And finally, tonight we're giving you a look at a little slice of garden paradise hidden in one of San Pedro's more residential neighbourhoods. It's the Grand Baymen Gardens, a resort/residence that just got a brand new addition to its high-rise condominium offerings.
7News was at the opening ceremony and here's what Grand Baymen's newest residents had to say about their new digs.
San Pedro's Grand Baymen Gardens, it's a haven for resident retirees, as well as Belizeans looking to relax and have a good time in San Pedro.
The resort, most of which has been brought under the Best Western brand has everything any holiday maker could want, complete with a pool, personnel fitness centre, a full bar, and most recently the resort's newest addition, the building they've designated "Fleet." It borders that property's Gardens and just today became home to Micheal and Carolin Russo.
Carolin Russo, Property Owner
"This morning, I took my cup of coffee out and I sat in the chair and listened to the birds sing and the greenery, the just the tropical vegetation was beautiful, chicken and roosters crowing, it was great, it was great."
Micheal Russo, Property Owner
"It was everything we expected, just a beautiful place, and beautiful people, that's part of it. The people here are just the kindest, they're pleasant and they go out of their way to do anything for us. I mean if I ask for directions they want to take me. So, it's a fabulous culture for anyone who's never experienced it. You have to experience the people here, they're wonderful."
And while settling in has been easy breezy for this couple they were spared the struggles of bringing the building into reality even as construction started right when the pandemic hit.
Joel Nagel, Partner, ECI Development Company
"You know it was, you know the lockdown, people, you know a lot of the labor left the island, uh, Ambergris Caye is probably one of the more expensive places in Belize to live as I'm sure you know and you know, even when labor could be here, a lot of it wasn't here so we had to try to convince people to come back and get back to work and then provide housing, things like that that we don't normally get involved with, so everything from transportation to housing, we had to get involved in all of those things."
But all that was behind them this morning when it was all about the long-awaited ribbon cutting on that ECI's partners and managers were ecstatic to celebrated
Mike Cobb, CEO-Co-Founder ECI Development
"The perseverance of our team and look at the end of the day it's always about the perseverance of the people on the ground getting the job done, Mario, Gustavo, Lorena, I give them all the credit for getting this building completed, through some very very thought times, they did a tremendous job and we are so fortunate to have people like them as part of our team to make it happen."
Lorena Vasquez, Property Manager
"Well, we're super excited I mean it's a brand new project, new rooms, you know two bedrooms are definitely in high demand on the island. So, you know they have great bookings for this unit and we thank the owners that invested in them and that are here present today attending the event with us but yes, we are excited to have it and add it to our residences here at Grand Baymen."
ECI partners also teased a beachfront Marriott hotel, telling our news team that ground on the project has already been broken. That property should be open to visitors and to the public in December of 2024.
