The Town Planning Committee has granted approval in principle for the construction of the 11-level structure referred to as "The Pointe parking, office and retail building". The building is part of the $250 million China Construction America (CCA) project known as The Pointe - a redevelopment of the 6.1 acres adjacent to the British Colonial Hilton, which CCA bought last year for around $60 million.
Meanwhile, Guardian Business has learned that no building permit has yet been issued for the new building. The approval was granted, according to Director of Town Planning Charles Zonicle, at a committee meeting held on November 3, 2015.
The building project is being overseen by Neworld One Bay Street Limited. Neworld One is owned by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, which also owns CCA, and through CCA, the Hilton.
While Zonicle referred to the project as a parking garage, Guardian Business has examined the plans at the Department of Physical Planning. Those plans showed a multi-use structure with space for retail, a lobby and space for offices as well as parking slips. The proposed entrance to the building is off West Bay Street, with an exit back onto West Bay Street. The project team is headed by CCA. The team includes Miami-based ADD Inc., with Stantec as design consultant, Island Site Developments as civil works contractor, Kevin Sweeting and Associates as architect of record and Turell, Hall and Associates out of Naples, Florida, responsible for marina design.
The approval granted, while not a prerequisite for the building permit, is generally sought by contractors in order to ensure that the project is viable or acceptable in terms of town planning. A site plan is part of this process, which shows the location, massing and conceptual design of the exterior of all buildings and structures to be erected; the existing grading and proposed alteration in contour and elevation of the land; servicing facilities; vehicular facilities; pedestrian facilities inclusive of those with disability, storage and waste facilities; lighting facilities and border and landscape facilities.
The Pointe is a $250 million project featuring a 200-room residential component and an 80-slip marina next to the Hilton.
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