TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin 21 story hotel in Cupecoy

Daily Herald story

Surprising. Clearly, there was a press release. The next question: Will a construction company really break ground on a project of this size soon? Or is this really a pie-in-the-sky, let's-wait-and-see idea?

The ‘idea’ and possible fact of a major high rise-hotel in this immediate area has been floated around for years but most of us never thought the Island, with its limited resources - ie. - electric, water, fire-fighting, etc., would actually allow it to happen. I’m sure, if built, it would be beautiful but IMHO, there goes the neighborhood. So much for the peaceful lazy and laid back atmosphere so many of us love. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Yeah the old days of Cupecoy when there was nothing there but beach was fun. It was actually my 2nd favorite beach.

I wonder if that is going to be where the Summit Resort was? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/usflag.gif" alt="" />

looking carefully at the model, I think the proposed location might be behind Starz Casino, where the derelict condo builings are. If you look closely, the AUC buildings appear to be to the right.
Someone actually began demolishing the end of the building closest to Tradewinds one day last week.

It's directly opposite Starz Casino and former part of Mullet Bay Resort. Close to the Golf Course.

A very thin spit of land they cleared of brush months ago on the edge of the golf course next to stars.

We'll see if it ever gets built.

With the horrible effects of Hurricane Irma , how well would a 21 story hotel do in another storm like Irma? Could they get insurance ? I’m sure the developers never expected a 185 MPH hurricane while planning this project.

I'd heard something was going in there in the spring. Makes sense that's the location.

How unfortunate! If you want to develop glass eyesores than go to Miami! Why ruin an island like St Martin. The blue mall was bad enough. I wish the Dutch were more focused on preserving the culture, beauty and the environment of this very special island rather than filling it with concrete and glass.

That is an excellent point, considering the damage to the Cliff. How tall is the Cliff? Maybe 10/11 floors? How tall is Sonesta?

A 21 story building at Cupecoy...what a laugh! Many, many times we were at the little beaches, often getting food from Dany and when you looked at the Blue Mall being built you could look for an hour and never see even one workman. It became a game for us to relax in the sun and after a period shout out..."somebody moved!" Based on the snail's pace the Blue Mall took..a 21 storey building will take at least 15 years..not allowing for strikes, labour contracts and, of course, the return of a nasty hurricane. Basically..about the same length of time the government will take to get the flaming dump problem resolved.

Daily Herald editorial

Fools. The dump is still burning, there are people without homes, and contrary to what TDH says, many folks still without water and or electric. But lets focus on something that will put $ in their pockets now that the Dutch will not let them steal the relief $. And the jobs? The people with skills are already overloaded and no one is training the unemployed to fill the gap.

Hopefully, it will be like so many other of their plans, got the permit but it will never be built because of the greed.

Happy to have got that off my chest! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Ditto to all your comments, Elaine. I’ll start getting seriously upset about all this when I see the pilings come out of the ground. I just can’t believe they issued a permit in the first place given the status of utilities and roads in that immediate area in particular, but but what am I thinking......resolving those questions first would have required real forethought and serious planning on their part. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

If it really is to be a HOTEL, how are they going to fill it? How many rooms would that be? I would think that would automatically make it the largest hotel on the island, by far?

So this is going where the old Mullet building 90 was?

Crap on a cracker!!! would totally destroy Mullet Beach area. Also block a lot of views! GRRRRrrrrr

N0- it's across the street from where building 90 was.And let's hope it never happens. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Leona,

If you come out the Towers drive and turn right up the hill, it’s jjust beyond or very close to the area that floods out all the time - the empty and now cleared scrap of land before the road on the right into the Jordan Village area and still just below the Starz property. If - that is - you’re willing to trust my memory which has been known too many times to falter. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Given my age, I doubt if I'll still be going to the island if and when this is ready and I will be spared the grieving.

Maybe they forget that there used to be a large resort in this area that got wiped out by a storm and left nothing behind but ugly empty shells for years.

Bob

And those buildings were maximum height of two stories or no higher than the palm trees.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

If we're speaking of the same structures, above the casino, they're being demolished now.

Are you saying The cliff is being destroyed?

The Cliff is not being destroyed.

Wendy, Pat's talking about the old Mullet Bay Resort. I think you've moved on to Maho! LOL

Didn’t think so but couldn’t follow the comments!!!!

How many stories are The Towers?????

9 - 8 floors and the 8th floor units all have a second level.

Good idea or not I believe the construction of that commercial project pretty much coincided with the largest Global recession in history. No need to hurry if they aren't committed to any tenants. The project was a privately funded venture and the folks with the money can chose to spend it as they see fit.
The proposed Cupecoy residential project will be privately funded also....so the same rules apply....their $$$$.....their schedule.

I have heard lots of stuff about the Blue Mall that leads me to believe that project was never intended to make any money.. With regard to this project, so is this supposed to be for RESIDENCES or a hotel? The press release said 'hotel', but as I said before, I don't see how they could fill a hotel that big. Now, residences, they may be able to sell, I don't know.

sorry for the misunderstnding. I'm referring to the 2 story buildings that were damaged in Luis on Jordan Road, behind STARZ casino. They've been partially demolished in the last couple of days.

Wow - they are finally tearing down those, they were part of the old Treasure Island Resort I think - rumor was the school was going to refit them for dorms - but I guess not. Or you could be talking about part of Tradewinds, but when we were there in November it looked ok?

The buildings were years ago Treasure Island with large pool area.

Photo of the Treasure Island resort before Hurricane Luis -- and before the AUC campus was built.

I see you uploaded this to the TTOL photo forum. Once you upload it, you can use the 'image' tag, so it shows up in the post, versus just a link.

Where is this famous "image tag"?
[Later edit: OK, I figured it out.]

So the white roof buildings are what have been torn down?

Yes, they're working on it Kim

Interesting. Wonder if it is AUC that owns them or Starz? PS my son is up at Mohawk right now!!