Part of the modern day dynamic in Jamaica, is the current construction boom, particularly projects geared towards the upper end of the market. While it may be argued that this is a mere cyclical occurrence and indeed, that market segment will become saturated, the reality is that the price of land and housing in preferred sections of the Corporate Area of Kingston and St Andrew, are at record levels. While pragmatism would suggest that the market is due for a correction, the timeline for that occurrence is not easily predictable. However another part of the reality, is that it is estimated that approximately 20 percent of the lands in Kingston and St Andrew have been basically abandoned and should be targeted for redevelopment.
Indeed in the arguments being advanced regarding increasing densities in the more affluent residential neighbourhoods, it is an often overlooked reality, that aside from the lands which have been abandoned primarily in crime ridden communities, that high density developments do not have a track record of success in Jamaica. Indeed, the citizens have heard in recent times, from a plethora of experts, advising that Jamaica must now look to the failed strategy of mixed land use and to densities which obtain in Manhattan in New York. The only problem with that strategy is that Manhattan has a density of almost 77,000 persons per square mile versus Kingston which has a density of 3,727 persons per square mile. So by the logic now being advanced the entire population of Kingston could be packed in 8.5 sq. miles and in fact the entire Jamaican population could be accommodated in 33.8 sq miles. This is approximately 19.3 percent of the 174.9 sq miles that represents the land area of the capital city. In other words, it is being advocated that the densities be increased by a factor of approximately 25, but to accommodate who and facilitate what?
The Jamaican population is growing at a very slow rate, oftentimes below 1 percent per annum. There are no discernible plans for any “mega-investments” on a sustained basis that would require substantial additions to the Jamaican labour force, creating even a fraction of this so-called demand for housing, that the proposed densities would suggest. So what is the hysteria about increasing densities all about? There are a handful of well connected but unscrupulous business operators, who do not wish to operate their businesses in areas zoned for commercial activity, because of a fear of crime and of course the advantage of being nearer to their potential client base and hence seek to establish their businesses in the residential communities. With an accommodating state machinery, it therefore pits the residents against the commercial operators, while 20 percent of the capital city remains unused and perhaps another 30 percent operates in sub-optimal conditions, yearning for redevelopment and in some cases re-population.
With all its social problems Jamaica remains an island paradise with tremendous potential. There is no need to approach its development in a frenzied fashion and in so doing destroy the very fabric of the society. Indeed, when Jamaica is being told that Papine should be the new standard for development, there is an obvious and urgent need for rationality to be introduced in urban planning. The lights are on, but is anyone home?
Indeed in the arguments being advanced regarding increasing densities in the more affluent residential neighbourhoods, it is an often overlooked reality, that aside from the lands which have been abandoned primarily in crime ridden communities, that high density developments do not have a track record of success in Jamaica. Indeed, the citizens have heard in recent times, from a plethora of experts, advising that Jamaica must now look to the failed strategy of mixed land use and to densities which obtain in Manhattan in New York. The only problem with that strategy is that Manhattan has a density of almost 77,000 persons per square mile versus Kingston which has a density of 3,727 persons per square mile. So by the logic now being advanced the entire population of Kingston could be packed in 8.5 sq. miles and in fact the entire Jamaican population could be accommodated in 33.8 sq miles. This is approximately 19.3 percent of the 174.9 sq miles that represents the land area of the capital city. In other words, it is being advocated that the densities be increased by a factor of approximately 25, but to accommodate who and facilitate what?
The Jamaican population is growing at a very slow rate, oftentimes below 1 percent per annum. There are no discernible plans for any “mega-investments” on a sustained basis that would require substantial additions to the Jamaican labour force, creating even a fraction of this so-called demand for housing, that the proposed densities would suggest. So what is the hysteria about increasing densities all about? There are a handful of well connected but unscrupulous business operators, who do not wish to operate their businesses in areas zoned for commercial activity, because of a fear of crime and of course the advantage of being nearer to their potential client base and hence seek to establish their businesses in the residential communities. With an accommodating state machinery, it therefore pits the residents against the commercial operators, while 20 percent of the capital city remains unused and perhaps another 30 percent operates in sub-optimal conditions, yearning for redevelopment and in some cases re-population.
With all its social problems Jamaica remains an island paradise with tremendous potential. There is no need to approach its development in a frenzied fashion and in so doing destroy the very fabric of the society. Indeed, when Jamaica is being told that Papine should be the new standard for development, there is an obvious and urgent need for rationality to be introduced in urban planning. The lights are on, but is anyone home?
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