A rising community in South Abaco has finished the construction of an academic institute and doctor's office for its growing number of residents.
The Schooner Bay Institute, an 1,800-square-foot facility, features more than a dozen beds, a kitchen, common rooms and conference rooms for local and visiting academics. While the institute is not your typical tourism attraction, it plays into Schooner Bay's goal of becoming an encompassing and holistic development for Bahamians and second-home owners.
"We are not a resort, we are a real community," said Glen Kelly, the town manager at Schooner Bay.
"That is why we built the clinic and research facility. It brings a new dimension to Schooner that the typical resort does not have."
Beginning next month, various organizations and specialists from The Bahamas and the U.S. will stay at the Schooner Bay Institute and study various aspects of wildlife. Fish ecology, echinoderms, predators on coral reefs and sea turtles are all specific areas of focus over the coming months.
A team from the Abaco Parrot Project will have a team from June until August.
The Schooner Bay Institute fits well into the project's sustainable and "green philosophy", while embracing nature and traditional Bahamian living.
Meanwhile, the institute also includes a 500-square-foot clinic offering medical services. Kelly told Guardian Business that a nurse will be at the clinic full time. Physicians are expected to be there once a week for appointments.
"The clinic is a trial operation with Nassau-based doctors. It allows the general public to see it. It means we'll have a group of doctors that would never otherwise come here," he explained. "Most Abaconians will go to Florida for healthcare because it is as cheap... as going to Nassau."
The clinic aims to change that, which could be particularly beneficial as Schooner Bay continues to attract more second-home buyers from abroad.
The clinic has "all the basic equipment", according to Kelly, and tele-medicine technology will be used in the case of emergencies.
According to Schooner's chief developer, the project is focused on these types of amenities so it graduates from a hamlet to the functioning town.
Back in December, Orjan Lindroth, the head of Lindroth Development Company Limited, said Schooner Bay will have up to 50 homes completed by the end of next year. He estimated that the South Abaco development has generated more than $100 million in direct expenditure over the last few years, taking into account the land, servicing, construction, sales, stamp duty and property tax.
A number of businesses are beginning to sprout up at Schooner Bay, including a general store, bed and breakfast establishments, restaurants, farms and a beach club.
In particular, the $5 million Black Fly Lodge officially opened last month. The elite, boutique hotel is reporting full occupancy for the majority of the summer.

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