Director of Building and Development for the Port Authority Dillon Knowles told the Bahama Journal that the Port Authority had already spent “significant amounts of money on the beautification of the public spaces” with the planting of trees on the main thoroughfares.
At a recent town meeting hosted by the City of Freeport Local Government Council, some Freeport residents raised concerns over buildings in the Freeport area they say have become an “eyesore.”
According to Mr. Knowles, there are 14 buildings on the Port Authority’s list to be demolished once the due diligence process has been completed.
Some of the more notable buildings include Sea Sun Manor South and the East Sunrise Apartments.
“Once we deem the building to be unsafe or unsanitary, the first step is to notify the property owner of that particular condition and require the property owner to either effect the necessary repairs or demolish the buildings themselves,” Mr. Knowles said.
“We give them a prescribed period of time in which to do so. If after the prescribed time is expired and it has not been repaired or demolished by the property owner, then we undertake legal proceedings to put ourselves in a position to be able to demolish the building as the Port Authority.”
Some owners had said Sea Sun Manor South has been in bad shape since Hurricane Frances dealt it a crippling blow.
Mr. Knowles said in the case of Sea Sun Manor, which is owned by 44 individuals, the due diligence process may take a lot longer than the Port Authority anticipates.
Another building, the Portion Control establishment located on West Atlantic Drive, had been sitting in a state of disrepair for some time. However, the building was recently demolished by its owner, who told the Bahama Journal recently that he intends to rebuild on that site.
Meanwhile, the Casa Bahama building, which was touted as the tallest building in Grand Bahama before the Our Lucaya Resort came on stream, was ravaged by fire in 2004.
However, Mr. Knowles said Casa Bahama has a restoration permit for repairs and those repairs started late last year.
Mr. Knowles said the Port Authority gives a certain amount of time, on an individual basis, for the property owner to complete the repairs. However, when it comes to demolishing a building, the Port Authority generally gives the property owner 30 days.
“Once we complete that legal process then we go ahead and demolish the structure and put a lien against the property for the cost of the demolition so that at the time the property is sold or mortgaged, we would have been able to recoup the cost of the demolition,” Mr. Knowles said.
“One way or the other it actually ends up being the responsibility of the property owner, but sometimes we have to step in and make it happen,” he said.
Plans to revitalize Freeport and make it more pedestrian-friendly are in the works.
Co-chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority Julian Francis, in an earlier interview with the Journal, said there is a need to maintain the standards set by the Port Authority, and preserve the heritage of “this modern city.”
By: Courtnee Romer, The Bahama Journal
