And now a word from a 30 year veteran Construction Project Manager who is not making a dollar on any of it. First let me say that where Reef Village is you can build responsibly. But when putting the pilings in to bedrock you really ought to use a pile driver, (2,000 per cost.) to do it. Not your back-hoe going tap tap. Ergo settling. Then once the grade beams, tie beams, drag structures, and shear walls, and slabs are in, use as much stuccoed foam as possible to keep the weight down.
Also let me say for the people who are so concerned about the Mangroves, the ones that truly had a relationship with the reef were the ones many on you removed from the front of the island. The back has mostly black mangrove and practically nothing lives on it. It's like a desert back there. Go see for yourself. It does however protect land from erosion so a good idea to keep it at most shorelines. I personally think building a copy of Southbeach is lame and it would not become bustling like Miami's Ocean Drive. But Marina style communities? By all means. Should have saved the front and done those there in the first place. Mini processing plants are quite capable of handling all the sewer and water needs. When I have gone back there I envisioned the same thing. It's almost there already. When you dredge back there fish show up and we need places where fish can go to spawn and the young can grow. This could be Man assisting rather than hurting assuming it's done right. Go to the back of town mangroves and walk in the shallows. You'll see baby snapper and many more that are in 2 inches of water where it's safe. If I were King I would make the developers provide some area for trees for bird nesting. I live in an area near Marina's Market that has the last amount of trees left to harbor birds nesting and the green iguana's etc. The lots are already marked, sold, and will soon be built on. There are no more areas like it south of the bridge. Say goodbye to many of our migrating birds. Knowledge is Power. We're paving Paradise. All of us. So think, act, or STFU and get out of the way. Last let me say we have an opportunity to be examples of Man coexisting with nature here. Lets not blow it. Has to work, has to pay. Not an easy proposition. But worth it. There are hundreds of islands along this reef. This island is mostly destroyed already. Whatever can be done to help is a plus. Over 80% of the positive relationship between the Reef, Sea grass, and front (red) mangroves had, is non existent. Every camera battery the tourists have brought here since day one that were not taken away by them are in the ground and so groundwater and reef. The ground is toxic. The Bottled water we all get from Bowen's has the number 7 inside the triangle which means it's the one with the bad carcinogen in it. So we're going to see cancer, mercury, and lead poisoning and god knows what else as time goes on. I love it here but sometimes because we want the commerce and don't want to scare it off we don't say things we should. OK. I feel better. Please send any complaints to yourselves. lol