TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin New Sighting of Orient Beach Construction?

We are approaching low, low season and I doubt many of us are on island but just wondering if there is any news??

Yes, I was wondering the same thing. Hopefully someone who is on island can post an update.

Last week, the engineers were on site putting levels in.

Nick--sorry, what that does mean?? (..must be an English thing.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />)

I'm thinking foundations.

When we left on Sunday, they had unloaded pile driving equipment, and the surveyors had been setting the survey stakes.

Site prep

Carol its the start of building a structure of any kind to make sure before hand everything is level. The surveyors use a theodolite. Google it and that will give you more detail. When I built the pool on the beach at Necker Is I had a uneven beach, I got a level over the whole area of the pool, the plans said to dig down 6ft and we did and once finished the bottom was completely level. Make sense?

Nick--Ok, thanks. (Hope you had a good trip, by the way! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />)

The bestest Carol, thank you

Great!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> St. Barts or St. Martin?? Trip report?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Devil.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

We got to spend some time with Nic and his wife, I can assure you, lots of fun in St Martin!

I guess I should also contribute some sort of trip report !!

Absolutely!! Do tell!!

Anyone on island now or just returned, who can give us an update on the status of the construction?

Daily Herald story It appears that construction has not started yet?

I find the wording interesting...if one didn't know better it would imply that the area was still damaged from the hurricane. Or maybe that is how I read it.

[color:"blue"]Quote from the The Herald
"The former hurricane-damaged restaurants on parcel AW34 between Pedros and Kon Tiki on Orient Beach have been completely demolished and debris removed"[/color]

Guess it depends on how you read it, but they removed all the debris from when they demolished the buildings that were there. Apparently they were pretty careful about that.

If the story is correct......they are saying they are hoping to be up and running by high season. What a crock for all the displaced restaurant owners, workers, the salespeople, etc. To take their liveliehoods away, after the money that was spent to repair them last year...and then the government taking their sweet time on constructing the buildings is a disgrace!! I sure hope hope all these families are being taken care of.

Carol -- I know someone who is on the island now and they have installed footers. There is construction going on.

OK, thanks. I wasn't sure whether that picture was current or not, as there doesn't look like anything there. Anyone on island, please do post an update when you can.

I also saw a photo of a Crane and was told it was onsite.

The Daily Herald story that I posted the linek to has a picture with a crane in the background.

What are they planning to build there?

They will be putting restaurants back in and shops, along with a parking lot and restrooms. There are some other threads that have drawings of what it is supposed to look like.

So, after the stretch of places that were torn down, how much further a walk in minutes would you say it is to any other places to eat heading in that direction, away from Club O.

One or less to Kon Tiki.

three to five minutes at most

Yeah, I think one minute is too short.

On the other hand it is about a million miles if you compare the character of the places closed compared to Kon Tiki ( which I like very much)...

Yes, you are right.

The key question is how much character and variation will the new places end up with.

For example, if Cheryl is back, will it be with the same blue picnic tables and the collection of license plates that have been in a number of locations? If Ethnic is back, will it have the pale blue sheer curtains of old?

Or will they be cookie cutter variations with different shallow veneers?

I sincerely hope it will be the former, but I'm really not that optimistic.

And I dearly hope at least some will be open when we get there in November.

I spoke with Cheryl, she'll be back. Same name, but the artist rendition looks like a cookie cutter cubes. Don't know what Cheryl did with all the plates. I would think she'd hang some to keep with the theme of the old place/charm.

My biggest concern is a bunch of noisy construction going on when get there in mid-October. That will royally suck.

Don't worry, it was the owners and employees that gave the places there character. After we get used to the look of the new buildings and see our old friends all we be good again!

The way I understood the question, he was asking how long it took to walk from the northern end (farthest from Club O) of the now-demolished beach bars to the ones that are still open. That's where my one minute came from. But I do walk quickly, especially when heading for a drink. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Well said. These people have overcome the complete destruction of their livelihoods by hurricane less than 12 months ago. I fail to see how a new building will represent a serious hurdle to their ability to deliver what so many of us enjoy.

It's great news that Cheryl will be back.

Her place was always our first lunch on Orient when we arrived, and the last one before we left.

Same here Ted n Jan, assuming we weren't arriving on Mondays as we so often do now.

Seems so far away. It will be interesting to see the changes/progress.

Has anyone been there recently and taken pics of the construction progress?

Agreed, if anyone is on island or recently returned, would love to hear an update!