Sweeping South Shore views, a beach and walking distance to a new national park, not to mention designer kitchens, spacious bedrooms, solar heating and a backup generator for the entire complex.Many have focused on the negatives, but there are actually quite a lot of positives about Government’s new Grand Atlantic “affordable” condos, as I saw on a tour this week with a Bermuda Housing Corporation representative.While Bermudians may be balking at price and financing options, and the perceived ‘industrial look’ of the complex and other issues, our tourists love it, attending the recent open houses in droves, according to the BHC rep (even though land policy at this time doesn’t allow them to purchase one of the condos).With just one sold to date, the pricing for the condos is being revised in the next few weeks, we understand, so if you haven’t been for a tour, a second look may be worth it.First thing to know, is the complex looks much better from within, rather than from the road.And it really is not that noisy from the passing traffic. And there is plenty of green space including nicely landscaped large lawn areas in the front and back of the complex.The location is one of the most convenient in Bermuda, walking distance to the new Warwick gas station, beaches, great restaurants and a new grocery store- when it eventually opens. It’s close to public and private schools too and right by a bus stop.The three phases are made up of 78 condos in three-storey blocks of six or nine units.There are 60 two-bedroom/one-bathroom units (1130 sq ft) and three-bedroom/2 bathroom units (1480 sq ft). The three-bedrooms are all ground floor while the two-bedroom units are ground and upper floor. They are either ocean-view or garden-view.Prices, which are likely being revised, currently start at $495,000 for the garden-view two-bedrooms on the middle floor, $545,000 for the garden-view two-bedrooms on the upper floor, and $585,000 for a garden-view three-bedroom; then it’s $560,000 for ocean-view two-bedrooms and $645,000 for the ocean-view three-bedrooms.Maintenance fees are $415 a month and include insurance for the building and water.All the units have Berber carpet in the bedrooms, tile in the other rooms, granite or corian counters, and high-end oak cabinets.The kitchens have plenty of cabinet storage, double sinks and a nice-sized breakfast bar. Bedrooms have deep closets and some have walk-in closets.There is a spacious separate laundry room in the three-bedroom unit and laundry area in the hall in the two-bedroom units.The three-bedrooms units and two-bedroom ocean view units have stainless steel appliances, including dishwasher.The bathrooms in the three-bedrooms have a full-sized window.All windows have proper working storm shutters and all units have patios, the ocean-view ones having spectacular million-dollar views of the turquoise waters, where on clear days whales and other marine life have been spotted.All units will eventually have 4 by 8 storage facilities, some already have.Other great features of this development include: a standby generator in case of a power outage, solar panels for water heaters on phases two and three, and bulk gas storage built into the design. They are web-ready and cable-ready.The units also have a creative plan for water collection.Rainwater will be collected and stored in shared tanks located under each building, and all units will be equipped with meters that measure the water drawn for individual use. Bermuda Water Works has been instituted as a “top-up resource” for the Grand Atlantic development.While the development looks dense from the roadside, it’s actually bordered by lunch parkland and looks across at parkland, having full access to what will soon open as Southlands National Park.Imagine the beautiful walking trails residents will have access to in the stunning 37-acre Southlands property.Developers Craig Christensen, Nelson Hunt and Brian Duperreault agreed to swap Southlands for 80 acres at Morgan’s Point, which was finally signed over to them in June this year.Much has been made of the state of the cliffs below but the complex has both Dept of Planning certificate granted in November 2011 and stamped approval the cliff face is secure by Lohse Geoconsulting Inc.The units can be viewed by appointment by calling the BHC at 295 8623 ext 209 or e-mailing latashas@bhc.bm or lchavis@bhc.bm.