by Kathy Borsuk, Times of the Islands Summer 2003
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Wellon was referring to the paucity of developable land left on Providenciales’ priceless Grace Bay Beach and to the fact that the value of the land on which The Pinnacle is being built has risen dramatically since the project was conceived. With his ultra low-density development including only 6 condominium suites per acre (the average is 12 to 16), the land value beneath each unit had increased by $200,000 in about a year and a half. He adds, “We targeted the upper-end investor with a reasonably priced product that was designed for the greatest appreciation. It will be very difficult for anyone to match this opportunity in the future.”
The Pinnacle on Grace Bay takes its cues from Wellon’s first TCI effort: The Grandview on Grace Bay. Both are high-quality, low-density, residential condominium developments in which all units are Grace Bay beachfront. Charles Manuel, manager of RE/MAX TCI and Pinnacle listing agent, says ‘The Grandview has had the best resale history on Grace Bay. Investors realized a 40 to 80% return within 6 to 18 months. Typical resale turnaround was only three to six months.’
Manuel and Wellon attribute this success to several factors. Both The Pinnacle and The Grandview were planned as primarily residential – rather than vacation rental – properties. This enhances enormously the owners’ sense of privacy and exclusivity; it’s a different way of life than the resort environment.
However, long term rentals in the luxury market are allowed. Manuel explains, ‘With the increasing number of direct flights to Providenciales, a market is developing for one to three month rentals to upscale clientele. They will enjoy their Pinnacle suite at different intervals during the season, much like they do now with ski chalets. Reservations at The Pinnacle’s sister project in Grand Cayman are made two to three years in advance, and we expect a similar situation to develop here.’ With rental management fees at The Pinnacle less than half of those of other Grace Bay luxury condominium resorts, Manuel estimates that just two, one-month rentals each year will cover owners’ annual costs.
Each of The Pinnacle’s 28 three-bedroom, 2,825 sq ft suites is beachfront, with wide ocean-facing terraces off of the living room and master bedroom. That, Wellon believes, is what upscale buyers demand. So rather than housing rows of ‘back units,’ he says, ‘The Pinnacle’s 4.6-acre site serves as a private playground for its owners, including extensive gardens, a freeform pool with waterfall and a lighted tennis court.’
This beachfront-only configuration also minimizes the price spread between suites. As a result, Wellon notes, ‘Everyone is at a similar financial level and, because the owner’s association ultimately manages the property, all should have similar goals towards maintaining value.’ The Pinnacle is located in the heart of Grace Bay, with excellent restaurants and bars, shopping, watersports facilities, and the golf course and casino in close proximity.
The value-maximizing strategies come as no accident to The Pinnacle’s well-seasoned development team. Fraser Wellon’s Cayman Overseas Group is known for a series of highly successful luxury condominium developments in Grand Cayman, including The Grandview, Regal Beach and The Pinnacle and he worked with Charles Manuel and project architect John Redmond on The Grandview on Grace Bay. The trio says they took the ‘wish list’ of buyers at both The Grandview and the Cayman projects and incorporated it without compromise into The Pinnacle’s design. For instance, there will be four apartments on-site that owners can use to house their pilots, nannies or guests. Every owner has an oversized private garage for cars and extra storage. The owner’s lounge will include a wet bar, billiards and media room; the upper level will hold a professionally equipped fitness facility, massage room and sun deck with a heated whirlpool.
Other members of the project team include Dempsey & Company, the TCI’s longest established legal practice, and landscape architect Jon Philheart, who created the garden for adjacent Ocean Club West. Redmond explains that it is important to The Pinnacle’s ‘eye feel’ that its landscaping blends with its neighbor’s. He adds, ‘There will be a number of private seating areas throughout the site, lots of gazebos, walkways and extensive landscaping around the pool. We’ll retain the native dune grass along the beach, as well as the prominent second dune.’
Construction is being handled by the team of Diamond Construction and Arch and Godfrey. The latter, Grand Cayman’s premiere contractor, has built all of Wellon’s Cayman projects, including The Pinnacle on Seven Mile Beach.
With some 50% of The Pinnacle’s current sales made to owners in The Grandview on Grace Bay and the developer’s Grand Cayman’s projects, it’s clear that the team is doing something right. Part of it, the believe, is a firm commitment to the initial concept. Redmond explains, ‘Fraser never wavered from his vision of a low-density, high-quality, residential-based development. In the face of global economic uncertainty or when land prices soared, he could have added more units to maximize his profit……but he didn’t.’ Wellon explains, ‘It takes discipline to stick to your guns, but I want to set a benchmark for the future. After all, you’re only as good as your last project.’