'Downtown MoBay will never die'
Published:Sunday | March 27, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Sheena Gayle, Sunday Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
WITH A number of prominent com-mercial entities moving out of the heart of Montego Bay to more attractive spaces on the edge of the city, chairman of the St James Parish Council, Charles Sinclair, is expressing confidence that, "downtown Montego Bay will never die".
Traffic congestion and a shortage of parking spaces have been listed among the main reasons for the businesses leaving for the area many persons have dubbed the 'New MoBay', but Sinclair is not overly concerned.
"What is happening is a realignment of the city, so businesses (which operated in the downtown area) are relocating to areas such as Fairview and Whitter Village that have more space to accommodate the nature of their business," Sinclair told The Sunday Gleaner.
"But that does not mean the downtown area will cease to exist," he added.
The town's expansion has created a fortress for business branches seeking to move in and capitalise on Montego Bay's growth.
Companies such as Flow, Wendy's, Watts New, Avon, Payless ShoeSource, and J. Wray & Nephew are some of the those which have taken the initiative to set up branches in the city.
"As one business moves out another is waiting to take its place," Sinclair declared.
"Persons are asking me where can they get space to open a business downtown and I have seen where person have acquired property to facilitate the continuation of business in the area."
So far, many of the premises vacated by the long-established companies have been taken over by persons of Asian ancestry who have set up wholesale and retail businesses.
A check by The Sunday Gleaner revealed approximately 55 businesses in downtown Montego Bay owned by persons of Asian ancestry.
Most of these businesses are located along two of the busiest thoroughfares in the city - Barnett and St James streets.
Said Sinclair: "What I'm seeing is a certain type of business activity (retail) increasing in the downtown area and it being populated by mostly Chinese nationals.
"We have to appreciate investment in whatever form it comes, but the fact that it's being dominated by a particular group, can bring about some amount of concern."
Traffic concerns
This concern comes in the form of traffic control and the fact that as these businesses grow, the frequency of delivery trucks along major thoroughfares will create problems.
That is something the mayor explained the parish council will be examining so as to provide proactive solutions.
The traffic congestion and limited parking in downtown Montego Bay were expected to be addressed with the introduction of a $55 million traffic-management system. However, Sinclair confessed that, while the system is good for traffic control, there is need for more cohesive and effective enforcement by all agencies, including the St James Parish Council.