The Antigua and Barbuda government has reaffirmed its commitment to redeveloping the long-unused St. John’s Car Park, with plans to transform the structure into a functioning office and commercial space.
Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, Lionel Hurst, acknowledged that the project had faced delays due to financial constraints, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When COVID struck, all the resources were lost,” Hurst said. “They were diverted to ensuring that all government employees could continue to receive their wages, salaries, and other emoluments.”
While discussions on the redevelopment continue, Hurst indicated that progress depends on securing adequate funds without increasing public debt.
“As soon as we have accumulated sufficient funding, our intention is to make it a very useful operation here in St. John’s,” he said.
The government has also been reviewing outstanding rental payments for office spaces currently occupied by public sector agencies. Authorities hope that once the car park is fully renovated, it could help reduce rental expenses by providing government offices with a permanent space.
The multi-level parking facility, which has remained largely non-operational since its construction, has been a source of public frustration. Calls for its redevelopment have grown, especially as St. John’s faces increasing congestion and limited parking options.
The government has not yet provided a timeline for when work on the site will begin, but Hurst emphasized that it remains a priority once financial resources allow.
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A 14 year old promise no where to park
Please clarify…are they going to turn the unused car park in a congested city into an office building or will it be just a part? Doesn’t town have enough buildings
I hope they also consider traffic flow and parking spaces for the increasing number of vehicles in the city.
Hopefully, the project is completed on time and doesn’t face unnecessary delays
It was about time they looked into this. Smh
Max Wurst, is the liardest person in Antigua. Blaming Covid for the Cant Park delays.
Now let’s rewind way back to October 2014 when i read that Gaston Browne addressed many Antiguans and the diaspora at a Q & A session, and the topic of the unfinished car park in St John’s was highlighted, those attendees were not only assured of completion, but also that it would be up and running within a short space of time.
That promise was made more than 10 years ago.
The contempt for Antiguans from this SLUBBERDEGULLION shows no bounds.
How many “political cans” can this man continue to kick down the road?
(Z-een)…salvage what can be salvaged, raze the rest and use the recycled materials in the road works and other infrastructure projects.
(W-hy)…return the area to its original green space and incorporate such things as reflecting pools and water fountains adorned with statues of historical and cultural values, which will filter both country ponds and pump the water towards the botanical gardens for irrigation and other necessities for water. Some can even be made potable.
(X-planation)…The whole Nation is a #Green_Space and what better way to reflect such, than to begin at a Natural Organic Space.
This “Space” which I have sending rhythms throughout my brain’s is…
(i)…the junction of All Saints and American Roads; west to Perry Bay travelling along All Saints Rd; next, North along American Road crossing Factory Road, North crossing Old Parham Road into the Hills above Epicurean; then West to Halcyon Heights to Dickinson Bay South along the Coastline to Perry Bay!
This AREA is typically Old St. John’s which is in dire need, of some well designed, build and maintained Green Space for PUBLIC USES.
(ii)… there’s no need, to reinvent the wheel, so St. John’s will remain a major hub for business, but at the same time, let’s add the wholesome, holistic touch which says #ELEGANCE!
A new BUS TERMINAL with multilevel parking west of Holberton with underground water storage collected from the runoffs from the parking complex. The terminal can be made large enough whereby it can not only serve the East, but West Bus Stations on separate levels. Convenience of transferring to other sections of the island. Buses and other traffic will exist unto major roadways.
By razing the buildings and removing the bus terminal, INDEPENDENCE AVE can now become a FOUR LANE BOULEVARD with those Mahogany Trees in the middle. We’ll lose some portion of the WESTSIDE of the ARG as a ROUNDABOUT is placed around the War Memorial. That’s fine, because the PRISON should also be salvaged (incorporate those historical bricks into better designs); yes, salvage and raze the prison which can be incorporated, into a MULTIPLEX LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER by upgrading the Main Station on American Road with UNDERGROUD LEVELS housing prisoners to forensic research and laboratory plus evidence storage.
The FIRE DEPARTMENT can also be made a part of this COMPLEX.
YASCO to the AGS to ARG are all incorporated into the Green Space South from Elizabeth Highway to Old Parham Road. Speaking of Elizabeth, the Government House becomes a MUSEUM. ARG is in dire need of some modern upgrades! I know of the SENTIMENTAL VALUE, but ARG can become an additional vendors mall but designed like a Stadium with Indoor Basketball to a family themed entertainment park like a Disney ending at the BOWL in the Botanical Gardens which has the Natural Shape for an AMPHITHEATER for theatrical and other LIVE performances!
I know, it’s a lot to [digest]; but, growth is inevitable, yet that same #inevitability has to be tweaked here and there, as well.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏾Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
You can’t be serious this is what they are doing with it, they seriously don’t care about the everyday people this actually disrespectful on so many levels
Leave it alone! Let this UPP LEGACY stand as a stark reminder of why we say “NAT DEM AGAIN”!!!!
With an attitude like that @ Rovi, no wonder there’s no structural improvements in the country. Put it this way, if Gaston Browne and the ABLP want to govern this great country after defeating an opposition party, they must take the ROUGH with the SMOOTH, surely …
The educational level on this island beggars belief.
It needs to be a parking garage. More offices means more cars… not solving a thing. Also, blaming covid for a problem that developed 6 years prior is insulting… shows how stupid this man thinks Antiguans are.