Plans have been unveiled to convert the former military hotel at Southside in St. David's into an apartment block, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Bermuda Land Development Corporation (BLDC) manager Patrick Jones said between 40 and 42 one and two bedroom units were in the process of being designed with renovation of the building slated to start this autumn, pending planning approval. And he said he hoped the units would be available for rent at below $1,850 per month.

“We're really looking to provide a mix of housing and responding to market needs and the needs of the community,” he said. “The vision is that Southside will become a robust, thriving community.”

The news came as Mr. Jones gave an update on plans for other buildings at Southside which have been left vacant since the United States military pulled out in 1995.

He said the Baselands' old military hospital had been slated for demolition because “it was decided the cost to renovate would supercede the cost of any new construction” that was built.

“It is very old and the water pipes system and the air system would all need to be completely revamped. Also, we decided that the room sizes would not be consistent with modern use.”

He added: “The cost to convert would just not make sense. In its present state it doesn't lend itself to any other use.”

Asked if the structure contained asbestos, Mr. Jones said: “I believe that any that was in there has been removed and if not any that is left will be taken out by qualified personnel.”

The demolition, which is hoped will be finished within the next two years, may be followed up by the construction of another structure. Mr. Jones said the BLDC was “looking at a number of options” with regards to what to do with the site, but declined to elaborate. It also emerged that the building in which the new Southside Police station is to be housed is currently being used by two businesses which were forced to move out of their other St. David's location because the roof was severely damaged during Hurricane Fabian.

He explained that the two companies, Southside Office Depot and R.F. Communications, will be there until their building, opposite Number Two Gate, is repaired.

Mr. Smith said he expected this to have been done within the next two months.

“No leases have been signed. They've just been temporarily moved in. Their roof was ripped off to the extent that their businesses couldn't be run.”

Yesterday, Home Affairs permanent secretary Robert Horton confirmed plans to construct the new police station were on schedule to be completed by the third quarter of this year.

The new police station will replaced St. George's Police Station as the main Police hub of the Island's east end. However, the St. George's station is set to remain open.