TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Orient pictures from Bill 9730

I guess time will tell but I still think some parts of the construction in the pictures looks questionable.

Yep but you know, what I pasted is what the Law says but this doesn't exclude "special arrangements" with the local authorities.
This kind of stuff happens frequently in SXM, you know. <wink>

Happens at home too. It's not just a SXM thing.

SXM would be the last place I would expect any "special arrangements". <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

This thread sounds like a lot of folks that just can't wait to be sitting at one of their old favorites downing a few...

Actually, not in my case. I make it to Orient about every other trip now.

Yep .... at The Perch or Papagayo <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

These buildings SHOULD have been elevated at least five feet in the air, maybe more. I have built a home on the water and I am ten feet in the air. These building may survive a minor blow, but a real hurricane will leave nothing but the concrete slabs. Building in the air allows the tidal surge to pass under the structure, not beat it to toothpicks. If proper international hurricane standards are followed, raised structures can be built so survive 125 MPH winds. I hope hurricane straps, rafter and joist hangers, and metal roofs with proper fasteners are used on these buildings.

I know it is SXM, but building on a slab along the coast of the US would not be permitted nor could you get insurance. While I can see where the buildings will be stronger than the ones being replaced, they will not survive the rising ocean or a major hurricane.

No need to get crazy building bunkers.....these buildings look pretty disposable and easy rebuilds. The storm that will do the damage will come every once in awhile causing flooding (destroying the OSB) and/or blowing the structure down......by that point it was probably time for a remodel anyway (and perhaps it will be on insurance dime). You could say that its unpredictable when these storms will come and maybe it won't conveniently fit their 'remodel' schedule but that is the gamble they are willing to take. If storms came during the high season then you would probably see iron clad structures in order to not close and keep the revenue coming in but since most storms come in the late summer it gives a nice window to rebuild before the bulk of the tourists start to come again.

They are either currently slow as molasses because there is no need to be fast OR the inspections take forever. Once the foundation was set I don't see why any decent construction crew couldn't erect each of these buildings (skeletal and moisture covered) in two days or less. They are basically garages.

I'm no construction expert, but you are correct about the headers being supported by literally nothing of substance, especially that big wide one... I would think it to be of such an expanse that even the upcoming roof load might bring it down?

More updated photos.





















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Thanks for the pictures!! I'm not sure what I'm looking at--is that curvy thing going to be a sidewalk, in front of the wall or something??

That is the seawall that is being put in designed to halt the erosion from a major storm. It appears it will actually be under the surface bury'd in the sand.

Look at the 5th and 6th pocs posted, it's a curved wall being built - 5'Ft tall maybe?
J&B

Here is a new sign they put up behind the project. According to the sign (bottom right) "Delais 4 mois" I believe this means 4 month schedule. Not sure on the French, but I assume that is what they mean.

It shows the sea wall with the front exposed to the sea which should keep the buildings protected by the surf. They must plan on having loungers above and below that wall as some of the original plans showed. I like the concept.

But the plans show a wall with a much larger curve to it, as opposed to this with the curves very close together??

Meant to add to my earlier post, thanks very much for the picture posting. Makes the wait till Jan 28 almost better!

J&B

Modi - You are correct about that long header above the wide opening. Maybe they will install 'Teco' brackets on the posts for support. Or maybe there is another type of support we can't see. Proper training may not be available in SXM but I'm sure they are doing the best they can.

Yes, they probably are doing the best they can and I'm glad they are doing this. It's going to be a vast improvement over the hodg podg that was there before.

I suspect that the curvature is subject to contractor discretion but the depth is probably specified. What you are seeing is the footer so I suspect that the wall itself is probably block, reinforced and filled with concrete. Not bad but the only reason that Pedro's and the original SSBB are still there is because they were poured concrete. As designed, the depth probably looked good but as of today maybe not so much. Job 1 for a sea wall is not to let the water get under it.

I really preferred the more rustic look of the original structures. They had more of an "island feel." Too bad there wasn't some way that they could've recreated the original structures, using stronger materials. Oh, well. What's done is done, but feeling like I'm "off the beaten path" is what I like about certain beaches on the island. With these new buildings, that feeling is gone on this stretch of Orient.

Your assumption is correct. I'm French and what "delais: 4 mois" means is it'll take 4 months from start to finish. Nothing to do with the project needing 4 more months than planned which is what a delay in English means.

Since they started in June, they will be finished in October then. Huhm....

They may be done with the shell but the build out of the restaurants will take some time. It's more than just some tables and chairs.

Actually, that was kind of what I meant. They seem very far from where they should be, if they are going to be finished in four months.

I agree and I was just commenting on the "delais: 4 mois" mentioned on the billboard. It looks like the main construction and connections to the grid were to be completed in 4 months, allowing interior work to start.