Are we creating ghost towns?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Recent coverage in The Gleaner has focused on the issue of providing adequate housing in Jamaica, especially throughout the Corporate Area. Specifically, I am referring to news articles on the need to reassess construction throughout the Jack’s Hill area for fear of developing a fault line, efforts to develop so-called “container homes” to address the housing shortage, and discussions in the parliament about the “ill-conceived” nature of high-rise developments in the Corporate Area.

Throughout Kingston high-rise developments seem to have sprouted overnight; they are obscuring the scenery and robbing those in single family homes of their privacy as buildings stand right next to their properties. To buy or rent these apartments is not cheap. While it is being justified that the idea is to attract high-net-worth individuals (and foreign exchange) to the island, it is hard to believe that there is enough demand to fill spaces that regularly rent, on an average, for over $1 million per annum.

The question is, who is living in these places? Going on international trends, so-called “ghost apartments” are a phenomenon whereby the global rich purchase housing without the intention of living in them, using these empty lots as speculative assets and places to park their wealth. Not only does this drive up the cost of the remaining housing, but in a country with dwindling access to water and rising temperatures, it does not make sense to continue to approve construction for the sole purpose of facilitating alleged money laundering. There is also the risk of gentrification, another global phenomenon, whereby the character of a poor area is changed by the influx of more affluent residents and businesses, displacing long-term residents and driving up property prices.

As downtown Kingston area comes under increased interest for development and tourism, it is not hard to imagine a situation where long-term renters and other residents find themselves unable to afford to live in communities where they have lived in their entire lives. While Jamaica has consistently demonstrated a commitment to providing affordable housing, we cannot afford to make mistakes. As we continue to develop the Kingston of the future, we must not be so eager to imitate the socioeconomic development of ‘First World’ countries that we repeat their mistakes, as well.

We can replicate their solutions, be it through rent control, public housing, community land trusts, or simply applying more scrutiny for new developments of apartment complexes and high-rises across the island. More caution and forward thinking is needed as we develop housing, and we must not neglect the growing population of young professionals who find themselves increasingly unable to purchase a home.

COLIN BOGLE

Portmore