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Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the National Housing Trust (NHT) has a plan to create 1,505 units in Kingston and St Andrew that will not exceed J$12 million, providing affordable housing for all Jamaicans.

Holness was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Howard Apartments yesterday (November 9) in St Andrew.

He noted that there is currently a high demand for housing in Jamaica that would result in higher prices for housing developments.

But, according to Holness, the Government has been and will continue working with the NHT to provide affordable housing.

“We are redirecting the resources of the NHT to focus on houses that are in the price range of persons who are at the median income in Jamaica… meaning for persons who are low income earners or middle to lower income earners,” said Holness.

He added that the Howard Apartments “fits neatly into that category of income earners” and will provide affordable housing for residents in the area.

There will be 248 studio apartment units built at a cost of J$2.4 billion. The apartments are expected to be completed in October 2024.

This development is a joint venture with Centauri Real Estate Company Limited (CREC) under the NHT’s Guaranteed Purchase Programme (GPP).

Though he could not state the price per unit for the apartments, Holness said the Howard Apartments, along with the other 1,500 housing developments for Kingston, will not be in excess of J$12 million.

“You can note that we have not highlighted any development whose price would be in excess of J$12 million….the housing developments that we have just announced, the 1,500 will all be in the affordable housing range.”

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

The developments listed by Holness were 28 units at Metcalfe Street, 230 units at Foreshore Estate and 210 units at Maxfield Park, White Wing community renewal with131 units, Howard Apartments with 248 units, and Rasta City in West Kingston with 155 units.

Other developments listed were the community of Bellrock with 18 units, St Paul’s Lane community with 24 units, Surbiton apartments with 70 units, Penwood with 38 units, Bay Farm Road community renewal with 72 units, Ruthven Towers (Phase II) with 235 units and a scheme in Vineyard Town with 14 units.

Holness further told Angela Brown Burke, the member of parliament for South West St Andrew constituency where Howard Apartments is located, that the developments could also be purchased by low income earners.

“[If] they are earning minimum wage or just above minimum wage they should be able to access financing through the NHT or private banking system or from their own resources to afford one of these 248 units that will be built,’ said Holness.

Ruthven Towers (Phase I) earned the Government significant backlash when it was revealed that the apartments, constructed throught the NHT, were priced around J$40 million, despite the Trust’s primary goal of provide access to affordable housing.

But Holness at the time defended the development, stating: “There should be no reason why somebody who can afford a $40-million home should not get the opportunity to buy his $40-million home.”

He also announced Ruthven Towers (Phase II) in August of this year, but said the price of the apartments would be significanlty reduced.

Yesterday, Holness listed phase two of the project among the 1,500 units to be developed by the NHT that will not be in excess of J$12 million.

Apartment too small for constituency said Brown-Burke

Brown-Burke said she was pleased that the Howard Apartments development would create a communal space for residents, to build community spirit.

However, she said that residents in her constituency had told her that they would have preferred larger units or houses that could accommodate expansion for their families.

“They really like the ones where they can expand a little bit and they prefer those where the family can come [and live],” said Brown-Burke.

She noted that some members of her constituency would be first generation homeowners, and have just started to work. As such, they may reside with family members when they purchase a home.

Though grateful for the developments, she is urging the NHT and Holness to build structures that meet the need of her constituency.

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