Reflections on Club O

Having a rare day off today I've been taking some time to reflect on our many great times at Orient and Club O. Irma was devastating for the Island and it's residents. The effects are still being felt today. Then comes Covid-19 and it's pretty clear the world is in constant turmoil with how to deal with this pandemic. It seems to me we have seen the best of the island and in particular, Club O. The legal wrangling going on with regard to the Clubs future seems endless and is disheartening to say the least. No positive outcome seems likley, certainly not in the immediate future. We will always cherish our time on the island but I fear those days are past. We will return once it is safe and reasonable to do so but with very different expectations. In the meantime other adventures and experiences are in the offing and we are blessed to have made great friends during our time in St Martin who we will share those experience with.
Cheers

We echo those sentiments. After spending many afternoons on their beach, we finally decided to try staying there and became hooked. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

I don't have anything I can share at this time other than the Owners haven't given up. I continue to be cautiously optimistic about the eventual resurrection of Club O.

Jenni--best wishes to them. I truly hope they are able to rebuild at some point..

What’s Club O? Hoping that sarcasm/reverse psychology might wake up some owner/reader to compromise. We still plan a Nude Year’s Eve pilgrimage to the yellow umbrella Mecca, but they are working hard to allow time to fade memories and allow alternatives to supplant near permanent migrations for some. What may have been salvageable is utter rubbish now, so any rebuild wouldn’t be a 6 month thing.

Perhaps a permanent tent on platform campground like St John’s Cinnamon Bay with air conditioners and a pavilion for meals and dances could be rapid to get cash flow.

Rebuild permanent utilities, chalets/stuff over time

https://cinnamonbayresort.com/

Please settle your differences people.

In looks like no one wins right now, lose/lose/lose

PelicanPirate (if that is your real name), thanks for your suggestions. Now that you mention it, of course we will compromise and build your new Club O right away. </sarcasm> How often did you stay at Club O? (rhetorical)

Have you done much reading about the issues on Saint-Martin right now? It would be really nice if people would follow the news rather than just listening to rumours.

Regardless of the number of posts from non-owners, the owners are not having petty squabbles. Even if we were, that's not why the resort has not been rebuilt and it is simply propagating lies to say it is. I know I speak for many owners (since they've asked me to) when I say that as an owner who has volunteered many hundreds of hours working on all the issues it is frustrating when we see posts that imply or say outright that the cause of the delays is infighting. That isn't the case at all. We are not all one big happy family but we are able to talk to each other civilly most of the time (which is more than some families can say).

Are you aware that the PPRN stopped a lot of rebuilding in coastal areas, including Club Orient? Are you aware that the PPRN was the root cause of the roadblocks and general civil unrest on Saint-Martin (spearheaded by Cedrick Andre, among others)? Most of Sandy Ground (Cedrick's home area) was not allowed to rebuild because of the PPRN and that also restricted Club Orient owners from rebuilding. The civil unrest cause France to rethink the application of the PPRN on Saint-Martin and we hope there will be changes this fall that will allow us to obtain a rebuilding permit.

There are many complex issues to be solved, including getting a rebuilding permit (which wasn't possible because of the PPRN but may be possible if the revised version is accepted this fall).

The issues seem to be shifting like sand under our feet much of the time and none of them are caused by infighting or lack of willingness to compromise or (as one post said) sitting around on our asses. Ok, I admit that we are sitting on our asses most of the time when we are on the weekly or bi-weekly Zoom calls we've been having since September 2017 but that doesn't mean we aren't also still working hard to get the resort back and functioning.

Also, it's good that you recognize that this isn't a "6m thing". I suspect that you have never been involved in a building project, let alone a rebuilding project, which is always more complicated. From application to approval is usually a 5-6m process, BTW. Even once we have a rebuilding permit we will still have to contract with construction companies to get the work done and there is a short supply of those on the island and supplies are in short supply. That isn't even considering COVID-19 or don't you believe in that either?

When we have plans that we are ready to communicated, we will. First to all the owners and only then to the public on our website.

from Ontario, Canada

Was this not a permit?

Awesome, hit a nerve and got some silence broken. Stayed many times in lat decade including twice in 2017. Looked i to buying and the people said be prepared to lose all your money. Good advice

Infighting, weve heard much of the infighting from those they called dissidents.

But i guess that is solved now. We had heard the insurance company didnt want to cut checks to an “unresolved situation”. Are they ready to release funds? We had heard in the Steven Payne days they had plans. Then the PPRN did hit and clearly Sandy Ground was an issue and logical Club O might be but never really heardso, Did the PPRN say no rebuilding or had to be built to a higher standard? The PPRN thing was wanting to buy people out in Sandy Ground and the peeps said no. Did they want to buy Clob O owners out to go away?

As a non-owner, i am dependent on info. Inquiring minds the world over are thirsting for status/progress.

And I am right I think that some have moved on and found a replacement while the difficulties continue.

So to summarize:
1) no infighting means the insurance company has a healthy group to dispurse funds
2) the healthy group can have architects design plans
3) plans can be presented to authorities for approval/rejection
4) the pprn can require drastic building code requirements
5) the healthy griup can comply with new designs
6) the pprn could prohibit rebuilding and healthy griup take a pprn settlement and no club o resort

Glad to hear no infighting- that is progress. Looking forward to more i fo as it unfolds


Oh and it is my real name. Momma was a pelican and daddy was a pirate 🏴‍☠️ 🦜

PPRN was annulled and the new revision will take place in 2021. I don’t know if that is good for owners to get approved permits or not? Very confusing...

Tonythepilot, correct. This was not a building permit. It was issued under emergency conditions as part of the DPI. You can see that the Permit Number field is crossed out and DP written in.

To clarify, under the terms of the new version of the PPRN, if they are incorporated as expected, only REbuilding will be allowed. That is, buildings that existed prior to Irma will be allowed to be rebuilt and they can be rebuilt with modifications that will allow them to meet the requirements of the PPRN. For example, the wooden units at Club Orient would be rebuilt in concrete. For residences in Sandy Ground it may mean that people who would not otherwise be allowed to rebuild should be allowed to do so. The government recognizes that it is important to allow people to rebuild their homes but will require them to be safer and also recognizes the need for resorts such as Club Orient.

Sources for information
Prefet for St. Barts and Saint-Martin -- http://www.saint-barth-saint-martin.gouv.fr/
Collectivité: http://www.com-saint-martin.fr/
Announcement in July 2020 about the cancellation of the PPRN implemented in advance in 2019: http://www.com-saint-martin.fr/La-COM-obtient-du-Tribunal-administratif-de-Paris-l-annulation-du-PPRN-pris-par-anticipation-le-6-ao%C3%83%C2%BBt-2019-par-la-Pr%C3%83%C2%A9fecture-de-Saint-Barth%C3%83%C2%A9lemy-et-Saint-Martin!_Saint-Martin-Antilles_2136.html

Here is a more recent link in French... use google translate if you don’t speak French.

https://www.stmartinweek.fr/2020/08/04/urbanisme-•-le-tribunal-administratif-de-saint-martin-casse-larrete-portant-par-anticipation-de-la-revision-du-plan-de-prevention-des-risques-naturels/80541

See inline below. You leap to a lot of conclusions and include information that is not factual and not true.

[/quote]

Thank you for the information.

JDK_Ontario - I want to thank you for providing this info to all of us that are curious for updates. The mere fact that you are providing information now is encouraging!!! Thank you!

The PPRN was thrown out in court and no longer exist. The PPRN would have set building requirements but it has been annulled and no longer exist until a new PPRN is created in 2021 and passed! So Club Orient has no excuses anymore to leave a complete ruin of prime property in the state it is in. It is an eyesore and is dangerous to visit.

JDK
Grateful for your imput. Curious what do you see as the most difficult obstacle to rebuilding? Do you see a path to rebuilding the Club as most of us knew it or is there now a different vision ? I realize these questions are a bit simplistic for what Im sure is a complex situation.
Cheers.

JDK--Interesting. I have no first hand information, but did hear several things from a good friend (not an owner), who has subsequently passed away. My impression was that the owners had all signed the management agreement when they bought into the resort? The actual workings of the thing were a mystery to those of use who didn't own there, and facts were in short supply. My impression was that the 'dissident' owners didn't want to continue to comply with the contract they had signed. That many of them basically wanted to just live in their units full time, while refusing to pay anything for maintenance of the property. There were definitely problems among the owners going on before Irma. After Irma, the problem became the insurance company was afraid to pay out proceeds to any group because the owner's group was in disarray and they didn't want to get sued for paying out to someone and then someone else claiming that they paid out to the wrong people. With no insurance money to rebuild, it didn't matter what the PPRN said, because they couldn't rebuild without any money. Has the insurance company now paid out the claim?? If so, that is wonderful news!

This was from Daily Herald so it was not rumors...

https://www.sxm-talks.com/the-daily...ntends-to-rebuild-says-managing-director

The insurance pay out was 5 million euros and the amount to rebuild is 15 million! I hope everyone of the owners is willing to open up their wallets to make up for the difference. The under insurance of the property and rebuild was risky by it’s self.
It will take an estimate of two years to rebuild and many loyal guests have found other rentals in the Orient Beach area that have very nice accommodations and swimming pools. Good Luck!

JDK--Sorry, my source did not involve rumors. The person had a very deep relationship with Club O. I really do not see any specific information that you have provided here..

My question remains--HAS the insurance money been paid out??

I need to apologize for my rude comments. I stayed at Club Orient resort from 1983 to 1989 and really have great memories. I hate seeing the ruins when even visiting the Club O beach and Perch Lite. I was able to rebuild after Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Luis. I knew my HOA did not want to see a villa in ruins and neither did I. Sorry we lost a very nice owner that was willing to share information with us but clammed up!

Thanks JDK, I see a lot of good information you have posted. At least it’s not second hand.

Yes. Thanks JDK. Some news and movement. The world needs Club O alive imho

Didn't know it was that important to the "world". LOL

Pretty sure not important to the whole world or you Scubaman, but important to those of us that stayed there for many, many years and that loved the place. LOL

We all know your " views" on Orient beach ad nauseam Mr Scubaman. Frankly those of us who do enjoy the naturalist experience available there could care less about your opinion of our choices. Give it a rest.

Orient is one of the beaches i frequent every trip. To each their own if you go with or without full clothing. Could care less .

Club Orient back in the day was awesome!

Important to a great deal who have partaked. For those that do, have not found a better place to do so. Only Half Moon Cay compares as second place on a BN nude cruise.

So in the nudist world It matters and it has introduced many, many people to swimming sans bathing costume.

I have to say it is the best place on the planet for a steady breeze under a sturdy umbrella with a beautiful view and soft sand. Add a Carib and no sovgy swimsuit And cant think of a better alternative.

Right on Pelican Pirate. We have met so many wonderful people since 2001. They are all still good friends.
We get together with three different groups here in the states at different locations each year. Nothing like Orient Beach friends.

OK, it's a new year, time for an update.
Anyone "in the know" care to share with us?
I know you are out there.

Nothing that I can share, but there is a lot of work going on in the background. There is a designated spokesperson now; I'm sure she'll share just as soon
as possible!

Jenn--well, that is somewhat optimistic news. Hope it does get resolved, in a way which preserves Club O, in some fashion.

Although my wife and I have never stayed at Club O. (her decision), we have many times enjoyed the beach there, visiting Papagayo, and the Perch Bar & Grill. For us, Club O. needs to be rebuilt because it's a historical part of Orient Beach and French St. Martin. Seeing that area in ruins in all of our recent trips has been so depressing, though the efforts to keep the beach going strong and the Perch afloat have been inspiring. We would also love to see Pedro's return, because that was another landmark that we enjoyed in the past. Pedro's was the first place we visited when a taxi dropped us off there many years ago and I made sure I gave them some business with every visit since. I keep saying 2021 will be a far better year than the miserable 2020 so I'm optimistic that there will be real movement with the resurrection of Club O. Let's all hope.

JenniBoston,
I suggest they get finished with whatever they are doing and this appointed spokesperson start talking because we and the wallet are finally walking. We cant be alone.

We are taking are money to a much more expensive all inclusive place which we never wanted to do after spending last two nude year’s roughing it under Cedric’s Yellow Umbrellas.

Pandemic rqmts/border worries and no real nude resort to spend the day/night at was final straw and we said lets go some place easier and actually functioning.

Im sure we would come back to Club O If reopened, but the 3+ year closure may have permanently altered the habits of many annual migrants.

We’d be happy with Cinnamon Bay tents, running water toilets, and a rebuilt Papagayo. That cant be too hard.
PP

Thanks Jenni, nice to hear that despite appearances, Club O is not dead yet.
Looking forward to hearing something positive from the spokesperson.
I assume that will be here?

Thanks JDK_Ontario, your explanationi is clear and shows that there is still hope. At age 80 however, I wonder if I will ever see Club O back in operation.

Thank you Jenniboston - I check in here every day hoping for news. This is great to hear.

The right spokesperson is key in a crisis...

There is no official spokesperson at the moment.

There's a pandemic right now, but that's not to say that there isn't ongoing work towards rebuilding but it has definitely slowed down. Prior to the pandemic there were (and still are) issues with the PPRN and the liquidation of OBC that complicated the rebuilding effort.

Government offices are not operating as efficiently and are focused on the health of their people (for the most part). The courts have been delayed, updates to the PPRN have been delayed. The liquidation of OBC has been delayed far beyond anything anyone would have believed was possible.

The people (owners) who are working towards rebuilding are all volunteers who have put hundreds of hours towards this, as well as funding a lot of the work and ongoing costs (e.g. the architect is a nice guy but he still needs to be paid to pay his staff). Any travel to Saint-Martin (some of the owners are French) is paid for by the person making the trip, not by the Copro.

In summary, owners are working towards rebuilding and putting their time and money towards it. They can only do so much. When they are ready to share information publicly, it will be posted first on the Club Orient website.

I would say that Club O was for us the find of a lifetime. We met the best people from staff, management, owners, and fellow visitors who some are now life long friends.

We experienced so many laughs that resulted in cherished memories.

I can only say that we hope we can experience Club O again!

Thank you to all who made our stays so much fun. We miss you.

Naked Lobsters from Maine!

carib cheers,
doctorj

Amen Doc!!

You still have that costume?

They said “designated” spokesperson not “official” spokesperson......and a she.

Is this real or fog. My radar sees nothing real, just fog.

It all the squabling is over, why nothing to keep the masses interested

https://cluborient.com/

The best looking, least informative website.

Agree with Dr J, Club O is the find of a lifetime and as been life changing for us.

That is why so many “inquiring people want to know”.

What happened to the permit for the multistory structure that was approved and not in the flood zone?

PnP,

Funny story about that costume.

After it was displayed on the beach by the bead line we tossed it in the trash can on the beach. Each day it would be back by the chairs holding a beer. Last day we tossed it again.

Weeks after returning home a package arrives and it was the costume. The note said “I’m back! “

Thinking it was sent from friends in California (airline pilot) we and sent it back to the west coast.
You were on the list of suspects.
Turns out it came from friends in Alabama.

That costume had some nice trips and clocked some good air miles.

carib cheers,
doctorj

Doctorj,

Oh I remember well... The way that thing kept turning up on the beach was so funny!!! ...and yes, I remember when you thought it was us.

That is one of the best Club O stories ever... total classic!

Take care,
PnP

It's the same for us. Club O will love on in our memories and with the very special people we befriended. Here's hoping 2021 brings us back to that very special Island

And the same for us as well. It’s the only place we’ve stayed on island since 1991.

we agree with doctorj. finding club o was a great experience for us (from walking the entire beach nude, the massage's, the quiet time under the yellow umbrella, visiting with other guests, eating lunch at the restaurant , etc, etc. ) My bride said she would never go nude but once on the beach she quickly lost her clothes - almost like we went to heaven and back. We loved every day there on the beach. We spent most every April there for 15 years and really miss it now (had to cancel last year's trip and don't feel comfortable going this April). So, we would love to find another place like it.