Gov’t aims to build Jamaica back stronger, says UDC chairman

WESTERN BUREAU:

Recent storm events and the growing impact of climate change have forced both the Government and citizens to rethink how buildings and urban centres are designed, says Urban Development Corporation (UDC) chairman Norman Brown.

To this end, the Government is moving assertively to create more resilient communities, climate-proof infrastructure and affordable housing developments across western Jamaica, he said in his keynote address at Tuesday’s launch of the Recover and Rebuild Jamaica Expo in Montego Bay.

“People are looking at building back stronger and better, because, for those of us old enough to remember Hurricane Gilbert and its aftermath, the exact thing transpired during those times,” said Brown. “Climate change is something that is real, and, from the position that I occupy in the public sector, the mandate that we have gotten is quite clear. We have to build units that can withstand Category-5 hurricanes.”

Brown further noted that demand for cement in western Jamaica has surged, as many homeowners move away from zinc roofing and towards reinforced concrete structures.

“What we have realised is that nobody is buying zinc. Everybody is now converting their homes to slab roofs, concrete roofs. Hence, the demand for cement in the region is higher than ever,” he said, adding that future housing developments must also move farther inland, away from vulnerable coastlines.

“We also have to build away from the shoreline, especially for residential schemes. We have to move inwards away from the shoreline because, when the events come, they come in a very ferocious way,” he said.

Brown disclosed that the UDC has been tasked with rebuilding several townships damaged by recent weather events, beginning with Black River. According to him, government offices located along the coastline suffered extensive damage and will now be relocated inland as part of a new urban-centre plan.

“We have been tasked with building a new urban centre, which will be away from the shoreline,” he said. “The courthouse, the municipal corporation building, the tax office, all of those places have suffered severe damage.”

HOUSING PROJECTS

Turning to housing, Brown, who is also chairman of the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ), revealed that the agency is moving ahead with several major housing projects in St James, including approximately 1,500 houses at Grange Pen, many of which are intended for tourism workers.

“Approximately 50 to 60 per cent of those houses would be constructed and marketed towards tourism workers,” Brown said, noting that the lands were acquired through the Tourism Enhancement Fund.

Additional housing schemes are also planned for an area near Providence — a 96-unit development called Oasis of Montego Bay.

At the same time, Brown acknowledged that affordability remains one of the greatest challenges facing the housing sector.

“Sometimes I look and I see where we get quotations to build a one-bedroom house, and the prices are painful,” he said. “A one-bedroom starter home, you’re getting quotes of $14 million and $15 million.”

According to him, the Government is seeking innovative building technologies and alternative construction materials to reduce costs.

“Ideally, we would love for any developer to come to us with a price point of, say, $8 million to $9 million for a one-bedroom house,” he said. “What people really want is a home that can withstand natural events and, at the same time, give you a comfortable place where you can raise your family.”

Brown also highlighted ongoing efforts to transform the Montego Bay waterfront through a comprehensive master plan stretching from the Freeport area to Harmony Beach Park.

“The waterfront in Montego Bay is undervalued by virtue of what is there now, which is disorganised and not properly kept. There is indeed a plan being worked on that will see us creating a promenade from the Freeport area all the way down to Harmony Park,” he said.

He said the project will include the revitalisation of the Hip Strip, in an effort to encourage more visitors to leave hotel properties and spend within the wider city economy.

“One of the talking points now is that we need to get our tourist visitors out of the hotels and into the streets, so that they can patronise Jamaica,” said Brown.

He also praised the success of Harmony Beach Park, describing it as one of the Caribbean’s premier urban recreational spaces and an important equaliser for families across social classes.

“When I pass here and I see families spread a blanket on the grass, children on the globe, I want us to imagine this, there are no lawns in some communities. When a child comes to the park and is on the grass, it is a totally different experience,” he said.