Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Just over a year ago, a visit to the Geon Homes project, Casa Monte Estate in Stony Hill, St Andrew, showed 21 four-bedroom houses and 30 executive apartments as a mass of bricks and mortar with many possibilities for fabulous residences.

On February 8, a return visit for a preview of the almost-completed J$1-billion project revealed that the new homes had lived up to their billing.

The two-storey four-bedroom houses, each of 3,200 square feet, cost $38.75 million.

A single floor, two-bedroom, executive apartment with study, covering 1,650 sq ft, costs $25.75 million.

These prices not only fetch a beautiful view, but also provide backup water supply, a play area for children, lots of green areas and no need for grille work on the upper floors.

Acting as tour guide, developer Reynold Scott, who has now completed, with first-class honours, the theology degree he was pursuing last year at the University of the West Indies, told Sunday Business that although he was not over budget, interest rates had been punitive on the funds used to finance Casa Monte.

New regime

"The newly introduced regime will affect us," Scott said.

The 12-acre property that wraps around the original hotel-turned-luxury apartments, now boasts landscaped grounds, a refurbished swimming pool and pool-house with bathroom, kitchen and bar.

The original multi-storey apartment has a fresh coat of paint and a new roof.

From the Old Stony Hill Road, the entrance will get a new gate and provide much easier access to the estate.

On the level with the original apartment building is a gravelled parking area for visitors' cars and steps leading down to the new complex below.

The two-bedroom units feature a master suite, large clothes closets, a study and ample cupboard space. two face basins dominate and there are Corian countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, which also offer city or mountain views.

The area that was once littered with steel, bricks, mortar and men in hard hats, is gone.

Already, a few residents have moved into their four-bedroom houses. One executive apartment was occupied last Sunday; but there are still 11 of the 30 left to be sold.

There will be an open house today. Prospective buyers will see a two-bedroom executive apartment furnished entirely by Courts, a collaboration that Scott says is being done for the first time.

Orchids and other tropical flowers are in bloom and the lots are taking on their owners' personalities.

Some of the two-bedroom multi-level executive apartments have a huge basement area that comprises a recreation room, a bathroom, plus an additional bedroom. This exits outside and faces the neighbours.

Storage rooms

"What sets these apartments apart is the suite of storage rooms that is adjacent to the laundry rooms, also at basement level," said Scott.

"Storage facilities can be obtained at an additional cost. And even from here, the view is great and there is a constant wind," Scott explained.

The boulders dug out of the hillsides now form part of the attractive landscape.

Those familiar with Geon know of Scott's reputation for constructing homes on prime pieces of property in the corporate area. When we last reported, he mentioned the acquisition of property in Ingleside, Mandeville, but with the prevailing economic recession affecting the market, Scott said those have been put on hold.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com