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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.
