Plans are now in hand for the start of the much-delayed Solaire tourism project at Lockrum, on the south coast of Anguilla, just east of Blowing Point. The soon commencement of the project is expected to provide some relief in the construction industry in which employment has been virtually scarce for some time.
Solaire, which will incorporate green technology into its overall development process, is expected to involve 32 units eventually as investors and buyers present themselves. The project, which has its catch phrase “Live Green”, is owned by US developer, Thomas McInerney, who is already the owner of the luxury Meads Bay Villas.
The information on the commencement of Solaire was gleaned in an interview by The Anguillian, on Tuesday this week, with Mr Conrad Rogers, the Project Manager. He is a registered Anguillian Architect witha Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Tuskegee University in Alabama. He also did the required studies in Georgia to qualify as a registered architect.
“I have been in Anguilla since May 2013, so I am here on a veryextended stint – and it has to do with my role as Project Manager of the Solaire project,” he told the newspaper. “I will be here on and off for the duration of that project. I am based in Atlanta since I graduated from Tuskegee University in 1994.”
Mr Rogers, who has worked with various architectural firms in the United States, now has his own firm called CFR Group Incorporated which he started in 2007. Rogers, known to radio listeners as ‘Chief of Staff’ of the Mayor Talk Show in Anguilla, was introduced to the Solaire project in mid-2012 when the owner, one of the sponsors of that show, came into contact with him.
Asked how close the plans were for the commencement of Solaire, Mr Rogers replied: “We have put on the building site our construction trailer which is going to be our field office. We have secured the site and the basic layout is underway. Cleve Richards, who is the surveyor, is active on the site, as we speak, so we are looking to actually start up the construction activity in the next week or so.
“What we are currently pursuing is phaseone,” he explained. “This comprises four detached two-bedroom, two-bathroom, private villas each with its own swimming pool, outside deck and dining areas. The overall scheme, which might be reconsidered depending on demand in the marketplace, can scale the project out to as many as thirty-two units in the form of single detached villa and condominiums.” Hefurther explained that the completion of the bulk of the project would be determined on how quickly buyers would come forward to own the villas which, when not occupied by them, would be placed into the rental pool.
Questioned about the employment numbers of the workforce, Mr Rogers said: “That is somewhat a difficult question because it is determined by the number of workers that the various sub-contractors need to bring on site to deliver their scope of work. I have my own estimations but I do not make the final decision. I would expect that, at some point, with all four units under construction in their various phases, to have anywhere between thirty and fifty people on site at any one time. That probably won’t always be the case. It is probable something that will ramp up and then tail off.”
Mr Rogers continued: “Just in the form of background, there were many competitive bids for the project back at the end of May 2013, and several local contractors and sub-contractors participated in those bids. Around 19 or 20 individuals, in various combinations, submitted bids to us and we are still in the process of awarding some of those contracts…
“The first area of work, a separate package, was awarded as a joint venture between Daddy’s Construction and Sonny Ruan’s Enterprise to do the site work. The site was already cleared of its natural vegetation, but some of it has grown back up after a number of years. Their first task is called ‘clearing and grubbing’ which is removing all unsuitable stumps and other debris and we will be securing the top soil to bring back for landscaping purposes.
“We also have the underground storm drainage systemwhich has to be installed. We have between three and four hundred linear feet of pipe to install and it means we have to do excavations for that. We also have to accommodate the waste-water treatment plant, the excavation work and install the various associated tanks. [The two sub-contractors] will also be preparing what is called the ‘building pad – the excavation of the foundations, footings, cisterns and the swimming pools for all four units. Mr Rogers added that Daddy’s Construction and Sonny Ruan’s Enterprisehad also submitted bids for the actual building work which were being considered “for some major areas of that work as well”.
Mr Rogers was not certain about the origin of the name Solaire, but said: “The project is intended to be a green project to the extent that it can be. In this case we are pursuing specifically the use of solar panels to generate as much of the electricity supply as possible. We are also pursuing what I call a passive design in terms of placing insulation in the exterior walls and the roof.” According to him, thiswill allow natural ventilation and retention, as well as light, without the use of electrical energy.
Asked about the duration of the first phase of the project, Mr Rogers replied: “We are working on a twelve-month schedule. Our official mobilisation date was the 19th of August so we are looking at the first phase to be completed in July 2014.”
Mr Rogers is overwhelmed that Solaire has provided an opportunity for him to return to his homeland to put his skills into practice. “It is something that I always wanted to do,” he stated. “My stint out of Anguilla is to prepare me to return home to contribute in a meaningful way and I think this is a first step.”
Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, Haydn Hughes, commented: “The developers of the Solaire Development Project have a proven history of performance in Anguilla. This is shown by the Meads Bay Villas which won international awards – including the Conde Nast Best Villa in the World Award. We look forward to seeing them operational at Solaire.
“This is the fourth project that is beginning under this AUM Administration: Zemi Beach, Malliouhana, the Reef Hotel at CuisinArt and now Solaire. We are very happy to see all these different types of projects coming on stream to enhance and increase the number of tourists visiting Anguilla… We need a transient population and we can only get a transient population by two means: through tourism, and if there are people who would come to Anguilla and spend from three to nine months out of the year. That is the kind of people we are trying to attract as well.
“That is why we welcome the Solaire project wholeheartedly – and we are very pleased that Mr Conrad Rogers, a son of the soil, has been chosen as the Project Manager for Solaire. It shows that we have been true to our word to ensuring that our expertise, wherever it is in the world, can come home and be able to contribute to Anguilla’s development.”
