Prime Minister Gaston Browne suggested that vacant or dilapidated lots in St. John’s could be put to temporary use as parking areas once derelict buildings are removed, describing it as a way to reduce blight while allowing property owners to earn income.
Speaking during a public consultation on the redevelopment of the capital, Browne said cleared lots should not be left idle, noting that owners could generate revenue by using the space for parking, particularly within the central business district.
The prime minister raised the idea while discussing the removal of abandoned and unsafe structures, arguing that productive interim uses would improve order in the city and contribute to wider urban renewal efforts.
He framed the proposal as an option for property owners rather than a mandate, linking it to broader goals of reducing urban decay, easing congestion and making better use of underutilized land while longer-term redevelopment plans are pursued.
The comment came amid wider discussions on traffic, parking shortages and redevelopment initiatives in St. John’s, as officials and residents debated practical steps to improve the city’s functionality and appearance.
WATCH: Prime Minister Gaston Browne suggests that once derelict buildings are removed, vacant lots in St. John’s could be temporarily used for parking, allowing property owners to earn income while reducing urban blight.
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Most are aware that St.Johns is rundown town.
It a tragedy if in going through any effort to upgrade the City and its environs that the Ministers thinks the answer is demolition.
If they want to improve the look the city and of the island; they should engage professionals to do traffic studies, as well as urban planning, urban designers and historic restoration experts.
In the 1950s The Friend’s of English Harbour came along when it was an old rundown Harbour with decrepit structures no different than St Johns is today. Today The Dockyard is our pride and joy.
From Nassau to the North and Oranjestad capital of Aruba these cities with their English or Dutch architecture are restored and are their most valued attractions
Only here in the eastern Caribbean where politicians make all the decisions; do we destroy our heritage in the name of improvement.
Whst is more concerning is that many of these structures has broken asbestos roofing material which should be carefully removed.
Friable asbestos materials are known to be cancer causing.
That’s where the real danger lies.
It should be the Government’s responsibility to secure these structures and restore them not to just demolish them.
Restore … Don’t Demolish
Don’t know what he is about, he have no idea but impulse, and when he done he have all them people saying Gaston bright like how he paid them to say, same Lester playbook or Alp I must say usually get fools to harp it up and down about themselves been intelligent, we must just stay powerless and piss in our underwear and let Gaston loot the place like we are fools.
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