TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Orient construction question.

I'm just curious but, does anyone know if the business owners get to pick which building they want to be in? Or will it go according to where they were pre-construction?

Is going to Orient Beach these days just not quite enjoyable with all the construction, many closed businesses? Or, are there some open to enjoy?

There are lots of threads on this. Basically, the only businesses that are closed are the smaller bars between Pedros and Kon Tiki. Club O and Pedros are both open, as are all of the businesses between Kon Tiki and Palm Beach, inclusive.

http://www.faxinfo.fr/?p=4943
If you can't read French, this basically says they will be ready for delivery to tenants mid November and that the past tenants have been given priority to pick units. It also states that rental fees will be discussed and set at the end of this month, and tenants will be required to follow specifications set by the COM. It further states that the cost of the project is 3.7M Euros for 8 restaurants, 4 shops, 15 kiosks, three yacht clubs and ample parking.

Sorry Gakay, didn't mean to reference your post.

Thanks for the post! The date of the story appears to be yesterday, so I guess that they think that's a good estimate of the opening date--mid November--which seems ambitious to me, but hopefully it will in fact be done by mid November.

The story also has a nice picture of one of the "Pods" with siding on the exterior. I guess this is what they will all be fitted with????

Being a restaurant owner, IMO it will probably take the tenants at least 30 days (once they take possession) to get any kind of restaurant operation up and running. This of course depends on the level of "build out" they are provided with. If proper exhaust hood and plumbing are not provided it may take longer. Then they will have to install all of their equipment (refrigeration, stoves, etc) Not to mention if any type of permits (business,health, etc) must be obtained. Bar and Chair rental operations may come first as they would probably be much easier to establish. I wish them all the best, I know first hand how much work is ahead of them.

Google translation

The carbets of Orient Bay, located on plot AW34, should be ready for the start of the high season. For now, the site of the new tourist complex made no delay.

"We realized many soil consolidation works on the beach, but this did not affect the schedule. The construction site is progressing well and the delivery of carbets is still scheduled for mid-November, "explains Jose Carti, charged by the Community to supervise the work of carbets. To protect the new buildings of the swell, we had indeed build a retaining wall. Representatives of the COM should soon pay a visit to a witness hut. The overall financing of the project, built with the support of the SEMSAMAR, amounts to 3.7 million euros. This new resort will host 8 restaurants, 4 shops, 15 kiosks, three yacht clubs and ample parking.
Who will have the right to AOT?

According to information from the COM, operators who were already on the site will be given priority in the allocation of AOT (temporary occupation authorization). However, they will be obliged to follow the specifications set by the COM. AOT will be issued to operators when the prize allocation commission will meet this month. Rent, set by the next Executive Council shall be proportional to the value of the leased infrastructure.

I read that also - hope it is mid Nov for the vendors / resto's
Yacht Clubs must not be part of Google Translate!
Guessing that means a water sports area
J&B

Wow! in looking at the photo in the article, they sure have made a lot of progress since we the there a couple of weeks ago. When we were there the buildings were just shells. Now it looks like at least the one in the photo has interior walls up drywall installed.

At this rate they just might make the mid November time line...