Views and convenience at condo development

Perched above Pitts Bay Road, just on the outskirts of Hamilton, a new residential development, Miramar, offers easy access to urban amenities along with surprising views of the water and the City’s skyline.

“You are within five-minutes walking distance to about 30 places,” says Gilbert Lopes, the owner of GL Construction, which is the developer of Miramar. “Two minutes to the pharmacy, three minutes to Little Venice or the Lobster Pot, Miles Market is across the street, the location is very convenient.”

The four-storey building features 12 units spread across three floors with underground parking below. Each unit is two bedroom, two baths, with a modern, open plan kitchen, living and dining area that leads onto a private, covered balcony. Mr. Lopes says the interior spaces are comparatively large for city dwellings, each totaling just under 1500 sq. ft, with the balcony providing an additional 150 sq. ft. of living space.

By design, each condo is a corner unit, and the building is oriented to maximise the views and provide privacy for the residences. The balconies are set away from each other and the views all look out in different directions.

“The elevator is directly in the middle, so you come out of it into a lobby area with a unit in each direction,” explains Mr. Lopes. “Looking west you get views over the Bacardi property and out to Hawkins Island in the Great Sound. On the southern side the view is out towards Hamilton Harbour and on the other sides you look over toward the Cathedral and City Hall. When I travel, I like to seek out hotels with those types of city skyline views. They are very appealing.”

The site, which was previously home to a private residence of the same name, required substantial excavation for the water tanks and parking area, with the hill being cut back 15 to 16 feet.

Construction began about 18 months ago, and Mr. Lopes hopes to have occupancy certificates in the fall of 2023.

Mr. Lopes says the project has moved forward without any major, or unusual, challenges and that they were able to build within the property setbacks and still maximise the size of the lot.

The construction was also straight forward with the main building formed by reinforced concrete slabs and cement block for the interior and exterior walls. Continuing the theme of spaciousness, reinforced steel beams were utilised to keep the interior rooms large, open, and bright.

“The engineers, Onsite Engineering, designed it in a way where we could have more open spaces, so they have a very modern, open feel on the inside,” says Mr. Lopes. “It is what people look for today and the rooms are larger than what you might normally find in the city. I’ve also made sure the quality of the features is up to standard too.”

The kitchens feature top-end appliances including a large fridge, dishwasher, and a 6-burner Thermador stove. A washer and dryer can be found in a hallway closet that also contains a fold down ironing board and there is a “trash shoot” in each unit. All these design features are aimed at making sure the units feel spacious while being functional and convenient.

“We chose not to stack the washer and dryer because we don’t want the units to feel compact,” says Mr. Lopes. “We also put the living areas between the bedrooms which creates a sense of privacy, especially when you are hosting guests.”

The main bedroom suite has a walkin closet and bathroom with double sinks and large shower, while the second bedroom is located next to another bathroom and the laundry area. Mr. Lopes says that while the living and dining areas are combined, they are large enough be separated if the owner so desired.

Large, hurricane-grade, windows and 10-foot sliding glass doors supply ample natural light and bring the views into the units. Lighting throughout is supplied by energy saving LED fixtures and each unit has four split-system air conditioners. Conveniently, the condensers are placed on the roof so as not to take up space on the balconies and to reduce noise.

Household water is provided by on site water tanks and Watlington Water and there is a separate tank for the fire suppression system. Further communal services include a mass storage tank for cooking gas as well as a grass area and patio for hosting functions.

The condos are listed between $1,275,000 and $1,495,000 and Mr. Lopes says that seven of the 12 units are already under contract, with a mix of owners planning to either move in or to rent as investment income.

“They could be used as an investment but also a plan for the future as a place to live in retirement.”

Key Contractors

• Bermuda Waterworks

• Efficiency Limited

• First Class Electrics