Sagicor launches The Estates at St George adult active lifestyle community

Sagicor has started work on The Estates at St George, a $170 million investment that will see an adult, wellness and amenity-driven community with continuing care facilities completed at Boarded Hall, St George in Barbados.

Set on 19 acres with views of the St George Valley, the project’s infrastructure works will start immediately. The first phase will offer 120 independent living homes for sale with access to The Royal Palm Clubhouse and its many amenities, the wellness centre with spa, gym and 24/7 urgent care and doctors’ offices and the Lakeside Terraces, a 4.5-acre green space with orchard, organic gardening and recreational attractions for residents. Also included in this initial phase of construction will be a separate building offering 40 catered living rental apartments, and 28 respite care and rehab rental suites, with their own amenities. Subsequent phases will include an additional 56 independent living garden flats for sale, and a separate building housing 84 skilled nursing and memory care rental suites.

Edward Clarke, executive vice president and general manager of Sagicor Life Inc Barbados operations, confirmed that after infrastructural work, construction of the first phase will start in the first quarter of 2020, and that it is planned to hand over keys to proud homeowners before the end of the following year.

Clarke said the Estates at St George will be the “Caribbean’s first such community.” He said it combines elegant and stylish residences in a secure and tranquil setting, with a range of amenities and services in wellness, medical, dining, shopping and other recreational lifestyle pursuits. He said the opportunity for this kind of active aspirational adult living is being marketed to financially secure persons mainly from Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and TT, along with residents of the United Kingdom, USA and Canada with Caribbean connections, or who are repeat visitors to Barbados.

“Sagicor is very pleased to be the promoter of The Estates at St George which we see as very timely, firstly because of the contribution it will make towards our ongoing economic transformation and recovery; and secondly, as it continues Sagicor’s tradition of championing health and investment initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the people in the communities where we operate,” Clarke said.

Group chief operating officer of Sagicor Ravi Rambarran in his address at the ground-breaking ceremony, expressed confidence in being able to deliver a world-class product offering, active adult services with high-end amenities as the Canadian-based Origin Active Lifestyle Communities Inc, a global leader in the field, will be contracted to manage the operations of The Estates at St George. In the area of training, he said the goal was to establish a partnership amongst Sagicor, Origin and local institutions delivering training to caregivers to upgrade existing curricula and generate a stream of wellness and care services professionals for the marketplace as a whole.

With an investment of over Bdos$170 million, The Estates at St George is expected to earn foreign exchange for Barbados and generate employment, first in construction and general supply services, followed by opportunities in the health and wellness sector, with a focus on catered care and active lifestyle amenities.

Addressing an audience including Prime Minister Mia Mottley, other government representatives, project partners and stakeholders at a sod-turning ceremony, Rambarran said The Estates will place Sagicor at the forefront of investment in the economy, in the key areas of health and wellness for Barbados’ adult community, providing access to inclusive resort-style amenities, hospitality services and recreational options.

“The Estates at St George aims to nurture the mind, body and soul of each resident regardless of stage of life, physical or cognitive ability, allowing them to "live where you love.”