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Urgent development necessary for Kingston Central constituency

Published:Saturday | January 28, 2012 | 12:00 AM
A model house on land across from the old Lannaman's factory on Arnold Road in Allman Town, Kingston. Joseph Cornwall Sr would like to see the property developed for low-income housing. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

THE EDITOR, Sir:


I would like to make a suggestion to the MP for the constituency of Kingston Central, the Rev Deacon Ronald Thwaites, as it relates to the construction of low-income housing.


There is a large piece of real estate on Arnold Road, where the Lannaman's Factory operates its confectionery business; there are also other tenants who occupy shops in the complex.

I would like Mr Thwaites, through the Ministry of Housing, to acquire the land from the present owners to be used for the construction of houses similar to the ones in Trench Town, Denham Town, Rae Town and Union Gardens (Spanish Town Road). The businesses that now operate in the complex could be relocated to the JIDC complex.

Land-swap

The JIDC has thousands of square feet of factory space that is unused. If it is not possible, a land-swap arrangement could be worked out in order to make the housing development a reality.

At present, there is a model house on the site. However, I don't believe this model house would be suitable for the housing development. Too much land space would be wasted and the number of houses that could be built would be greatly reduced.

Allman Town is badly in need of urban renewal, so is Tel Aviv and South Side. The last housing development in the constituency was the lower South Camp Road housing development, which was constructed in the 1970s. The complex should be residential and commercial.

Deacon, what better legacy to leave your constituents? You are now a three-term MP and a government minister.

I propose it be named the Samuel Carter Housing Development, with permission from the Archdiocese of Kingston.

- Joseph M. Cornwall Sr (JP), Kingston, Tranquillityfhayahoo.com