Could 2017 finally be the year when things get built on Hvar?
Back in 2004 when I had a real estate business on the island, Hvar was swarming with investors buying up pieces of land, the largest of which was (from memory) a cool one million square metres.
And despite all that, some 13 years later, I think that I am right in reporting that apart from the villa project in Male Rudine which is still unfinished and has various infrastructure issues, the largest construction project that has gone ahead in that time has been the construction of 12 apartments.
Preserving the natural beauty of Hvar is of course key, but so too is adding the level of luxury and quality that will keep attracting high-spending guests. There has been a subtle but noticeable shift in quality towards central Hvar in recent years, with most of it centred around Stari Grad.
It all started with the renovation and opening of Apolon at the end of the new riva, itself a major new attraction for sailboats, and it continued with the announcement that Four Seasons Hotels would be opening a luxury 5-star resort with residential villas in Brizenica Bay just north of Stari Grad on the Kabal peninsula, a project which was publicly endorsed by Minister of Tourism Gary Capelli in London this week.
But Four Seasons is not the only five-star project which will grace the Stari Grad tourism offer in the not too distant future.
Much less has been written about Olive Bay Hvar, a luxury resort mix of residential and boutique hotel, around the corner from the Stari Grad ferry terminal on the way to Hvar. Here is how the Olive Bay website introduces the project:
“Being the first of its kind in Croatia, Olive bay is the 60.000 sq m large waterfront site located on premium location, Hvar Island, only 10 minutes drive from Hvar town, the most popular destination in Croatia and one of the most popular high-end lifestyle destinations at the Mediterranean. The entire bay/construction zone is fully owned by the fund providing full privacy and all future developments will be controlled avoiding construction of the properties that don’t match luxury living standards. In addition, crystal clear sea, pebble and sandy beaches, mooring for boats and great Western sunset orientations, characterize the bay.”
Infrastructure works on this tourist zone are now underway, a concrete sign that the project is going ahead. My understanding is that the final design of the project is being finalised, but that construction should begin soon, probably after this season.
If both projects are realised, the face of Stari Grad will change for sure – its tourism face looking a lot more glitzy, and it should lead to a much higher tourism profile for central Hvar as a whole.
We will bring you news of developments as we get them. In the meantime, check out the Olive Bay Hvar planned resort here.
