Disgruntled Hellshire View home purchasers meet with PM; developer to provide completion timeline

Prospective homeowners of the long-delayed Hellshire View Housing Scheme in St Catherine are feeling more hopeful following a meeting on Monday with Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who has given the developer, Rite Solutions Developers Limited, 10 days to get its affairs in order.

Rite Solutions explained in March this year that a commitment to produce the first 101 units within the housing scheme by November 2023 had not materialised due to a lack of funding, after a rock assessment underestimated the hardness of the rocks in Shooters Hill.

The developers explained that excavators could not clear the rocks, and instead the project demanded the use of dynamites, a more costly venture. The cost of the development was subsequently understated by $5.5 billion.

Following a hand-delivered letter to the prime minister during his recent election campaign, the homeowners finally received an audience at the Office of the Prime Minister Monday evening. There, Holness, representatives from the Housing Association of Jamaica, the directors of Rite Solutions and the purchasers discussed the concerns.

The Gleaner understands that it was agreed that the developers would report formally to the prime minister and the HAJ on the way forward in another 10 days. The purchasers were also promised that within 30 days Rite Solutions would provide a schedule regarding their intended activities.

The 623 two-bedroom homes with solar water heater, ceramic tiles and modern finishes, started at a base cost of $17.2 million. One hundred and one units were to be delivered first, but have been stuck in limbo.

On Thursday, purchasers were told it would now cost $25 million to complete one of the units, however, the price would remain as agreed at under $20 million, including escalation costs. They also heard that it may take another 10 months for the units to be completed - including the implementation of utilities, construction of roadways, a jogging trail, children's play area, a tennis court and a swimming pool.

"Based on the points that they discussed and put forward by the PM, it provided some sort of comfort, as he said once it comes to his desk a solution would have to be found, though he said he didn't want to give us false hope," said one resident, who identified herself as Rose and said she made a $1.9 million downpayment for her unit.

"Rite solutions decided to share milestone schedules themselves. Going forward, they said they will be held accountable, providing us timelines. We have heard this before where they have given us timelines and they missed it. But now it's not just us, they also have to report to the PM, and housing is now under his ministry," said Rose.

- Corey Robinson

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