acres of vacant land right on the waterfront with high fences blocking the view, and very little activity behind those fences. That land has tremendous value, and by building up instead of encouraging more urban sprawl will allow a view of the harbourfront for everyone to enjoy. Skyline development is a global phenomenon that’s being properly addressed by some of the oldest cities in the world.”

“Development at both the eastern and western ends,” Mr Carey added, “will generate jobs, create entrepreneurial opportunities and boost government revenue. Options for city living will also attract a young, professional population.

“Part of the brain drain among young, well-educated Bahamians is that we do not have an active lifestyle as they are accustomed to in their college towns or where they could live in the US or Canada.

“This could offer such a reasonable solution. We also know that every home purchase generates at least three jobs. We cannot continue to do what we did before for no better reason than it is what we have always done. We have to move forward while offering well thought out solutions.”

Mr Carey’s suggestions about downtown Nassau incorporate some of the ideas and concepts included in several land use plans for historic Nassau dating back to the original prepared for the Bahamas National Trust, and later the plan recommended by the late Jackson Burnside in a study commissioned by a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and the Nassau Tourism & Development Board.

The most recent Edaw Study also suggested more green space, the opening up of harbour views and residential component.