This is an aerial view of Orient construction which I received from PnPinNC, taken when they were parasailing yesterday.


Thanks for the picture! Very cool view!

Wow. Notice, hardly any beach in front of Kon Tiki.

Wow, crazy! Great pic.

And if the new buildings are set back as far as the artist's renderings suggest, the tenants could have a major competitive edge.

Thank you for sharing the picture, PnPinNC.

Exactly what I was thinking...

Thanks so much for the picture. Taken from high up you really get a feeling for the scope of what is happening. It makes the beach area in front of the places left to be miniscule. It remains to be seen if this will be better or worse, but so far it looks better to me to be a little further from the ocean.

Thanks for the picture...also note...there are no chairs at all in front of Pedro's....just water!!!! It sure is a different view from up on the parachute!!

It is too bad they didn't take Pedros too and make everything look better. The new buildings will have lots of room for chairs on the beach and hopefully lots of sand.

I think Pedro's is fine just as it is.

Pedro probably thinks so too! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

(Not a criticism but an observation)
It's funny seeing human nature and its initial reluctance to change on this board. A few years ago the causeway bridge plans and construction was cursed upon and its disastrous effects for the island.....by the time cars were on it you never heard another negative comment on it. A few months ago the majority of posters were upset and up in arms about the OB construction plans and how it was going to ruin Orient's 'feel' and now you can feel a changing attitude toward excitement.

Great photo, thanks PnP. I agree with others that the extra room for chairs will be an advantage. The planners were obviously thinking ahead.

the area in the foreground...is that seaweed in the water?

Your observation is correct. It is always interesting to see how many constantly recent change of any kind, not just on the island but several other places as well. I have thought this idea on Orient would be an improvement from the beginning, but just a little difficult for the restaurant owners initially. I'm sure it will all work out for the better and enhance the total beach area immensely. When it is all completed, I am certain there will be further comments on the project.Looking forward to seeing the new and revitalized Orient Beach on our November visit.

So true. I voiced those same sentiments in previous posts. For the most part change is good.

Pedro's is on Club O property, so they could not touch it.

Thanks for the picture. Sure seems like a small space on the beach, but it contained most of my favorite eating places.
Agree Pedro's could use a little "demolition".

Last March Pedros invited me to come down in August to help them put a new roof on their building. Parts of their roof blew off from the same storm. So it looks like that end will get a complete makeover.

I too learned my lesson about hating change on St Martin. A few years ago I wanted to hate the new airport. The new one is fantastic all you have to do is remember waiting for USAir in that little hot waiting room with only half as many seats the airplane. When the flight was delayed you had even more fun <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Pedro's gets plenty of play on the CO side of the jetty.

i wouldn't say opinions have changed on this board regarding the shacks....i think it's more that they have been removed, they are gone, and now let's get the new buildings up and running as soon as possible so that the ''tenants'' can get back up and running and let them start making a living again. I am really surprised that the construction hasn't started already..(at least that's the way it appears in the pictures). Just seems unfair to keep things not moving quicker for all the displaced workers. I am sure for them every day feels like a month. As for the betterment of Orient, time will obvious tell. I personally cant wait to make my judgement in March!!! Right now, it seems like so far away.

When we were there last week, there were chairs to the right of Pedro's(about 8). There were also a couple in front up above the water. I think there are a couple in this picture.

Glad everyone enjoyed the picture.. to be fair, it was my wife and son who went up and shot it. I kept my feet firmly on the ground - where 'chicken feet' belong. :-)

It does look much smaller then it did with the buildings on it. That is true when you walk the beach past it too. We were all remarking about they ever fit so much in such a small space.

Regarding that awesome aerial photo: What are the buildings to the immediate left of the now fenced-in "sand-only" area where the shacks once stood? And Club Orient is past those buildings, and much further to the left of the image, and out of frame, correct?

The building to the left in the photo is Pedro's. Yes, Club Orient beach is further to the left. You can see the Club Orient grounds above the now cleared sand in the photo.

There haven't been any chairs (in front of) Pedro's for at least 5 years

Thanks, dustin !

morwaves....au contraire.....they had them set up in March when we were there. I know the beach comes and goes, but right now it looks like it's gone.

That is some shot!!!! I can't believe that after ALL these years that back parking/driveway has been leveled down!!!If you had a small car it would get swallowed up from the craters holes!!! I still love the old shanty hut like places. But if Cheryl is good with it then I'm good with it!

Thanks for the great pic.

Three pictures received from RogerandBeth, taken 7-14 and 7-15

thanks for the new pics....it sure does look soooo quiet there now.

Yeah, I wish they would get started with the actual construction, so they get done sooner. It seems like nothing going on right now.

Looking down from our villa now, there is a crane down there moving what look like containers around. I'll get down there as soon as I can get out of my chair, and take some pics.
We were talking to friends who own a restauraunt in Grand Case last night, and they said that the target completion date is 10/15 - then they laughed...

OK, thanks for the continued updates!

WOW -- can't believe how deep the cleared sand is back from waterline. Having driven into area behind Pedros many many times in a cab coming from cruise ship OR driving to Club Os parking lot, I never dreamed there was that much usable land area!!

Drove by this morning and they were working at 7:00am. There is a crane there unloading very large air lines. I'm guessing it is equipment for driving piles. They also had already unloaded several shipping containers. Have no idea what is in those

Glad it looks like they are working again.

Air lines for pile drivers makes sense. Also would think they would also have to put in all new water, sewer/septic, electric before they could start pouring concrete. Would think most of that would be underground, so there maybe some digging and stuff before you start seeing any structures being built.