I knew there was something I was forgetting to ask! On our last trip this past November we drove south and did some diving around the Lake and Punt Vierkant...it seems they are building homes right at the waters edge at the dive sites...? Is this legal...I never knew this land was buildable or even for sale...(we check all the realtors everytime we come...and "take away" many listings to gaze upon and dream...) We were shocked at this...the owners must be pretty brave or lucky in life to think building so close to the shore line will not flood if another Lenny type comes there way...Does anyone have any info on this...? Jake,Linda, Michael???

It is a question that no one has answered honestly. I was told that there will be a breakwater built to protect the property from wind reversals. The had better hurry up...

I guess it's legal otherwise it would have been shut down or prevented.

I also think it's a really stupid place to build, considering even last month, according to friends driving by, water was lapping at the foundations when the seas got rough. Putting a breakwater in won't help for long, either, based on what I've seen of breakwaters and ocean activity around the world.

So, caveat emptor if you are looking to buy waterfront (in water?) property there.

However, to put this in perspective, how many people over the last couple of decades in the U.S. have built homes on flood plains, using a rationale of "well, it's a 50 year flood plain, so since it flooded last year, this will give me another 49 before it happens again". Sheesh.

Jake

The Bonaire Marine Park tried to shut down the building but the land owner said something to the effect "No one is going to prevent me from building on my own land."

I also spoke with some dive club friends who have been watching the building process over time. The foundation was dug down (below sea level?) and is concrete and cinder block. Plus they have lots of large coral rocks in the area. I would say the first strong reversal is going to send those coral rocks into the buildings. I would not want to be at sea level during even the lightest of wind reversals. Mother nature will have the last laugh.

I was just really upset with a house being on that wonderful stretch of open beach....and I agree about the too close to the water, and the coral must not be such a good foundation. We live in a high water table area..and cannot even bury our animals as they might float......

I just returned .... Sure they're putting in a breakwater and it also looks like they're planning on a wall at the road side as well. After having some of the slave huts scoured away during Lenny I suspect that what they are actually building there will more or less resemble a salt-water pool after the first strong wind reversal. At another building location (off Playa Lechi) they're also building a 3 story resort and have finished the foundation area which includes underground parking .... it requires a pump to run continuously to keep it dry .... when they back-filled the seawall yesterday morning (12/12) they drained away alot of silt and sediment into the sea creating a silt-slick which extended almost all the way to the harbour. It settled by early afternoon but you could see the amount of crap that had been deposited especially near the shoreline.

Bob

Considering the past record of electrical outages from the power plant, I hope the underground garage has its own UPS for the pumps!!! Yes, I know the recent record is better, but... It will only take once for quite a loss. Then, of course, at the present rates of occupancy, maybe not. After watching spouting water from waves come out 100 yards inland beyond the road behind Sand Dollar, it will be interesting to see what happens.

Permits obtained for the silt and sediment from Playa Lechi??? Permits obtained for the breakwater??? The next occurance of northern storm waves may settle the breakwater as the last two did the piers up north and Pink Beach down south.

All this building with the travel economy and occupancy on Bonaire as it is??? Must be some optimism or sharp talking or 'extra' money somewhere.

As I recall the recent census of housing indicated an over 30% vacancy rate following a couple of years of net outward migration.

Guess a strong "planning vision" is a considerable problem. Some of what is reported in the above notes doesn't sound like very good environmentalism for a place where environmental conditions practically define the attractiveness of the island.

Tough times can produce a lot of short-term thinking. Too Bad

Bill