Catching Up with Carl: December 2013

Traditionally, most businesses have been slow in December. Well, not so resort development—at least not at Star.

Seahorse Beach Club & Residences - Like us on Facebook. Yes, we finally got our page up. We are beginning construction of our first Beach House this week; grading and the new composite fiberglass pilings next week and on January 23rd we are having our Ground Breaking event with the slabs in bottom and top, so our guests can climb up and see the view from the main, living floor. Save that date! Our discussions with the City of Freeport continue to be fruitful for the eventual city services that will help to remake our part of the Gulf Coast.

Our Club Membership Program for non-residents will begin in January, too. We have allocated up to 100 memberships, corporate and private, in our area of the Gulf.

Crystal Bay Resort on Marathon Key, Florida Keys - The lead investors and owners have decided to switch from a hotel with cottages for fractional sale to an all-condo, whole and fractional, resort with some 80 units. This is very exciting news for Star as the marketing agent, and we’ve received terrific assistance from Tim McLaughlin of RCI/Registry to help position the resort in the best possible way.

Florida Keys Resort, Marathon Key, Florida Keys - The phase two remediation work is underway at the old maintenance base; closing is set for early next spring. Design is underway, along with City approvals for the new boutique hotel and the detached cottages, plus the new marina and golf course revisions. Marvin Rappaport, Peter Rosasco and Adam Greenberg, as managing members, are all moving us ahead to meet our goal of construction starts on May 1, 2014, and soft sales opening for the detached cottages in September with a hard opening on December 15th. This is a truly exciting venture.

Square 97 French Quarter, New Orleans - The investors are now narrowed down to the few that can make this singular project really happen. The promote team of Don Dauzat, Richard Gerage and me are all hard at work to get a February closing. As you may recall, there is a boutique hotel, retail, food and beverage, parking and more than 100 condos, whole, fraction and timeshare. This is a big deal.

A very Happy Christmas [as the Brits say] and grand Holidays to all!