Developer, 3D architect, Steve Bell.
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Freeport, Bahamas - The following are remarks made by Steve Bell at a
Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise meeting on November 5th, 2014:
Last month I pulled the drapes off the
“Ascot, Grand Bahama” project, a beachfront residential-resort development that
I am spearheading and something that has been a secret for over a year now.
Naturally there are many questions about the
project and how a person like me comes from out of the blue with such well-developed
plans, summaries, financials and artwork.
Firstly, the Ascot project is not just one
person – It is a group of motivated people, professionals and business owners
that have decided that it is time to do something big on the island. While most
people see Tim Tibbitts of Flying Fish and myself at the face there are so many more.
It started from Harry Rahming, a local
businessman, suggesting that maybe I should consider this project and
tenaciously pushed me until I broke down, did a thorough analysis, and decided
to commit time and money. Landowner Suzanne Mandt-Raunch, who loves the island,
agreed that it is now time to collaborate on something significant for what was
her home for so long.
From there it was a matter of evangelising
and enlisting the help of the best on the island, and only with those who can
check their egos at the door and have a burning desire to get something happening
here. Attorney Terence Gape saw the
vision and “connected the dots,” steering the project at its very inception. Attorney Tara Dorsette has been working on
purchaser contracts, buyers funding options and legalities, while attorney Adam
Cafferata has been consulting on condo association documentation. Maitland
Cates has been backing the project up with auditing and accounting
requirements. Wolfgang Geiger has been preparing construction schedules,
budgets and projections.
Then of course comes even more overwhelming
support from people that most people know but may never had connected to a
project like this. Tony Hanna (aka Tony Macaroni) ensures that all people that
come to the island to inspect the site and project get true Bahamian cuisine
and hospitality. Lyndah Wells assists with photography of all participants and
both her and Mark Da Cunha gathered images for use in proposals.
Kevin Hubbard, a man so experienced that he
is already forgetting what most of us are still learning, heard of what I was up
to and saw it as imperative to fly to Grand Bahama and take up the lead as
Project Director. Many people in the Bahamas will know Mr Hubbard from his
construction of the Lucayan Plaza Beach Resort and Emerald Bay Resort in the
Exumas.
And they are still just a few of the many
people, who have quietly and enthusiastically devoted their time, local
expertise and resources to ensure that Grand Bahama lives up to its name. These
people are leaders, not just in their individual fields but in their community
and vision for a great future.
So you see, while Mr Tibbitts and I may be
the loudest, most visible advocates, we are just two of the people that are nurturing
this project and have assisted in various ways to create what is very quickly
gaining the momentum of a freight train and has rapidly attracted more
international interest than even I could have imagined.
The progress to date has been monumental. It
took a year of research, refinement, meetings and planning, but within hours of
the project going public, investors started calling and we have already shelved one while determining
the absolute best deal for the project and whether we require any more
assistance than what is already here on the island. Pre-construction sales, set
to commence in the coming months, are well planned, competitive and the
immediate interest is overwhelming.
At this point I must also state that my
career has spanned many projects in many places and this is the first time I
have taken on one in my home, Grand Bahama. It is very clear to me, based on
more than 25 years experience, that this island is not just
the soundest investment in the
Bahamas but with the assistance of the Port Authority, it is also the most
attractive for business.
While many people like to express that they
support the dream of this project I have to always correct them. You can’t
build a business plan on hope and/or dreams. This project, while beautiful in
location and nature, is built on solid, conservative financials and with
perfect timing.
Steve Bell is a specialist in 3D for architecture, design and analysis
with a solid background in property development, construction and
design. Combining digital artwork with the web and video, Steve Bell
brings small and large developments to life well before they are built,
analysing data/design, improving overall awareness and enhancing
pre-construction sales results.
Based previously and experienced in: Australia, Singapore, Dubai, London, Saudi Arabia, USA, and The Bahamas.
Past
and current international clients include: Porsche Design Tower; Trump
Sonesta; Four Seasons; St Regis; Ritz Carlton; Humana; Atlantis; Royal
Commission for Jubail (KSA); CBS Sports Channel; HGTV; W Hotels; WCI
Communities; US Army Corp of Engineers; Turnberry; The Pearl Qatar; El
Ghouna, Egypt; Multiplex; Australand; Baulderstone Hornibrook; AV
Jennings; Forrester Kurts; and Meriton.
New Residential Resort Planned for Grand Bahama