Developer Gilbert Lopes is testing the waters for a new condominium complex on the South Shore through media advertisements.Looking to gauge the public’s interest in purchasing a one-bedroom condo, the advert, which started running in this newspaper on Monday, highlights the low cost of the units, between $310,000 to $340,000.The proposal for 51 one-bedroom units just east of the Grand Atlantic development hasn’t been submitted for planning approval. Neither has the application to amend the current sustainable development order (SDO) attached to the property from 47 two- and three-bedroom units to a one-bedroom complex.“The idea is just to see what’s out there first before we waste a lot of money,” said Mr Lopes to The Royal Gazette.The plans have been redrawn — which Mr Lopes says reduces the current plan’s footprint by two thirds — and are ready for submittal. Set back from the cliff face, the proposed units would consist of around 800 square feet and be built in three, two-storey blocks.Most units will not have a sea view though should the proposal move forward, there will be private beach access. The complex, which is being designed by architects Benevides & Associates, is not intended to be a part of a low cost housing programme.Mr Lopes added that the pricing was as low as he could go in order to build the complex and was hoping that price range would be attractive to potential buyers. His hope is also to work with financiers to get approval for a ‘rent-to-buy’ scheme.So far, the advertisement has generated a few callers but the viability of the project really depends on the interest he gets.“We’ve done a lot of the prep work but we want to know what way the market is,” said Mr Lopes. “If I end up running the ad for a week and we get nothing then forget it, it doesn’t make sense — we’ll sit on it.”He added that he was concerned that any mention of the Grand Atlantic in association with the potential new condo complex could scare away potential interested parties.Mr Lopes purchased the land on the South Shore and began building the Grand Atlantic complex in 2010 on behalf of the Government. It was a joint housing project and hotel development, with 125 housing units announced for the site along with a 100-room hotel.The first housing units were completed in late 2011, and last year Government announced that 100 percent financing for the units was available, but as of last October only one unit had sold.The hotel phase of the project has been put off indefinitely.