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The entrance to Turtle Cove in the resort environment of Port Antonio.

Turtle Crawl Hill Villas to use green technology

Claudia Gardner, Hospitality Jamaica Writer

Green technology will be favoured greatly in the new US$30 million Turtle Crawl Hill Villas being proposed for construction, a short distance from the coastal town of Port Antonio, according to developer, Fred DeTroy.

DeTroy, the architect and a model builder who heads Turtle Crawl Hill Ltd, the company spearheading the development, told Hospitality Jamaica that the proposed site is located on a hill between Bay View Villas and Turtle Crawl Cove, overlooking Trident and Port Antonio.

The units, according to DeTroy, will be set in what will be a completely furnished gated community, comprising 35 lots on 43 acres of land, starting at US$1.8 million. The development is targeted to be completed by 2010 and is expected to disturb as little of the area's vegetation as possible.

"We will have 32 high-end villas and private homes blending into the natural forests - so it won't be seen from outside. They will be made from wood, stone and glass - no concrete - and will see high end finishing on bathrooms, floors and kitchens. The kitchens will be of high-end European standards," DeTroy added.

open look

"It will have a complete, open look with garden in the houses and spectacular views, with floor spaces ranging from 3,500 to 5,000 square feet. There will be also big openings and sliding doors," he said.

He said a heliport - a platform for landing helicopters - will be located at the site, and that all services will be provided, including housekeeping, gardening, general maintenance and services such as babysitting.

The units to be constructed will be powered by between 60 and 65 per cent by solar energy, and by virtue of its environmental thrust, will also focus heavily on water conservation.

"Each unit will have its own garden, swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and since it is a green development, the water for the pools and gardening will be from rain," DeTroy said. "I want to make sure in the event there is no water supply from the water commission, we have clean drinking water with our own cleaning and filtering system," he added.

DeTroy said he has designed similar developments in the islands of St Maarten, Anguilla and Dominica. He said the Turtle Crawl Hill project plans were in their last phase of preparation and would be submitted to the Portland Parish Council in a matter of weeks.

"Portland still is the area for high-end tourism - for Bohemians and aristocrats, so I believe we will have no problem in selling the units," DeTroy said. "A lot of Jamaicans in the diaspora too have been successful financially and would love to come back when they retire in one of the nicest places - and that is Portland."