They say life is better in the Bahamas. It’s also about to get bigger, with a residential and marina development called Habacoa that will be able to welcome superyachts as large as 700 feet in its 150-slip marina.
According to the developers, there will also be a 200-vessel dry-stack facility, with an 880-foot turning circle in the basin. Ten of the homesites will have private berths for yachts up to 100 feet long, while additional canal-front lots will have private berths for boats of other sizes.
Zaha Hadid Architects—known for projects such as Infinitus Plaza in Guangzhou, China, and The Opus in Dubai—is designing a 25,000-square-foot members-only yacht club, a nightclub and a casino. Each building will integrate sustainable technologies and use environmentally responsible materials, according to the developers. The site includes an existing deepwater cove, and most excavation is expected to happen on land, minimizing disruption to the shoreline and marine life. Targets for renewable energy include accounting for one-third of the project’s power consumption, taking advantage of the island nation’s substantial sunshine to generate solar power. Rainwater harvesting and a wastewater-recycling plant will add to sustainable water usage.
A spa, wellness center and fitness center will be open to residents and guests, along with shopping, dining and live entertainment. Developers say there will also be “an upscale dedicated crew club” for visiting yachts.
Overall, the project is expected to bring more than 1,000 jobs to the local people of the Abacos, with about 600 of the positions remaining permanent after the development is complete.
Acres of Enticement: Habacoa
The Habacoa development is expected to span 500 acres, surrounded by some 20,000 acres of Abaco National Park. The marina will have on-site customs and immigration services, allowing the property’s resident and visiting yachts a different experience than locations used by other cruisers in the archipelago. The marina will have in-slip fueling, pump-out and utilities, as well as high- and low-tide entry with a 26-foot-deep canal. The yacht club is being designed to serve as a landmark that’s visible to yachts from afar.
