I had a brief nostalgic moment last week when plans for the demolition of the Gaming Board Building were posted in a government whats app group. I felt nostalgia because the building has some history, but I soon reflected on the issues the same building gave as its years of existence took a toll.
That building, located beside Goodman’s Bay, sat rotting for years as the public and developers asked repeatedly for it to be removed from the prestigious western area where 4-star hotels and million dollar homes exist. Finally, someone heard their cry and decided to rid the area of this eyesore. In a period of about two days, the portion of history that housed the old Gaming Board Building was flattened and toted off like the pile of rubbles it came down to. There now stands nothing.
Just a bit of back history, this building once housed staff of the Gaming Board – governing body of our casinos and numbers houses. The building became infested with mold and was eventually abandoned when numerous employees fell ill.
On the other side of Goodman’s Bay stands the once fabulous and prestigious “La Playa”, former home to Sir Nicholas and Lady Eugenie Nuttall. This home, donned with marble and mahogany, elaborate fireplaces, ballrooms and a kitchen to die for, stood in a state of disrepair for almost 18 years after being purchased for some $3.5 million by the National Insurance Board during the Christie Administration.
Paul Wynn, developer of GoldWynn, a hotel and condominium development in Cable Beach just opposite the Office of the Prime Minister, made an offer to purchase “La Playa” during the Minnis Administration, but was turned down. Wynn recently upped his offer with a side of fancying up Goodman’s Bay, but alas, his offer will once again fall on deaf ears.
After years of writing about this eye-sore on western New Providence, there is finally a plan for the once fabulous residence, “La Playa”. My greatest fear for this building was that Wynn or some other developer would purchase it and flatten it, however, in a conversation with the chairman of NIB on Friday, I learned that my fears are unwarranted.
“The government now intends to use that property for the hosting of high level diplomatic events of The Bahamas,” said Philip “Fish” McKenzie. “That property is going to be developed for that purpose.
“The existing structure is supposed to be completed. It may be modified from what it is – in other words another structure might be added to it. It will not be torn down.”
Although he could not offer a timeline of completion, Mr. McKenzie continued on explaining the plans for the home.
“It is under contract as we speak with a Bahamian firm (Bahamas Striping Co.) that’s doing a PPP on it,” he said. “They are in the process now of doing preparatory work and then to refurbish, complete and furnish it for the intended purpose.
“The developers are better to speak to the timeline to completion. It (the project) is being driven by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
While conversing with the Chairman, I could not hide how elated I was learning about the restoration of this property directly from the horse’s mouth.
Now “La Playa” is not the only NIB-owned eyesore in that prestigious area. Just over the golf course in Prospect Ridge are several dilapidated mansions sitting and rotting on million dollar properties. These estates are also claimed to be owned by a man whom NIB had to spank legally a few times. To date his claims are unfounded and the assets are still in NIB’s treasury.
Years ago, I wasted countless hours talking to the man who claimed to own these places and even though he showed me stacks and stacks of documents, I soon realized that something was not adding up.
Chairman McKenzie also assured me that NIB is on the move and has a plan for those properties as well.
After asking him if these properties will be auctioned, McKenzie told me, “We are in the advanced stages of developing a policy to deal with those properties. We started that process and have a plan in hand. The choice might just be to sell them out right and get some monies in the kitty or we can develop them and hope that we can earn some income from them.
“Obviously one or the other, however if there is a sale we would have the properties appraised and go for market value. The bottom line is that NIB will get a fair market price for the properties.”
Those who follow my writing, can attest to the countless articles that I have written on these million dollar abandoned homes and how I felt it was such a waste to just have them sitting there baking in the sun and being tortured by winds and rain.
I feel like a kid in a candy store knowing that these properties are finally getting the attention they need. Kudos to Chairman and his team at NIB and also to the government of The Bahamas for making the decision to finally take good action with these properties. This is worth commendation. Well that’s how I see it anyway.
