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Plan for Orient Beach
#29954
11/05/2014 10:22 AM
11/05/2014 10:22 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,781 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
OP
Traveler
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OP
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Posts: 82,781
Central Florida!
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Unfortunately the story is not in the online Daily Herald, but there is a story today regarding a plan to re-do part of Orient Beach, parcel AW34, whatever that is. I assume, without knowing, it's where the majority of the small restaurants are. I'm not sure if it is a done deal or not, but the plan apparently is to have some pre-fab type creole structures, each to house two restaurants. There will be a tourist market, walkway, parking for 80 cars and a proper access road, and praise be, public bathrooms! The plan would require closure of the businesses in June, rehab through the end of September and reopen around the beginning of October 2015.
Overall to me it sounds good, except for the closing for the summer part. Not sure how the restaurants will survive, being closed for 4 months. Maybe individual restaurants would close at different times?
Carol Hill
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: Ted_n_Jan]
#29956
11/05/2014 11:07 AM
11/05/2014 11:07 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,421 Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye
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Posts: 13,421
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
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Ted_n_Jan said: It might be nicer as far as amenities go, but I would miss the funky mix of places that are there now. Exactly. I'm wondering if the same person who now controls Kon-Tiki and Bikini also controls those parcels of land?
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: GaKaye]
#29959
11/05/2014 12:15 PM
11/05/2014 12:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,781 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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OP
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To me, I think the 'funky mix' was kind of an eyesore, but I am probably in the minority. According to the story, supposedly the plan was met with approval by the current lessors, which I doubt, but we shall see. I wish the story was online for others to read it and see what their take is on it. Perhaps it will be in one of the other online sources.
Carol Hill
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: GaKaye]
#29963
11/05/2014 12:43 PM
11/05/2014 12:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,781 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,781
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Hopefully the outcome of this will not to be to raise prices, but to make the area a bit more attractive and user friendly.
Carol Hill
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: mit43]
#29966
11/05/2014 01:24 PM
11/05/2014 01:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,781 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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OP
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Posts: 82,781
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I have no idea who currently owns the land, either on Orient, or in Grand Case.
Carol Hill
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: Ted_n_Jan]
#29969
11/05/2014 01:52 PM
11/05/2014 01:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,781 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,781
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Aloha was nice inside. Many of the others, especially from the outside, were an eyesore..
Carol Hill
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#29971
11/05/2014 04:29 PM
11/05/2014 04:29 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 92 South Florida
zippy
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Posts: 92
South Florida
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Carol_Hill said: Aloha was nice inside. Many of the others, especially from the outside, were an eyesore.. So now they will all look alike. Cookie cutter establishments. You think that's an improvement ? That's what I call an eyesore.
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#29975
11/05/2014 05:09 PM
11/05/2014 05:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
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Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
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I also am a fan of the "funky mix" with the "Caribbean feel". My 3 faves on that end of the beach are Orange Fever, Ethnic and Chez Leandra. And hopefully, nobody will try to "improve" the Club Orient end (except Club O). <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Umbrella.gif" alt="" />
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: Biturbo]
#29976
11/05/2014 06:01 PM
11/05/2014 06:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,059 Maine, USA
Chuck_Morton
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Posts: 1,059
Maine, USA
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Biturbo said: I also am a fan of the "funky mix" with the "Caribbean feel". My 3 faves on that end of the beach are Orange Fever, Ethnic and Chez Leandra. And hopefully, nobody will try to "improve" the Club Orient end (except Club O). <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Umbrella.gif" alt="" /> I agree completely! The "funky mix" is what makes Orient Beach unique. Sounds like they want to turn a wonderful place into an Aruba clone.... Let's make it pretty for the American tourists!
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: BrucenSusanMN]
#29978
11/05/2014 11:08 PM
11/05/2014 11:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 276 North of Boston
Ted_n_Jan
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 276
North of Boston
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Some truly great replies here, TravelHat, Biturbo, Chuck,, brucenSusan and others
For those of you old enough to remember, it reminds me of a song called "Little Boxes" popularized by Pete Seeger.
It begins:
"Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky tacky, Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes all the same. There's a green one and a pink one And a blue one and a yellow one, And they're all made out of ticky tacky And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses All went to the university, Where they were put in boxes And they came out all the same, ............"
I don't really believe there is much I can do, but we just arrived on island today, and we'll do what we can by visiting not only the small places we normally frequent, but also the ones that we don't usually eat at.
Ashamed to admit it, but we have never tried Chez Leandra.
We'll fix that omission in the next few days.
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: mprevo]
#29981
11/06/2014 09:29 AM
11/06/2014 09:29 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,646 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,646
Brookfield, CT.
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Just my humble opinion but..........
We don't spend all that much time on OB these days, reason being, we loved it in it's natural state prior to ALL the changes that happened years back when the beach was initially developed to that which most know today, and the only 'eatery' along the beach was the 'guy with the BBQ' where you ate whatever he offered that day or went hungry. Now that was real 'island feel' or 'Caribbean quaint' IMO.
But that said and out of the way, I can't help but notice that with each major modernization that happens across the island, many of us stand in outrage over the loss of the Caribbean feel, yet as the improvements are completed and in place, we enjoy the new feel and convenience they provide just as much. I'm willing to bet the same thing will happen along Orient Beach as long as there is a good mix and prices remain within the realm of 'affordable' so that all can enjoy.
So many felt the same way about the Boardwalk in Philipsberg, the new airport and the current cruise ship port but most will admit they are all welcome and pleasant improvements. I suspect, once done, we'll all get over the loss of that which once was and will come to enjoy the new feel, as long as so many of our friends aren't displaced because of the changes. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: pat]
#29982
11/06/2014 12:44 PM
11/06/2014 12:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 304 NC, USA
Durathror
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Traveler
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Posts: 304
NC, USA
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If they lose the individual character of each establishment, it will be a great loss. If they can somehow maintain that and add the conveniences they list, that would be great. The difficultly, obviously, will be in finding the balance.
There's a small fortune to be made in racing; just start with a large one.
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: Modi]
#29987
11/06/2014 11:23 PM
11/06/2014 11:23 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 391 San Antonio
sumbeach
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Posts: 391
San Antonio
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Hmmm, lots of differing opinions from all the SXM veterans. I am still looking for the survey from OB owners/lessors asking for our opinions. I would imagine they are going to do what they think they have to do in order to stay in business. Part of the allure of many Caribbean places is the individuality and uniqueness of the brick and mortar - or maybe better described as palm fronds, hibiscus, and bougainvillas - but I think the real draw is the people, the natural parts like the beach, the mountains, the countryside. Most of the restaurants/bars we have visited are pretty much Americanized/Canadianized - sometimes you aren't sure if you are in SXM, or Hawaii, or Houston, LA, etc. We love Orient Beach and I don't think the general feel is going to change a lot. We all do what we have to do.
Dan
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Re: Plan for Orient Beach
[Re: JimRuos]
#29993
11/07/2014 04:44 PM
11/07/2014 04:44 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,781 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Like I said in the original post, I couldn't tell from the original newspaper story whether this was supposed to be a done deal or not.
Carol Hill
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