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Luxury Resort Hotel in Belize Moving Forward After Court Victory Awards Developer Crucial Hold-Out Land

150-room resort on Ambergris Caye will cost $50 million to build

Ending a two-year litigation that stalled development of a $50 million luxury resort hotel in Belize, a crucial strip of waterfront property on the island of Ambergris Caye was awarded to the project's developers by a Belizean court.

Richard Roth of New York based The Roth Law Firm PLLC traveled to Belize to try the case for developers of the Ma'loha Resort & Marina. The court returned a verdict in favor of the developers. The victory enforces the sale of two acres of land adjoining the coast of Ambergris Caye, the largest island on Belize and that country's top tourism destination.

"This land is the proverbial diamond in the rough. It is in a unique location that is private and pristine yet close to San Pedro, while at the same time has coastal and river access," said David Bane, a managing partner on the project's Belize and U.S. based development team. Noting that the land is intended as the location of the resort's docking facility, pool and oceanfront restaurant, Mr. Bane said that the development of the project would have been called off without it. "We are thrilled that we were able to prove at trial that the entire property, and not just a part, was sold to the developers," he said.

"My clients were at all times in the right legally. We are thrilled about developing this five star resort and are equally excited about the positive impact this resort will have on Belize in many ways," Mr. Roth said. "The outcome is very good for Belize as well as for my clients."

Mr. Bane noted that the development team has strong roots and connections in Belize as well as the United States. "Our objective is to build and operate a resort designed to the highest environmental and luxury standards, that will be a premier destination resort for visitors from the U.S. and worldwide, and create a positive and lasting economic impact on Ambergris Caye and in Belize," he said.

Ma'loha Resort & Marina is in the design phase, and the development team estimates an 18-month to two-year build, Mr. Bane said. He noted that the resort will incorporate a number of ecologically progressive elements including water making systems, solar panels and potentially wind turbines. The development team helped start a school in Belize that already educates over 500 children, and they plan to establish a foundation to provide college education scholarships for Belizean children, Mr. Bane said.

Ma'loha Resort & Marina will be operated independently, and a U.S. based team will be engaged to manage the property, which will have approximately 150 rooms and will be the largest hotel on Ambergris Caye, Mr. Bane said. The project is also considering a casino component to enhance leisure offerings on the island that do not currently exist.

Ambergris Caye is a popular destination for underwater enthusiasts who come to explore the Belize Barrier Reef, second largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. The Belize Barrier Reef is only half a mile from the Ambergris Caye shore where the Ma'loha Resort & Marina is to be located. The project will open the fishery with the docking facility as well as allow the transient boater the ability to stop and enjoy the islands many offerings. Ambergris Caye is reached by air service from Belize City, as well as by numerous ferries from the Belize mainland.

http://www.hotelnewsresource.com/news_print.php?sid=43983

The Island is going to sink from all the weight!

Where are they planning to put this resort?

It is just north of the bridge in the vicinity of the Holy Cross School and Bermuda Landings - before you get to the skydiving landing zone.

Vern & Francis' place right?

I can't picture where they would fit that in. Will it be behind Bermuda Landing near the new store, with the aforementioned marina, dock and ocean front restaurant being right at the cut, across the cut from the park and east of the toll bridge? Or am I way off?

It will be right next to Bermuda Landing on the sea side, across from the new theater.

Okay. So between Bermuda Landing and the cut?

And on the land that the old Hammock House sits on?

No, I'm sure it's where the white house is close to the water next to Bermuda Landing......it has a fence around it that goes up to the road.

Okay. Thanks. It will certainly change the landscape in the area!

For the better I think......

How high will it be ??i think it will block reef village view of the sea from some of the floors yes or no??

captjeff, it will probably block some of reef village view but only any units (villas) that are close to the theater. As it is those units do not have a view of the sea anyway.

Anyone that bought in Reef Village had to know that at some point, view of the reef would be deminished or gone. Secondary lot and secondary costs.

I Belive I met a few people last year at wild mangos who thought they would have a view forever .But when i said i do not think So they where taken back by my coments .And they gave me a look like I had three heads LOL.I guess they will get a wake up call now ,,Sorry to say ..But the good news is there is more to do here then look out the window .living the dream here is made easy if you want to live it..

Agree with the above two comments but isn't this the land directly on the River Cut and beach area just over the bridge?

Also, isn't there a 4 story max height?

Phil, no it's the piece that is fenced off directly across from the new theater......has a white house close to the water.

"This land is the proverbial diamond in the rough. It is in a unique location that is private and pristine yet close to San Pedro, while at the same time has coastal and river access,"

You sure?

From memory the max is a height - 38 feet? - making it four stories by default. Where does it mention how many stories?

99.9% sure.

It didn't, it was asked by captjeff.

Please explain the river access

I think it should have read "mouth of the river access".....just east of the bridge.

Just north and to the right of the bridge.

Thats pretty sure, so I'll bow to your knowledge

Phil, death and taxes are the only thing that's sure.......that's why I gave myself 1/10th of a percent wiggle room

In Belize it's just Death for many.........

Explain.......on second thought don't....

This is the project that originally got an exemption to the 3 story code and set a precedent allowing other buildings to get taller and larger. Of course, it cost money to get it.
When they illegally began to dredge for the marina, it caused such scouring to the public beach across the river that we almost lost the beach.
I have wondered what the money connection was to the school as I have had concerns for the kids for a while ( especially public health concerns) and I have always known that there was some financial scam happening. So here it is.
It is very sad

This is the project that originally got an exemption to the 3 story code and set a precedent allowing other buildings to get taller and larger. Of course, it cost money to get it.
When they illegally began to dredge for the marina, it caused such scouring to the public beach across the river that we almost lost the beach.
I have wondered what the money connection was to the school as I have had concerns for the kids for a while ( especially public health concerns) and I have always known that there was some financial scam happening. So here it is.
It is very sad

Pam please share what you mean as I am A little confused ???

me too, but i probably don't really want to know.

did this have anything to do with the beach reclamation project needed at boca del rio park?

Yes, please explain.....if you can..

Pam, is this resort being built on land belonging to Vern & Francis?

Not Pam.....but yes.

This is a project that was developed some years ago and considered because of a promise to build a school that would function as a hurricane shelter and to bring sewer and water to San Mateo. There were other promises as well. The school and all services were to be paid for by the developers, the Wilson"s et al. The school was then built in what I consider a substandard manner by donations. There was a lot of controversy with defenders denying any financial considerations for the Wilsons. In the meantime, they were also requesting additional town land to develop on to the tune of 36 acres to be dredged and filled. Supposedly to build a college. It appears that this whole time, they have been quietly working the legal system putting themselves forward as philanthropists and , apparently, it worked even though the marina is, in my humble opinion, going to cause destruction to town beaches and the development itself will cause continued harm to wetlands.
So now we have a contaminated lagoon from a septic system under water during wet season and no running water for 500 children to wash, a school that has allowed the town to shirk its responsibility to provide standardize education for the kids, a continued disaster in San Mateo, and a successful court case to make tons of money for the developers.

The proposed project will not block any view for the reef village units! :-)

I hate to say this with all the development in that area but that whole area is really low land and I remember the several Hurricanes i have had the displeasure of being on the island when they hit and I must say I dont fancy the chances of any property built on that strip of land from the cut to the start of tres cocos.

The water damage there was HUGE and that whole section was washed away and under at least 8ft of water that seawall there was useless and literally it was impassable from Cloisters to the Bridge as it was completely underwater from Lagoon to the ocean.

that particular lot on the river was not so bad simply because at the time it was protected by Mangroves which protected it if they remove those mangroves they will be in serious trouble when the next Hurricane rolls in.

As for reef village well I dont know what to say'

amen Gaz. my thoughts exactly.

Ditto. Not to mention the glut of half or fully empty hotels that are already built.......

like Gaz have waded and swam across that land after Hurricane Mitch. well anyway when it all sinks it will provide good fill.

Which makes total sense except we are all looking at the real estate issue and not the fact that 500 kids are being used.
I can remember walking across sand bags after Keith. What happens when they are all there pretending to have a hurricane shelter and another hurricane hits.
Admittedly, it would be a rather brilliant plan for acquiring land if it was not so tawdry

Which makes total sense except we are all looking at the real estate issue and not the fact that 500 kids are being used.
I can remember walking across sand bags after Keith. What happens when they are all there pretending to have a hurricane shelter and another hurricane hits.
Admittedly, it would be a rather brilliant plan for acquiring land if it was not so tawdry

It makes you wonder how much time developers spend on AC to see whether or not that constructing a luxury resort would be economically viable, especially during low season and more specifically, during difficult economic times. I totally agree with Barbara K on this issue. What are they thinking ?

Well I think Dennis Wolfe says it best with his song "Just Another Gringo In Belize".
Some people just have to learn the hard way.
Guess they did not hear about the resorts that either sut down or went to skeleton staff during this last slow season and how many resorts are struggeling.
The kids and the school seem to be least of their worries.
I bet it looks good on paper though.
Kat

Belize Developer Claims Victory in Legal Battle

The end of a two-year-old legal battle has apparently cleared the way for construction of the largest hotel and condo project on Ambergris Caye, Belize's most popular tourist destination

Development of the Ma'loha Resort & Marina was stalled by a dispute over ownership of two acres of waterfront land. But a Belize court recently sided with the developer, project managing partner David Bane announced last week.

If the project continues, it will be big news on Ambergris, where most of the second home projects are between 20-50 units, at the most. The Ma'loha is expected to include 150 hotel rooms.

The Ma'loha's site is located about a mile north of the center of town, in any area which has seen a spurt of resort construction in recent years. Nearby projects include Reef Village, Bermuda Beach, Villas Del Rio, Solitude and Bermuda Landing, notes Josh Buettner of Ambergris Seaside Realty.

To the west is a poor community known as San Mateo, where the developer reportedly helped to build a school.

The two acres under dispute are intended for the resort's docking facility, pool and oceanfront restaurant. The project would not have been built without the parcel, according to a press release.

The project is now in the "design phase," with an estimated 18-month to two-year build out. Although it's unclear what the developer plans, the original concept called for condominiums priced at about $475,000. The project is also considering "a casino component to enhance leisure offerings on the island that do not currently exist," the release says.

and what is with the Hawaiian name? Can't they even give it a Belizean-ly correct name??? :-(

So for those of us not in the know......

If that piece of land between Bermuda Landing and the cut is just for the marina, pool, and restaurant, then where is the rest of it going?

UP

Up where???????

Up... to the sky.

So much for the NOTHING HIGHER THAN A COCONUT TREE rule LOL the only way they could get value in there project is to go up as high as they can possible get away with.

Actually, this is the project that set precedent that others used to get building permit for 4 stories. It is a really sick story. And reflects such sad values

What's ironic about this Hawaiian named resort/marina, is that the sales presentation talks about the "stunning Creole architecture" and "natural Belizian hard and exotic woods" in these homes that are ready "for you to enjoy the Carribean lifestyle". Nothin' says Carribean like a Polynesian name and "Private elevators" and "plasma televisions".

Maybe they are trying to get the lovebirds from Fiji and Tahiti with that title.

Why is everyone so sure that the name is a Hawaiian/Polynesian name? Altun Ha is not a Polynesian name. I've seen this resort name expressed this way "Ma'loHa". Is there some chance that it is not taken from or a take off from a Polynesian name or word?

You may be right seashell....It could be Mayan...can't find it in either dictionary...oops.

Hey, I love your sig line!! Wish I had it.

That development is hideous. It looks like inner-city projects. Maybe they can pack more people on top of each other.

No one in their right mind would buy into this project. Then again, they are relying on people who have never actually spent time in Belize..only people who look at nice websites and interpret their purchases on square footage...thinking they are getting a steal. They probably would not even know the difference anyway.

Yes, that building on the site is definately ugly. But on the bright side, it's only 4 floors.

On the other hand, there's no way they're going to fit 150 units in the building they depicted. I only count about 32 balconies. But I still question if the living units are supposed to go on that peice of land. The article only said the restaurant, pool, and marina. Does anyone know what's accurate?

No one will know what's accurate until they start building....if that ever happens.

The original sign by the bridge had five or six of those buildings on the site.

Ah! Okay, based on what I remember the size of the lot to be that'll leave 'em room for maybe 2 boat slips in the "marina", a wading pool, and a restaurant with maybe 10 tables. Sure hope they change their mind on what the plan is.

If I remember correctly, there were two smaller buildings going up near the road off the back corner of the Landings.

Anyone have any updates on this? Whatever they put there will be near us, so I'm obviously interested in whatever ends up happeneing.

You'll never get the truth from this site!

Jesse, That is the truth.

.

Pam is correct in everything she has said about the developers, and the school and the children who were and are being used to further the developers' real estate interests. This is precisely why some charities existing to benefit local school kids refused to go forward with donating any funds or anything else to the Holy Cross school - several years ago the developers were deemed to be unsavory in their dealings involving the land, the school and the town. Some say the kids have a great school; those children certainly deserve a great school - but I don't think that will ever be the end result down the road.

As for the name - i think it sounds like a combo of 'mahalo' and 'aloha', two prevalent Hawaiian terms used for blessing and greeting. but who knows.

I have a hard time saying "luxury resort hotel" & "Ambergris Caye" in the same sentence.

And for some reason when I go to the link above & I can't access any of the "more information..."

Victoria House, Portofino, Cayo Espanto, Rojo, Mata Chica.... shall I continue.

Can you say Victoria House, Pheonix, Azul just to name a few?

Phil, very funny!

I am not so sure that the school is great. I know that there are some very talented people who are involved and try to have a positive impact. I know of students who have repeated grades a couple of times without referral to special ed. The principal and teachers do the best they can. It is such a travesty. Now the town has been off the hook to provide adequate education for over 500 students. It will be interesting to see how long the school stays open after the developers begin to attempt to sell units. It is minimally acceptable to build a giant development in a fragile ecosystem. It is totally reprehensible to use vunerable children to get permission to build it. Once they close, these kids will have to move into an already overwhelmed system. Mind boggling. Actually, verging on criminal

The town has no responsibility with any education. That is provided by the churches throughout Belize. Gov't. of Belize does pay teachers salaries but does not manage the schools.
Holy Cross is an Anglican Church school.

the government is responsible for education. that is why they have a minster of education who is responsible for policy development and school regulations. holy cross is an anglican school and it is a negative blot on the church that they have allowed this situation to continue. there are many people in the church who have been very concerned.

But you are the only person who has ever cast a negative over Holy Cross. Lots of Kudos though...

Yeah well I say what I believe and people can makes their own choices. But I disagree with the statement that I am the only one to speak out.

"But you are the only person who has ever cast a negative over Holy Cross"

OH, how soon Pedro is forgotten since he was banned.

What a pair!

I have donated school supplies and shoes to Holy Cross the last couple of trips down and plan to do so every trip in the future. I was given a tour of the school and was pretty impressed. They have a state-of-the-art computer lab with 20 or so computers that even some community organizations utilize. They have a very nice library that volunteers have recently labeled and catagorized. They have a nice cafeteria where they serve the children free breakfast and lunch every day. They have a room devoted entirely to tutoring. On the day I visited, there were about five adult volunteers tutoring about 8 or 10 children in reading and other subjects. The children have uniforms. The classrooms were colorful and decorated with posters and learning aids. The teachers seemed friendly and the classrooms under control. There is an on-campus dental clinic, staffed by volunteer dentists, when available. There were several volunteers there that day repairing and building. Granted, I cannot attest to curriculum or achievement, but what I saw was impressive. I don't understand what a new real estate development has to do with the success of this school. Seems like it is succeeding right now, due to the generous support of many volunteers.

You are right on in your assessment. The haters on this subject have ulterior motives.

That is just silly, Jesse. My only ulterior motive is that I have concerns for the kids. And actually, since people have spoken out, changes have been made to the sewer and contamination issues.

You have actually gone so far as to advocate closing the school and throwing all those kids out into the street with no alternative!

No I have advocated to come clean about income and expenses and, much more important, the need to have adequate sanitation facilities and running water to wash hands after using the substandard system. But fighting old battles is boring so bye. Have a good noght

sorry night

Two quotes from Jesse.

"But you are the only person who has ever cast a negative over Holy Cross."
and
"You'll never get the truth from this site!"

How contradictably prophetic.