The Cayman community has shown strong support for the Ironwood community, planned for East End, and for the development of the East West Arterial (EWA), which will run 10 miles from Hurst Road in Savannah to Frank Sound road at the Ironwood entrance. Ironwood developers believe it is possible to establish and foster a strong relationship with the general public through engagement. Ironwood wanted to give the public an opportunity to voice their opinions through an online survey which has received almost 200 responses to date. Although this is not a large enough sample to be scientifically accurate, it does begin to show a trend of strong support. This use of additional data can significantly reduce uncertainties and help avoid potential predispositions in the two projects.

The survey, conducted by Fountainhead Business Development, includes respondents residing in all five Grand Cayman districts and the Sister Islands. The survey was also designed to be a “snapshot” for measuring progress in the projects from exposure to the public and people are invited to take part and express their views.

84% of respondents support the East West Arterial Road. Similarly, 86% reported support of the Ironwood community. With respect to both these findings, 16% reported that they were East End/Northside landowners affected by the East West Arterial Road, each of them in support of the project.

The Ironwood community will be one of the Caribbean’s premier real estate and golf developments stretching over 600 acres featuring a Town Centre with boutique shops, restaurants, entertainment and various lodging options for all ages and tastes. In addition, Ironwood will boast a sports training complex, a vacation resort and the first Arnold Palmer Signature 18-hole championship golf course in the Caribbean. Each golf hole will blend the modern style of strategically placed water hazards and challenging greens with the natural beauty of the Ironwood community, resulting in a signature Arnold Palmer design.

The East-West Arterial Road will extend the existing East-West Corridor ten miles, from Hirst Road to Frank Sound Road. This extension will provide numerous benefits to the residents of the Central and Eastern Districts of Grand Cayman by promoting sustainable development for this region, a hurricane resistant route, and through a private/public partnership, can be constructed and financed by the private sector in accordance with the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility. Ironwood has secured funding for the project that is estimated to cost approximately $40 million, which can be repaid from revenues generated by $300 million Ironwood community over the next fifteen years.

We expect that further analysis of public sentiment regarding the East West Arterial and Ironwood community may show that each point, goal, and objective are related back into the projects and continue to be inherently supportive of the projects activity goals. It is significant that planners perceive the residents are being addressed in these projects. Ultimately, by broadening the plan-making process to advocate for greater focus on the public will help leverage substantial and previously untapped support for all the smart growth reforms Cayman has undertaken in recent years.

The survey is still open and Ironwood encourages everyone to take part. Visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/EastWestArterialRoad to complete the survey.

For more information on Ironwood, visit our website at www.ironwood.ky. To follow Ironwood on Instagram visit ironwood_cayman and to become a fan on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/IronwoodCayman