Week 1

OK, so for the first time in ages I’ve a TV available AND some reason to watch it – the bounce-around local weather, a chance to check news from home (since I don’t yet have internet access at my fingertips - I do these while sitting at CoCo Reef Resort bar, gazing out at the ocean). Bermuda cable tv brings dozens and dozens of channels, 98% of which I don’t linger with – I check news from different outlets, listen a bit to a local music and art station, the Bermuda weather channel…and HGTV. It is a temporary thing, but watching house makeovers, prep for sale, house hunting…if I’m not careful I can while away the evening and find it is 11 pm, no problem. Part of that, of course, is just being so easily mesmerized by TV when that is not a usual part of your lifestyle.

Work: Christine asked me to review an EIS (Environmental Impact Study) for a ‘project of national importance’ (which this or that minister can be quick to define most anything beyond a single residence as being) – but this one truly is. Cruise ships have berthed in gorgeous old St. George’s or downtown Hamilton for years, and, since the military left, at Dockland on the west end of the island.

Cruise ships, for whatever reasons, apparently are getting bigger, and according to the applicant (I know, I know) this is the last year vessels that can make it thru the cut into St. George or Hamilton will be used – the companies that have regularly sailed to Bermuda have sold those ships and moved to these massive QE2 type ships – up to 1100 in length. There is one berth at Docklands that works for ships that size, and the project I am reviewing would add a second berth.

It does require that I get a lot more familiar with a lot of marine concerns, and I am unfamiliar with the cruise industry. (It can’t enter into it, of course, but I have a dislike for these mega ships anyway.) So, I’ve sucked in about 300 pages of info, some of which I do understand, some of which blows by me.

My experience with EISs is limited, but there don’t seem to be the number of hidden, unexplained requirements that plaque CEQA, stuff that has accrued thru court decisions, practice and interpretations of regulations. The regulation is pretty straight forward, even tho open-ended and so given to a certain amount of negotiation. Christine seems concerned that the study be organized logically – complete project description, identification of direct and indirect impacts (environmental, economic, social, etc) on natural and built environment, decent science behind the evaluation of the impact significance, alternatives and their consequences, mitigations, monitoring/enforcement rota, and contingency plan for emergencies and failures. You want the study and the plans to match; that seems a basic. You want the stakeholder comments to be taken, reviewed and responded to. You want the process, however public the local set-up requires, to be transparent and documented.

The EIS I had failed on a number of those points. Christine says it is indeed laughable, but it is the 8th version of the report – the first report was 3 pages. This, for a project involving infill, terminal construction, ground transportation terminal, and ship maneuvering in an area involving coral, sunken ships, and various fragile pockets of habitat. Clearly they didn’t have a clue what they were doing.

Of course, there is considerable political pressure to get on with it, let it go. Some things don’t change. I am not the planner for the case; she was just getting my comments and letting me get up to speed on some local stuff.

I see the government housing options tomorrow…not hopeful, but it will be fun. Perhaps that in part is what is behind this recent obsession with house stuff.

Got my access card; still don’t have work permit. Did go with the other American, Jim, on his site visits today, so I get to see more of the island, and hear more of what people want to tell me.

Met the Development Applications Board, sort of like a cross between a Durham-style Development Review Board and a Planning Board – appointed, 10 or 12 members. they get the agenda per se (no materials) a day before the meeting, but have not seen anything about the case, been to the site, etc beforehand. No applicants present cases, there is no public hearing involved (of course, these are more technical than discretionary decisions, so more like Durham than Pacific Grove in approach). People can come in and see the file, but that happens in response to the newspaper ad placed months before the case gets to the DAB, when the case is filed. People would have to make some real effort to follow a project through the process. Quite a change from Durham, and even more from PG!

Housing: I trailed along with Lu'Gene today to see 5 one-bedroom units the Government has available. Apparently what happens is that the government makes agreements with landlords to have thse units in stock, guarantees the landlord a monthly income which the landlord decides but which is typically less than they could get on their own - but the govt guarantees it every month, no down time whether occupied or not. We get a slightly under-market rate (not that I can tell!), they get a reliable income. Having 5 to choose from is almost unheard of - just like having so many advertised on e-moo is unheard of; usually there is 1, maybe 2 government units, if anything, and as for e-moo, usually maybe 3 1 bedrooms rather than the dozen/15 there are presently. Woo hoo!

Anyway, we saw 5. The first, most expensive one was the most appealing - no surprise there. It opens onto the water (Middle Road, near Gibbs Lighthouse, for anyone following this). Roomy, esp for a 1 bedroom, great views, terrific storage, lots of kitchen cupboards and work space (the ceiling was perhaps 6'4" in the kitchen, so it felt weird.) There is a parking space - if one is prepared to whip off the rather heavily trafficked Middle Road into it, and stop while doing so. The bus stops away and into town are immediately adjacent, which is super. From the parking spot (and thank heavens the cars are mostly the size of a Geo!), you walk down some steps to the lower level of the house; and truly the view is marvelous. I'd kind of worry about how close the water is, in fact. That was $2500/mth. No a/c. Southhampton/Warwick

The second was the cheapest, at $1700/mth. Nice kitchen - big, new appliances, new countertops. Nothing special about it, tho it is in an area where a lot of the government units are, with a bus stop nearby on South, once you get down the hill to it; West Avenue is near Horseshoe Bay Beach, gorgeous in that travel poster kind of way. Wasn't thrilled, tho. I Southhampton/Warwick

Third was the snazziest inside, dumpiest immediate environs. Cute all the way around, good furnishings (all new), step-in shower, etal. Was a bit like being on a boat, in the kitchen and bath area - thought out in terms of how it all fit together, but no extra space. Bedroom and living room were comfortably sized. A steeply uphill climb from a rather distant bus stop. Not sure which parish - one of the East End ones, Smith's or Devonshire or such, and also not sure of the rent, probably $2000.

Fourth was in Hamilton Parish (not city) - faced the ocean on hilltop, felt isolated and a long, long way from the bus stop. $2000

Fifth was also in Hamilton Parish, attractive enough setting, most dated seeming of the units.
So - no winners. A couple of could-dos, but nothing that snagged my attention. $2000

The Tourism Board chair emailed to see if I was here yet; after talking a while he suggested a situation in St. George, tho it is an apartment share, which hasnt been my preference. At $1200/mth, tho, maybe...I'll go see Saturday.

Hoping that Saturday I will also see this thing in Devonshire - the owner and I keep chasing each other without success.

A few new ones came up on emoo today, and someone at the office has a friend who has a unit - she wasnt sure if it had been rented or not.


People here tend to talk of being West Enders or East Enders. The place I am in temporarily is in the West End – tho close to the center – as is the apartment I looked at Sunday.

All for now - back with photos shortly!