Pedestrians only! Yap sees waterfront as oasis of culture

Marcella Scarlett, Business Reporter

The idea is radical not so much in its concept as in its potential scope.

Architect and planner Clifton Yap sees the waterfront as a cultural tour de force; a place dotted with shops and eateries; a boulevard to be strolled by pedestrians.

But to execute such a plan as he laid out would likely require the Government to displace or relocate existing residences, offices and businesses, and raze a number of high-rise buildings that now populate places like Ocean Boulevard.

Yap put forward the proposal initially in a discussion on how a more pedestrian-friendly and aesthetically appealing development plan for downtown Kingston could attract more business to the city, during a national economic forum held downtown by Jamaica Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Digicel.

The architect's proposal for creative property destruction did not extend to the new Digicel headquarters under construction close to the waterfront - he views the telecom as a big draw for other business to the city - and while he did not define the zone of impact, it appeared to cover the area incorporating Kingston Mall, the Office Centre building, and Ocean Towers.

He later clarified that the concept was not confined to just that area of downtown Kingston, but could broadly be applied to waterfront redesign nationwide.

Yap, who is the principal of one of Jamaica's leading architectural firms, Clifton Yap Architects, envisions a waterfront full of cultural offerings, easy dining, strolling pedestrians and greenery; and an oasis free of motorcars in the heavily motorised city.

"Kingston has become a sea of asphalt, with physical and visual disorders everywhere, as the city is being consumed by roadways and parking lots," he said.

Limiting congestion

A successful city requires people having a place to live close to where they work, shop, or go to school. Being close to these facilities would limit the use of motor vehicles and congestion, and potentially lead to a higher quality of life, the architect argues.

"Overall, there are things in planning that can minimise the need for driving," Yap told Wednesday Business.

The solution is to "create an environment that is more pedestrian-friendly," said Yap. "It makes good environmental and economic sense to cut back on fuel consumption". It can also be a draw for visitors, he argues.

"Imagine if tourists would want to come to Kingston and actually walk our city streets and experience our rich architectural history, our culture and our magnificent waterfront. Imagine the benefits to the economy if we could achieve this," the architect said.

"But we have to fix it for the people who live here first."

Kingston has a natural harbour "that many other cities would kill to get", but has been encircled by blank walls and a prison, is polluted with sewage, and needs fixing.

"Clean up the harbour, get rid of the highway, relocate the parking lots and do proper planning of the waterfront promenade with shops and restaurants and bars facing towards it at street level," said Yap.

Examples of similar projects in other cities can be found all over the world, including San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, where expensive highways that run along their waterfronts have been demolished to create public spaces, said the architect.

These cities recognised the social and economic benefits associated with improvements to the public realm, and created a pedestrian-friendly environment, which acted as a catalyst for significant private-sector investments in residential offices and retail developments, he said.

State developer Urban Development Corporation, which owns the majority of properties on Ocean Boulevard, has not responded to requests for comments on whether such a proposal as Yap's is seen as feasible or has a place in its long-term development plans.

The architect's push for pedestrianisation of downtown already has a convert in executive director of Kingston Restoration Company, Morin Seymour.

Seymour agrees that the downtown area needs to be cleaned up and beautified to attract investments. He said that a lot of the groundwork has been done and legislation drafted that the Government needs to push through the House.

The KRC head cautioned that not all of downtown can be fixed; that developers should select areas that can generate returns on investment, including the waterfront.

"You would push the road back far enough to give you the area to play with. It would not cost a lot if it is done well," said Seymour. "It is 'doable'; we can do it. First, we have to get the will for improving the business district. Once you get that part, the investment will happen," he said.

Yap does not know what his plan would cost to execute, but believes that price should not be a factor, given the potential benefits in new economic activity as well as an improved quality of life.

"The financial resources should not be a constraint, as we find money for everything else," he said. "What we need is a good vision and the right priorities."

He points to the four-lane highway to the Palisadoes as one of the "low priority projects" for which the Government has found financing.

marcella.scarlett@gleanerjm.com