Today, Milo B. Butler & Sons Investment Company Ltd. (Milo Butler Investments) officially completed phase two of a $12 million investment project in Downtown Freeport. Company board members joined government officials and Grand Bahama business leaders at a soft opening and building renaming ceremony. On hand for the event were the Hon. Kingsley Smith, Member of Parliament for West End Grand Bahama and Bimini and Mr. Ian Rolle, President of Grand Bahama Port Authority.
The final phase of the project valued at $6.9 million included extensive renovations to the 22,000 sq. ft. The Grand Union building adjacent to The Winn building in Downtown Freeport. Work commenced on phase two in May 2023. Lead contractor Patrick McDonald Construction Company Ltd spearheaded construction of The Grand Union building which will house the Disaster Reconstruction Authority’s main office and warehouse space.
As part of phase two, Select Design & Construction led by Principal Craig Kemp oversaw the build out of an additional 12,000 sq. ft. of office building space attached to The Winn building. Grand Bahama’s Parliamentary Department and the Training Department of the Public Service will relocate to the space.
Damian Butler, Chairman and Managing Director of Milo Butler Investments extended thanks to key stakeholders in Grand Bahama along with the team of Bahamian companies responsible for delivering the project successfully.
“As a company, we are pleased to mark the completion of this major redevelopment project in Downtown Freeport. We have received tremendous support from the local community and our partners here in Grand Bahama and we are confident in the direction that the local economy is headed,” Butler said.
He continued: “In addition to our construction partners, Patrick McDonald and his team, Milo Butler Investments would especially like to thank Minister Ginger Moxey and the Ministry For Grand Bahama, the team at Grand Bahama Port Authority, our financiers RBC Royal Bank, our partners at Veritas Consultants and TDG Architects and all others who have contributed to the success of this project.”
The Hon. Kingsley Smith, Member of Parliament for West End Grand Bahama and Bimini brought remarks on behalf of the Hon. Ginger Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama. He thanked Milo Butler Investments for their role in the resurgence of Downtown Freeport.
“Your investment has significantly contributed to Grand Bahama's economy, and this project has breathed new life into our commerce center,” Smith said.
He continued: “Over the past year, we have witnessed the resurgence of activity in Downtown and the surrounding areas that resulted from Phase One of the redevelopment project. Now, here we are to celebrate the completion of Phase Two, which included an extensive renovation and construction of the old Grand Union Food store. I am delighted that this beautifully renovated Grand Union Building is the future home of the various government agencies.”
In November 2022, Milo Butler Investments completed phase one of the Downtown Freeport project with the construction of The Winn, a 32,000 sq. ft. facility with anchor tenant Solomon’s Freeport in just 10 months. Phase two construction of The Grand Union building was completed on schedule in seven months.
With another successful project completed, Milo Butler Investments continues to expand its commercial and residential real estate developments in The Bahamas. Similar commercial projects within their portfolio include the Lucayan Shopping Plaza in Grand Bahama, the Shops At Carmichael and Tuscan Shores subdivision in New Providence. The company also manages a portfolio of investment securities.
