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Dart Realty’s Kimpton Resort Development Reaches Building and Safety Milestones

Construction of Dart Realty's Kimpton Resort in Grand Cayman is progressing nicely, and the $200 million development is on target to open in late 2016.

Dart just released an update on construction of the resort property that's rising on Seven Mile Beach adajcent to Public Beach and near Duke's Seafood & Rib Shack (a personal favorite). The Kimpton resort is about 5 minutes from the Town of Camana Bay, Dart's landmark mixed-use community that stretches from Seven Mile Beach to the North Sound.

In July 2013, The Wall Street Journal heralded Dart's plans for the new resort as a sign of new confidence in the Caribbean's hospitality and real estate markets. Since the start of construction, several developers have announced plans for new resports across the Caribbean, but Dart's foresight has positioned its Kimpton report well ahead of the curve.

Click here to read the official update from Dart Realty, a long-time client of The Wilbert Group.

- Tony Wilbert

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Grand Cayman’s first new resort in a decade on schedule for a late 2016 opening

Cayman Islands, GRAND CAYMAN (December 15, 2014) – With four tower cranes on the horizon and more than 275 workers on site, the Kimpton property being developed on Seven Mile Beach by Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd. is coming up quickly. More than $62 million of the $240 million construction project is “in the ground” while five levels of the hotel structure are complete, taking it to the halfway mark.

On 12 December the construction management team from DECCO and the contractors on the job recognized the workers’ achievement of more than 200,000 consecutive safe working hours without any lost time incidents. They were joined by crews from Dart Realty’s 18 Forum Lane site for a celebratory lunch. In November crews at the Kimpton project logged 53,000 hours, the equivalent of 247 full time positions. The project’s workforce has been comprised of an average of 53% Caymanians and Permanent Residents since site preparation began in 2012.

“We have momentum on site with more than 30 local contractors, sub-contractors and service companies,” said Gary Gibbs, Executive Manager of DECCO, Dart Realty’s construction management company. “When activity peaks, they will employ more than 800 people on the job.”

Construction is steadily rising up from the foundations of the 266 room resort. The hotel structure is complete up to the 5th floor, and a separate residential building that will include 62 condominiums is complete up to the 4th floor. These growing silhouettes emphasize the carefully considered space planning on the deep 11-acre site which has 475 feet of frontage along Seven Mile Beach. The main hotel building is perpendicular to the beach with the westernmost rooms situated 240 feet from the high water mark while the condominium building is nearly 500 feet back. This setback, along with stunning lobby views of the Caribbean Sea and abundant open spaces connecting the resort amenities to the public multi-use trail that will cross the property, differentiates the resort from existing Seven Mile Beach developments. Also unique to the Kimpton property are six beachfront bungalows which will be the premium accommodations offering both the “toes in the sand” experience of a hideaway resort and the full amenities of a boutique hotel.

Dart Realty's Cayman Beachfront Kimpton Wows Visiting Journalists

SEVEN MILE BEACH, Grand Cayman (Nov. 26, 2014) - A select group of the U.S.' top real estate writers and editors got an exclusive shot last week to check on the progress of the resort hotel and residences Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd. is developing on Seven Mile Beach.

Dart's DECCO has poured more than 80 million pounds of concrete and constructed several stories of the main structure that will rise 10 stories.

The hotel portion of the resort will be operated by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. The hotel will be the first property in the Caribbean for Kimpton, well known in the States for its cool, hip properties that always include at least one destination restaurant.

A quick walk-around of the construction site and adjacent beachfront proved to be a highlight of the recent press trip hosted by Dart, a client of The Wilbert Group. Journalists from GlobeSt.com, Site Selection, France Publications, PERE and Candy's Dirt attended the trip.

In October, Cayman 27 interviewed Gary Gibbs, executive manager of DECCO Ltd., and aired a story that provides a good update on construction of the resort. Click here to view that report. 

Look for updates on the resort development soon. For now, I'll share several photos.

The Big Crane's Moving at Dart's Kimpton Project in Grand Cayman

 

Dec. 19, 2014 Note: For the latest update on this cool project, click here.

 SEVEN MILE BEACH, Grand Cayman (April 1, 2014) - While on Spring Break last month in the Cayman Islands, my son and I checked out the site where Cayman-based Dart Realty is developing a new $200 million resort that will mark Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants' first foray into the Caribbean.

SB Architects, in concert with Cayman's John Doak Architecture, designed the structure, which will sit on an expanded area of Seven Mile Beach. (See large rendering above.)

Earlier today, SB issued a press release touting the Kimpton resort in Cayman as one of 30 designed projects under construction at the end of the first quarter.

The McAlpine crane and rebar and concrete pilings are a great sign. The development, which according to Kimpton's website "will offer five restaurants and lounges, a cascading oceanfront pool, expansive indoor and outdoor meeting and function space and a destination spa. The property will also include 56 residences and six beachfront bungalows."

Last year, Dart COO Jackie Doak explained why the firm selected Kimpton as the hotel's flag.

“Kimpton excels in offering stylish yet comfortable hotels and providing genuine, unscripted guest experiences,” said Doak. “We were particularly drawn to Kimpton’s passion for creating a vibrant atmosphere in hotels and restaurants equally enjoyed by guests and locals,” she added. “Ken Dart’s vision is for a welcoming resort that showcases the same Caymanian hospitality that inspired him and his family to return to the island after their first visit more than 25 years ago.”

More from Kimpton on the property: "Overall, the look will follow a rustic yet polished, barefoot elegance in line with the upscale, casual nature of the island. A signature feature of the resort will be lush, natural landscaping designed by EDSA and featuring native flora and a profusion of gardens and green spaces to complement the beauty of Seven Mile Beach and the Caribbean Sea."

Work on the new resort property is picking up again, thanks to a recent ruling in favor of the government regarding a road near the development. 

What's cool is that the development team has erected an EarthCam that will allow people, especially real estate and hospitality buffs such as me, to track progress at the site. 

The Wilbert Group, the leading real estate PR firm in the States, is handing international public relations for Dart and also has a relationship with Kimpton in Georgia. We look forward to keeping everyone informed about what is happening at the site. (I promised my son, shown walking near the site, weekly updates.)

The resort is scheduled to open in late 2016.

 

 

 

Dart Realty's Jackie Doak: "Camana Bay Ushered New Urbanism into the Caribbean"

CAMANA BAY, Grand Cayman, June 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jackie Doak, Chief Operating Officer of Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd. joined New Urbanist legend Andrés Duany and Steve Nygren of Serenbe on a panel discussion about the future of the New Urbanism movement. The forum took place at the 47^th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference in Atlanta, hosted by the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE).

The panel discussion, titled "The Next Evolution of New Urbanism," discussed emerging trends in New Urbanism. Doak shared Dart Realty's vision for the future of Camana Bay, a 500-acre mixed-use development in the heart of Grand Cayman. Camana Bay is considered the first example of New Urbanism in the Caribbean. In collaboration with an exceptional team of architects, master planners, landscape architects, and other experts, Doak and Dart Realty sought to improve what was already a high quality of life on a beautiful island by creating a walkable town with a distinctly modern Caribbean style.

Camana Bay includes residential and commercial spaces, along with shops, restaurants, sports facilities, and a school. With 30% of the town designated as open space, Camana Bay's walkability is enhanced by botanic walkways, courtyards and gathering spaces landscaped with native species grown in the Dart Realty nursery. At its heart is the Town Center, which is quickly emerging as Grand Cayman's most popular destination for food, fashion, entertainment and community events. Despite its relative youth, Camana Bay's sense of place and community are firmly established.

NAREE's conference titled – "Designs on the New Urban Grid" – brings some of the top journalists from around the country to Atlanta from June 5 to 8 to focus on residential and commercial real estate, as well as urban planning and development.

"Camana Bay ushered New Urbanism into the Caribbean," Doak said. "It is an honor to be included in this discussion about the future of walkable communities and smart growth with Andrés Duany, a man who many consider to be the godfather of the New Urbanist movement."

Through his work as a principal at Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, Duany was involved with the master planning of the Camana Bay residential communities in 2008.

The NAREE conference also features speakers addressing home building, hotels, luxury housing, mortgages, and online real estate, while maintaining the overarching theme of new urban design.

For more information about Camana Bay, visit camanabay.com.

About Camana Bay

A destination within a destination, Camana Bay is a vibrant new town located in the heart of Grand Cayman. Stretching 500 acres from the famous Seven Mile Beach to the tranquil North Sound, this mixed-use master planned community opened in December 2007 and is one of the first examples of New Urbanism in the Caribbean. Developed by Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd. in collaboration with an award-winning team of visionaries, including Duany Plater-Zyberk, Moore Ruble Yudell and OLIN Partnership, Camana Bay offers a unique mix of thoughtfully designed residential, commercial and public spaces, world-class shopping and dining, education and sports facilities plus family-friendly entertainment, events and attractions.

For more information on Camana Bay visit camanabay.com, like Camana Bay Fan Page on Facebook or follow Camana Bay on Twitter.

Media Contacts:

Hadley Creekmuir, The Wilbert Group
Tel: 404-343-4080
E-mail: hcreekmuir@thewilbertgroup.com

Melissa Ladley, Dart Realty
Tel: 345-640-3371
E-mail: melissa.ladley@camanabay.com

NAREE Lands Andres Duany Exclusive at Spring Journalism Conference in Atlanta

ATLANTA  (May 21, 2013) – New Urbanism visionary Andres Duany, one of world's most influential architects and urban planners, will address the National Association of Real Estate Editors’ 47th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference in Atlanta in early June.

 

NAREE’s conference – “Designs on the New Urban Grid” -  will bring scores of journalists from around the country to Atlanta June 5-8 to focus on housing, commercial real estate and urban planning.

 

"Duany is the godfather of the New Urbanism movement," said real estate columnist Ralph Bivins, NAREE conference advisor. "He has changed the way communities are being built and the way cities will be designed in the future. In short, his ideas have changed America - and the world."

 

Duany will speak Friday, June 7 at the substantive one-hour “NAREE Symposium: The Next Evolution of New Urbanism” at the Hilton Atlanta.

 

David Bodamer, editor of National Real Estate Investor, will moderate the symposium, which will include two noteworthy New Urbanism developers: Jackie Doak, chief operating officer of Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd.; and Steve Nygren, president, Serenbe.  Doak will discuss The New Resort Town of Camana Bay, a 500-acre mixed-use development in the heart of Grand Cayman built using New Urbanism principles. Nygren is developing the Serenbe eco-village, a 1,000-acre sustainable community south of Atlanta.

 

Duany - hailed by The Atlantic magazine as “The Man Who Reinvented the City” – is co-founder of DPZ Architecture in Miami. His New Urbanism principles prescribe the antidotes to urban sprawl and auto-dominated lifestyles with focus on walkable, sustainable communities.

 

“We are honored to have Mr. Duany speak at our conference,” said NAREE President Kris Hudson, a Wall Street Journal reporter. “Attendees will be enriched by this opportunity to learn more about New Urbanism, in conjunction with other real estate topics.”

 

Along with speakers addressing home building, hotels, luxury housing, mortgages, and online real estate, the NAREE conference will carry the new urban design theme with speakers and tours including:

 

• Marianne Cusato, the designer who created the Katrina Cottage as a cost effective substitute for FEMA trailer housing victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. She designed the Katrina Cottage during a Duany-led charette in Biloxi, Miss.
• Mark Toro, partner of North American Properties, will host a NAREE tour of the Atlantic Station mixed-use project in Midtown Atlanta.
• Matt Bronfman, CEO, Jamestown, will host a tour of Ponce City Market, the largest adaptive re-use project in Atlanta’s history, with a redevelopment of a massive Sears warehouse.
• A Saturday walking tour of Serenbe, including its 25-acre organic farm and Farmer's Market in the main village. Serenbe's streetscapes are lined with blueberries and connect with country walking paths.
• Matt Hudgins, a contributing writer to the New York Times, will lead the “Workplace Debate: Downtown vs. the Suburbs” with panelists John McColl, Cousins Properties; Robert Bach, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank; Rob Metcalf, Jones Lang LaSalle and David Kitchens, Cooper Carry.

 

"NAREE 13 will bring journalists from the Los Angeles Times to the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post and Boston Globe to Tweet, blog, report and write about the driving forces of where the next generation will live, work and play,’ said Mary Doyle-Kimball, NAREE Executive Director. “ I expect Mr. Duany will tell us not only about his vision of the future but also what might be done to re-make the sprawl in the suburbs. Just as millions left the farm in the post-World-War II era, millions are flocking to the urban core today."

 

Equipping journalists to better report and interpret the real estate design and development is a vital component of the NAREE conference, Doyle-Kimball said.

 

The NAREE University sessions, covering digital media, blogging, Twitter and other journalism topics, will provide invaluable peer learning opportunities.  NAREE University peer faculty will include contributors and journalists from the Orlando Sentinel, Wall Street Journal, Commercial Property Executive, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the San Diego Union-Tribune, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, MSN Real Estate, Unique Homes magazine, AOL Real Estate, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Los Angeles Times. 

 

 

 

Visit www.naree.org for more information.

 

Mary Doyle-Kimball, NAREE Executive Director

 

561-391-3599

Jamestown Closes Big Week with Move into Latin America

ATLANTA (March 15, 2013) - It's been a big week for Jamestown, an Atlanta-based investment and development firm.

First, jayrickey.com broke news Jamestown had agreed to sell the office tower at 999 Peachtree to Franklin Street Properties for $158 million. Then came word in The Wall Street Journal that Jamestown had expanded into Latin America, where it opened offices in Rio de Janeiro and Bogota, Colombia. And oh yeah, Jamestown's Ponce City Market project in Atlanta was spotlighted in a WSB-TV report.

In its latest major move, Jamestown hired Philip Fitzgerald, former managing director of emerging markets at Paladin Realty Partners, to spearhead its Latin American operations, WSJ's Craig Karmin reports.

Jamestown's Latin American operation is kicking off with $50 million, but the firm hopes to raise a fund of $200 million and manage $1.5 billion in Latin American assets within five years, the Joural reports.

No word on whether Jamestown will update its logo, which is a rough sketch of the United States.

Gardens Go Vertical at Camana Bay

CAMANA BAY, Grand Cayman (March 13, 2013) - While visiting Cayman last week for spring break, we got a firsthand look at Camana Bay's living wall/vertical garden. 

The wall and garden create a nice environment for residents and a serve as a good transition from the mixed-used development's bustling Town Centre and to its residential space. I've posted a couple photos and a link to a cayCompass article about "The Hanging Garden of Camana Bay."

In the photo at left, workers install plants on a wall garden.

To learn more about the important role landscaping and landscape design plays at Camana Bay - the premiere new urbanism development in the Caribbean - click here. Note: Camana Bay is a client of The Wilbert Group.