The good life lives on in the Caribbean, despite the fact that some of the region’s grandest real estate projects stalled or completely fell through during the recent housing-market crash. Amid the latest signs of recovery in the tropics are three vacation-home communities notable for their mix of well-appointed residences and resort-style conveniences.
The newest of the three, called Zemi Beach, is located on the northeast coast of Anguilla, on the pristine beaches of Shoal Bay. The approximately five-acre community, planned for completion by the end of 2016, released its 73 one- to three-bedroom condominium- and penthouse-style residences for sale in January. The homes, priced from $608,000 to $2.9 million, will incorporate natural woods and coral stone and offer private plunge pools and stunning sea views. The first four residences will be finished in August. Upon completion of its main facilities, the property will include a gym, a spa and fitness center, a swimming pool, a beachfront restaurant, and services such as grocery shopping, valet and car transportation, and room service, all of which homeowners will be able to arrange through Zemi Beach’s iPad app.
Those looking to settle on St. Lucia—an island known for the dramatic volcanic Pitons and an emerging farm-to-table dining scene—have new cause to investigate the 20-year-old Jalousie Plantation resort: The property is undergoing a $100 million renovation that will add, among other enhancements, 42 whole-ownership residences. By the end of the year, the property will have been transformed into Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort. Priced from $2.4 million to $9 million, the homes—the first three of which were completed in June—will be tucked into the landscape in a way that offers privacy and affords sweeping views of the Pitons. Buyers work with an in-house design team to pick out the furnishings and fixtures for their homes, which range in size from 3,500 to 13,800 square feet. All of the residences are within walking distance of the resort’s four restaurants, newly finished gym and fitness center, and 2-?year-old Rainforest Spa, each of which homeowners will be able to access.
Resort-style living continues on St. Kitts, where Christophe Harbour, developed by the South Carolina–based Kiawah Partners, released its latest homesites for sale in May 2011. Prices for Christophe Harbour’s plots, which upon the community’s completion will not outnumber 2,000, range from $750,000 to $6 million. (Also on offer are nine fractional-ownership residences with harbor and ocean views, stone flooring, and mahogany finishes; pricing is $411,000 for a one-tenth share.) The 2,500-acre community, which broke ground in 2008, has completed six homes and a beach club to date.
Also in development at Christophe Harbour is a seaside village. It promises to become the hub of the community, with shops, restaurants and cafés, and a yacht club. And the village’s 300-slip marina will make it easy for homeowners with yachts to island-hop.
Christophe Harbour, 800.881.7180, www.christopheharbour.com; Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, +44.844.921.0126, www.residencessugarbeach.com; Zemi Beach, 917.300.0566, www.zemibeach.com
