Targeting Miami Buyers for French Leave Marina Village in Eleuthera
Eleuthera, Bahamas– Owning a piece of Eleuthera, Travel + Leisure’s “best secret island on earth,” is becoming a reality as the long-awaited French Leave launches sales on the first true seafront cottages to be built in Governor’s Harbour since the late ‘40s.
Shaner Bahamas, the new development company founded by Lance Shaner and Eddie Lauth to develop the French Leave Marina Village, in concert with Governor’s Harbour Resort & Marina, Ltd., commenced construction last month. Prices start in the $300,000s for the 37 authentic Bahamian hotel cottages overlooking historic Governor’s Harbour and Cupid’s Cay, founded in 1648. The first hotel residences are expected for delivery this coming Summer 2013, with completion of the resort by summer of 2014. As an amenity of the resort, owners will have the opportunity to place the cottages into a professionally managed voluntary hotel rental program.
The hotel cottages at French Leave Marina Village presented by Shaner Bahamas will become the first new resort residences ever at French Leave on the island that’s hailed as one of the “25 sexiest beaches in the world” by Forbes Traveler.
According to State College, Pennsylvania-based developer Lance Shaner, South Florida is a key market for sales as the condo market heats up with New York and foreign buyers. “With the Miami market demanding unattainable price points for locals to buy beach pads the way they once did, and South Florida getting so congested, French Leave Marina Village in Eleuthera offers that unique and accessible opportunity to own a piece of true paradise, only an hour away and with unparalleled peace and beauty.”
Developers said the combined choice 270-acre resort site from “sea to sea” swath of pink sand beach and hills had been inaccessible and unavailable for private ownership for 75 years. With French Leave, this has changed and buyers can enjoy the extension of Miami’s international appeal on Eleuthera, which has daily direct flights from Miami and Fort Lauderdale just 60 minutes each way.
Acknowledging the location’s exquisite isolation, hotel cottages will be sold completely furnished. Nassau-based designer Amanda Lindroth, known for bringing colonial-Caribbean chic to historic homes and resorts across the Bahamas, will furnish the interiors of the cottages. The resort’s first six hotel cottages will be ready in the coming months.
Off the beaten path and likely to remain so, French Leave is not destined to compete with casino-style developments, nor is it intended as an all-inclusive resort, although Club Med once occupied the Atlantic Ocean side of the property. French Leave is considered the single best resort site in the Bahamas today.
Development of the French Leave Marina Village will be limited to 37 single and detached studio, one- and two-bedroom authentic Bahamian hotel cottages and bungalows with resort amenities, including a full-service marina on the west side, private beach club on French Leave Beach to the east, the “1648” bar & grill, pool, fitness center, special events lawn, and wedding Pavilion. In addition, each hotel cottage will have access to a golf cart for beach access to the private beach club. All structures will respect the understated elegance of the local historic Governor’s Harbour architecture in both style and scale, with elements such as a pitched cedar roof, ROHL faucet handles, African mahogany shutters and native dry-stack stone walls.
The seafront & oceanfront retreat focuses on island living in a picture-perfect landscape that developers are committed to preserving. Even new developments in the area are attuned to the beauties of nature – from the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve to a new equestrian facility and small spa adjacent to a botanical garden being launched by the co-founder of famed Tippy’s restaurant, all on Bank’s Road. The crystalline waters also provide superb diving and fishing in the area.
While the island is very low-key, it still attracts high-profile attention, from Eleuthera resident Lenny Kravitz and recently, artist Cee Lo renting and recording at a home near Governor’s Harbour, to the new Cove hotel’s recent opening in North Eleuthera (27 miles North of Governor’s Harbour). In addition, affluent Bahamian residents from both Nassau and Harbour Island are now interested in second homes in the area, given the natural beauty, beaches and peace and quiet.
The current resurgence of development in Bahamas means that buyers at French Leave will find air travel convenient, and recreation and dining options abundant. The Bahamas is considered one of the most stable Democracies in the Hemisphere and is attracting investment from around the globe and, the country’s economy is rebounding.
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