Hotel gets thumbs up from St George's residents

Developers Leading Edge Limited handed out voting slips at Wednesday’s public meeting asking people if they supported, in principle, the plan to build a hotel on the site of the town parking lot.

According to the firm, 90 per cent of those present backed the plan, which will also see a 125-berth marina in the town ­harbour.

Vote of confidence

Jeremy Spencer and Chris West, of Leading Edge, told the Bermuda Sun it was a massive vote of confidence to have the public onside with the plan.

Mr Spencer said the aim of the public meetings and the informal vote was to ensure the people wanted the development and to  answer criticism before it got to the development stage.

“We have had two packed ­public meetings now, two opportunities for people to hear about the plan and see the designs.

“The proof is in the pudding. People had a choice to vote whether they want this project in St George’s or not and the ­overwhelming majority said yes they did.

“It would be hard to see how any public body could go against that type of support.”

The hotel and marina has ‘in principle’ financing in place but investors are still seeking ­reassurances from Government that it will back the lease agreement between the Corporation of St George and Leading Edge.

Mr Spencer said he was confident that Government would support the plan.

“We had a lot of positive feedback. People were coming up to us after the meeting saying this is the best thing to happen to St George’s for a long time.”

The provisional plan is for a high-end 60-room hotel with restaurant, bar and fitness suite alongside a 125-berth marina.

Mr West said the hotel was ­provisionally called the George and the marina would be simply known as the St Geroge’s Harbour Marina.

He said the hotel would not be part of a chain but would be unique to Bermuda.

The Corporation has agreed to donate the land from its car park for the hotel and is a partner in the initiative. Underground parking spaces have been included in the initial designs for the hotel.

The developers say it will blend in with the architecture of the hotel and create an improved vista — both on the water and in the town — for visitors.