Barbadians have been responding to government’s plan for high rise urban housing in Barbados.
Minister of Housing Michael Lashley says the projects will start early next month with 400 apartments constructed at Mason Hall Street, The Grotto, Beckles Road, and Exmouth in St Michael.
He said Cabinet has already approved the two-year housing project.
This is what some Barbadians had to say.
Al Wright said the concept is one that started back in the 50’s and 60’s in several parts of the United States.
“It is something I saw in Brooklyn, and Newark, NJ. To date many of these high-rises have been boarded up, neglected, or demolished as the tenants became very outraged at the lack of security and the activity of criminals who frequented the projects to ply their trade.
“With the current wave of crime in Barbados, the fact is that within a short time there will be regret for constructing these breeding grounds for crime. Even with the screening of tenants and provision of security the activity will prevail. There should be an awareness that this type of housing is a means of placing a class of people in a confined area. A better suggestion and project would be to build affordable “scatter homes” in order to give the tenants a feeling of independence”.
Forrest noted that this initiative was tried a few years on Lower Bay street just outside the Boatyard.
“The Government needs to understand these investments have follow ups such as constant building maintenance by professionals and amentities for the tenants laundry service rooms etc. But I would like to see it really work out well and hope the occupants will take care of the property. Maybe let them be low income rental units with at least two month security deposits. Then perhaps people will care for government housing”.
Joel Howard: “I have also personally witnessed these high-rise homes while living in Guadeloupe. I saw the same in Martinique and French Guyana. They are well maintained (that’s the key) and not looked at with contempt.
“Those built in the 80’s and onwards are beautiful buildings. If private high-rise apartments are well maintained, why can’t Government do it as well. It makes little sense building if we can’t maintain”.
Anythony Guppy agrees that the buildings must be well maintained and taken care of by both Government and tenants.
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