The Limegrove Lifestyle Centre - Living Barbados, Volume 2, Issue 3 - December 2009

Built in the heart of Holetown, Limegrove promises to be anything but just a shopping Centre. Paul Altman is adamant in his description of Limegrove as a Lifestyle Centre – do not mistake the retail side of this project for a mall. Limegrove is Bal Harbour inspired and promises to deliver a new level of retail and luxury lifestyle to Barbados.

Realtor and developer Altman believes that Barbados is moving away from themed developments and more into urban planning and into the redevelopment of city living: Limegrove will allow you to live and relax as well as work in the same location.

The Limegrove Lifestyle Centre will consist of over 100 operators, many of which are new to Barbados. Top end retailers such as Cartier, Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton will house their brands in retail spaces that have been specially designed to suit their needs.

Paul Altman enthusiastically talks of the planning and the layout of the Lifestyle Centre. With 100,000 sq. ft. of retail space joined by parking for over 300 vehicles and three main courtyards all linked by walkways– a layout that encourages the pedestrian to explore and people watch. The buildings themselves are also linked by walkways on the second level. The Tower building which has four levels- the third level houses office space and the top level an internationally branded nightclub- can also be accessed by a lift which has glass on three sides and overlooks the Water Way below. The Limegrove Lifestyle Centre will open in the evening for those looking for after work indulgences: explore bistros and bars, the Limegrove Cinema, gym and many designer stores.

The Grove is the residential component to Limegrove and promises to incorporate vernacular architecture as well as modern design and technology. The first eight trendy 12 ft. high ceiling hillside villas are urban in their interiors and will be outfitted with flat-screen TVs, surround-sound and special lighting. These loft like and high tech yet open spaces have architectural features such as rubble wall and exposed metal columns and beams.

Limegrove is “green” not just in image but in attitude as well. The developers have made a large investment in the drainage system and will use recycled water for irrigation. On site, reclaimed materials were used – the Lifestyle Centre’s courtyards use reclaimed bricks. A Segway is included with your purchase of your Grove Residence. This zero-emission form of transportation takes up a minimal amount of space and operates easily on pedestrian sidewalks and pathways. But it is the landscaping that sets Limegrove apart from the rest. Developers have spotlighted the old sandbox tree on the site with its own courtyard and will shade the various open areas with trees and shrubs creating more private areas in some cases and framing more communal ones in others.

Limegrove is lifestyle at its best. London has King Street, Sloan Square and Westbourne Grove, New York has SoHo and Los Angeles- Rodeo Drive. Now, Barbados has Limegrove.