Hamilton's first residential development in over a century ? the luxury apartment building Atlantis on Victoria Street ? is in its final stages with developer Sir John Swan telling this week that the project would be officially opened in late January.

Sir John said the last touches were being put on the project, including landscaping being done from this week for the plush complex that will include a heated swimming pool, on-site deli, gymnasium and communal rooftop sun deck. But when asked the question that has been on everyone's lips ? how much will the units be selling for ? Sir John declined to give any information on the pricing of the units.

"We are not naming the price until the official opening; until the units are available to be seen," he said, of the eight-storey complex that will house 60 one- and two-bedroom balconied apartments of various sizes.

Sir John said he felt it was important to be able to show people what they were buying before talking money.

"There has never been a city apartment complex. It is a new concept (for Hamilton), and our focus has been on quality," he said, adding that in developing Atlantis they had tried to "think of everything" with garbage chutes located on each floor, sound insulation for each unit, CCTV security cameras, wiring for "any type of technology available in Bermuda" in the rooms of each apartment, storage space for each resident in the basement, and an on-site custodian.

"There are lots of amenities, and we want to relate the quality of the product to the price. We cannot do that until (those interested) can see inside."

Sir John added that parking should also not be an issue with paid spots available to Atlantis tenants in an adjacent lot, or residential parking permits would be available for city spots from the Corporation of Hamilton.

Although not saying what the units would cost, Sir John did say that some people are already in line for certain apartments, secured with deposits by would-be dwellers eager to secure their spot, and at least one interested party plunking down $100,000.

"We have not offered the apartments to anybody, but some have put deposits down and chosen the unit they would like," he said.

Although Atlantis marked a new concept of city dwelling for Hamilton, a second multi-storey apartment block has already been announced.

Earlier in the year, developer Gilbert Lopes said he had been given approval to build a seven-floor, one- and two-bedroom apartment complex on Dundonald Street, which will also have balconies and a roof terrace.The listing agent for the Atlantis apartments is Arthur Jones of Coldwell Banker JW Bermuda Realty. A model of both an Atlantis unit and the lobby area can be seen at the company's Par-la-Ville Road offices.