The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has sought to clarify the intentions behind the renovations at Devon House, after Jamaicans were left angered by pictures of the Kingston oasis that have been circulating on social media today (December 22).

TEF indicated that the construction, which has been under way since March this year, only includes the courtyard area which represents 2.4 per cent of Devon House and will leave the area lusher after the trees are allowed to mature, the shrubs are planted, and the vines begin to grow on the pergolas.

The development taking place seeks to address expressed concerns about safety, pedestrian flow, the functionality of the courtyard, and accessibility to the differently abled.

The redesign, specifically addressed the following issues:

Uneven surfaces from tree roots in the vicinity

The uneven surfaces posed a potential danger to patrons, which could have resulted in Devon House becoming liable for injuries sustained by patrons.

Poor drainage, which led to flooding when it rained

Flooding following rainfall prevented easy access to the area for visitors and caused damage to the walkways used by patrons.

Limited seating for patrons

With the increase in visitors to Devon House, the number of seats in the area was inadequate. It limited the ability of patrons to sit and enjoy the atmosphere and ambience of the courtyard.

Challenges regarding the movement of patrons within the area

The previous design of the area did not allow for ease of movement when traversing the various shops and restaurants in the Courtyard. Additionally, it did not include enough ramps to allow for visitors who are differently abled, or persons with baby strollers, to have access to seating in the Courtyard as well as shops, and restaurants.

During the construction process, TEF said six trees have been planted and only one tree was removed after a review by the Forestry Department recommended its removal for public safety. That tree has since been replaced with a young sapling that can be trained to conform to contextually acceptable standards of safety.

To allow the public to use the facility for the Christmas season, TEF said it has suspended the rehabilitation work for the impending holidays.

The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.

– Send feedback to [email protected]