Let's Build Gonave, Haiti!

I mentioned that shipping containers can be used for different uses.  From homes to storefronts, to schools, and office buildings. Shipping containers are important for many reasons, but a few major reasons are they can survive hard winds, which Gonave is prone to high winds and annual hurricanes.  The containers can survive fire better than conventional homes.  The cost of modifying a container is cheap, and can be done very quickly.  The cost of purchasing a container is pretty affordable vs the cost of buying wood and the labor associated with construction.  The amount of time needed to setup the containers can be done very quickly.  Setting up 50 different container homes can be done in a matter of weeks, versus several months to a year if constructing conventional homes. Another major reason is less environmental impact.  Gonave doesn't have to deal with a large amount of construction by product, and these shipping containers don't have to en...

Creating iconic brands that are based on the island of Gonave is very important.  Small business is the engine to any nation's economy.  With those small businesses, as they become more established, they develop into iconic brands. Gonave could easily develop retail and consumer good brands.  These brands could then be advertised all over the Caribbean, which would then push Gonave's influence in the business world.  Creating a brand is no simple task, but provides large rewards if that brand is successful. As Gonave gets more attention and focus, you can make a major difference.  You could possibly be the one that will create a business and launch a new brand for the world to enjoy. Go Gonave! 

With construction cost being so high, and given Gonave's limited amount of resources, using shipping containers could be a viable option. These shipping containers can look like any modern store front.  Given how fast they can be put up, and given their sturdiness, these containers can be a major game changer for Gonave.  Imagine having some 20 shops opened for tourist.  As I mentioned in a previous blog about cruise ships, according to Seattle's  Economic Department, cruise ships bring $1.2 million dollars to the economy every time they dock.  Imagine a ship per week landing at a port in Gonave.  Bringing almost $5 million a year a cruise ship terminal will payoff.  Adding a retail center will bring in even more money.   As you can see this is a small mall that was created by shipping containers. These containers can be assembled in a matter of hours, and can provide immediate infrastructure. This is an example of how a motorbike s...

With the plans that Hurko Co has released, you see mostly residential space, along with retail under the mixed use development.  There are also plans for a hotel as well to capture potential tourist.  One thing that interested me was that there was no office component.  I assumed that the retail space would serve that purpose.  I assumed wrong. Just today, I was sent the specs on what the building would be and given a general idea of what it will look like, but no picture or sketch was sent.  So based on what I was told, I found a pic that I assume would be very close to the plan (above).  To start, Hurko will put a very small office space in the Focus City area.  The building would be only 3 stories tall, and contain 25,000 sq. ft of office space, over two floors.  The bottom floor will be 12,500 sq ft of retail.  The total building would be some 36,500 square ft.  Sounds like Hurko is focusing on housing and retail to support the ...

I was sent this picture of what the first initial housing would look like in the Focus City area.  These mid-rise buildings would have retail on the bottom floor with residences on the above floor.   These buildings would not have a large amount of parking.  And instead of 50 rooms, these buildings hold almost 400 units. Let me first discet this plan.  Starting with the gravel road.  Hurko mentions that while there will be a main gravel road that is 2 lanes wide, it isn't pictured here well.  If you look off to the right of the image, you see a small piece of that gravel road along with a line of trees.  Also this photo doesn't contain the 2 MW wind turbines.  I'm told that the trees will be a flowering type of tree, possibly honeysuckle trees, which bee's love.  They mention that nearby will be farms, also pictured off to the right.  On these farms will be bee farms and fruit tree farms. Off from the 2 land road, will be another...

While I mentioned in a previous blog it makes sense to build dense, given the island of Gonave's size, but to build using concrete is also important.  This is due to Gonave being in a hurricane zone as well as earthquakes. I want to break down how the first housing blocks will look, streets, utilities, retail, etc.  Today I will tackle streets. For now I will talk in generalities.  Let's take the buildings in the bottom right (2 white and grey buildings). The first construction could be easily done with two towers.  These buildings are about 35 stories tall.  There is a much smaller building in the middle of the two, which will usually contain retail, laundry facilities, small amount of office space, etc. So how do you start with these two buildings, that will eventually look like this large housing project, and connect it with roads?  Simply put, you don't.  The best thing for Gonave initially is to avoid massive road infrastructure, gas ...