The Salinas Bahamas
The Salinas Bahamas
The Salinas Bahamas presents an unprecedented opportunity to reverse environmental degradation caused by decades of industrial salt production. Prior to the 1970s, this remarkable ecosystem flourished as part of Long Island's natural lagoon system. When Diamond Crystal Salt Company built their industrial complex, extensive berms and dykes drastically altered water flow throughout the lagoons, creating widespread ecological damage that continues today, decades after operations ceased.
Our restoration proposal opens the land back to the natural forces that once defined it. The shifting relationship between landform and water forms the essence of our design approach. We're removing industrial infrastructure and re-establishing natural water flow patterns, allowing tides, storms, and seasonal cycles to resume their essential ecological functions across this vast coastal landscape.
The master plan balances conservation with world-class programming. The 1,440-acre development includes three marinas, over 400 residential lots ranging from 0.5 to 5 acres, research facilities, boutique hotels, beach clubs, spa and wellness centres, and residential amenity islands. These programs are carefully positioned to work with restored natural systems rather than against them, creating a new model for sustainable destination development.
The Salinas Bahamas aims to be the first sustainable community that simultaneously integrates and improves its surroundings by setting a new precedent in responsibly developing destinations based on site ecology.
Research and restoration drive the project's broader impact. Given the intersecting biodiversity and climate crises, we're pursuing critical contributions through carbon sequestration models and habitat restoration. The dedicated nature reserve provides space for scientific research while demonstrating how large-scale ecological restoration can create resilient ecosystems that benefit both wildlife and human communities.
This project sets a new precedent for regenerative development in sensitive coastal environments. By dedicating over 85% of the site to conservation and restoration, The Salinas Bahamas proves that responsible development can be a force for ecological healing, creating a model that can be replicated in coastal regions worldwide.