Sod turned for housing project at the Savannah

3596025

GEISHA KOWLESSAR-ALONZO

[email protected]

The sod has been turned for a multi million dollar project, The Grand Savannah, in Port-of-Spain.

Entailing a mixture of commercial and residential spaces it is the vision of Dr Kongshiek Achong Low and Dr Boris Yufie.

While the exact cost of the project could be given, Yufie said the land was bought for in excess of $20 million, noting that when the building is completed, it’s expected to cost three to four times as much.

Former Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, now Housing Minister who delivered the feature address said this will be one of the first buildings to benefit from the increased building height, made possible by Cabinet’s approval of the “Updated Hierarchy of Settlements related to Building heights and other Development Standards,” which she piloted as Planning Minister.

She explained that Cabinet has granted approval for buildings in the area to go up to nine storeys but on sites of specific sizes.

Robinson-Regis also noted that yesterday’s event marked the first time in many years that construction of multiple housing units around the Queen’s Park Savannah will commence, triggering hope of a resurgence of residents to the city.

“There can be no doubt that coming out of the COVID-19 precipitated lockdown and the much-awaited resumption of construction, a project of this nature and magnitude will most assuredly assist in the rejuvenation of the national economy.

“This project will employ lots of local labour in its construction phase and continue that local content engagement in its outfitting and subsequent maintenance,” the minister said.

However, she said the Government cannot continue to be the sole driver of employment and the generation of business in the national economy, calling on the private sector to join with the Government in this area.

In so doing, Robinson-Regis said there will be further significant increases in employment opportunities.

“This is particular of importance now, especially due to the challenges brought about by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have negatively affected Trinidad and Tobago, much like the rest of the world,” Robinson-Regis added.

Speaking about the Port-of-Spain Revitalisation Project, the minister said this aims to establish T&T’s capital as a premier location for commerce, culture and entertainment which will have a high appeal for local residents and international visitors alike.

She added that various ministries have already brought forward proposals for the project focusing on residential, tourism, entertainment, recreational, commercial and cultural activities.

According to Robinson-Regis some of the current projects responsible for most of the employment include the construction of the Central Block of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, dredging and drainage works to mitigate flooding, road construction and rehabilitation in the capital city, urban upgrading and revitalization which involves urban housing, the Emperor Valley Zoo expansion, the Street Dwellers Rehabilitation and Re-Integration Project, the upgrade of national performance centres in the capital city such as Queen’s Hall and the National Academy of the Performing Arts (NAPA) as well as the Heritage Library, Mille Fleurs and Trinity Cathedral.

She cited that other elements of the project at various stages of feasibility studies and requests for proposal include an inner city transit system, City Gate development, mixed used development at the Salvatori Site on Independence Square, the Piccadilly Street Housing Development and the potential mixed use development at the PowerGen site among others.

Former Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing who also spoke said while Port-of-Spain is a great city, “some how we have failed to make it smile.”

However, he said the project will bring all the ancillary and other wise elements required to uplift the city.