One hundred and forty-four (144) housing units are to be constructed in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, as part of the National Housing Trust’s (NHT) Community Renewal Programme. Construction for the development, named Royal Estate, was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday (November 24).
During his keynote address, Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, emphasised that the development of Royal Estate “represents hope and opportunity and embodies the ideals of the Community Renewal Programme, an initiative deeply rooted in the tenets of Vision 2030, and it is an outgrowth of the NHT’s Inner-city housing project”.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also advised that the NHT was on target to meet its housing delivery target of 43,000 housing solutions, despite a few setbacks. He announced that over 1,300 housing units were slated for construction over the next two years within Kingston and St. Andrew with the possibility of an increase once suitable land was located.
Member of Parliament for Kingston Western, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, in his commendation to the NHT for the steps taken to commence construction, highlighted that once completed, the Royal Estate would further enrich the history and ongoing growth of the Tivoli’s Gardens community.
Chairman of the National Housing Trust, Linval Freeman, in noting the positive impact of housing on the nation’s development, emphasised the NHT’s commitment to maintaining accessibility to housing for NHT contributors.
“At the NHT, we are uniquely positioned to understand this. We travel the length and breadth of Jamaica doing projects like these that impact the quality of life for many proud NHT homeowners. We do this in an environment where NHT interest rates remain low, our financing- accessible, our programmes- innovative and inclusive and the quality of our developments- exceptional and the price…affordable,” said Mr Freeman
The units are scheduled for completion within the next two years.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness (third LEFT) breaks ground for the new Royal Estate development in Tivoli Gardens, Kingston. Joining the Prime Minister are (from left): Richard Mullings, Deputy Manager, M &M Jamaica Ltd; Martin Miller, Managing Director, NHT; Honourable Desmond McKenzie, Member of Parliament Kingston Western; Linval Freeman, Board Chairman, NHT; and His Worship the Mayor Senator Councillor, Delroy Williams, Mayor of Kingston.