Jack’s Hill residents concerned about developments

FOUR MAJOR housing developments in Jack’s Hill, St Andrew, have triggered concerns among residents, some of whom are contending that ongoing constructions have not only destroyed infrastructure, but now pose a danger to individual houses in the upper St Andrew community.

Two of the four developments have so far resulted in land slippages, one of which has caused a thoroughfare to breakaway, while as recent as last week another caused significant blockage, halting commute, residents told The Gleaner yesterday.

The third development, commissioned by a government lawmaker, was identified as one of the four, but residents noted that this has so far had no impact on the environs because of the feasibility studies and consultations done.

Only Monday, ground was broken on the fourth and latest development.

“We have had four major developments on the road. They have succeeded in blocking the road entirely in one place, which is going on right now. Further down, they have undermined the road and the whole of Tavistock Terrace fell 40ft down the side of the hill,” retired medical doctor Errol Williamson said in a Gleaner interview yesterday.

The 75-year-old man, whose house is situated on the terrace, approximately a mile up from Barbican Square, said that he has been living there for more than 35 years.

“It is atrocious!” Williamson charged, while claiming that several attempts have been made to get the attention of local authorities, including the National Works Agency and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

“Nothing, nothing has been done and the road now has been blocked by a hillside,” he said.

Chairman of the community’s environmental committee, Yvonne Clarke, argued that the developments are taking place in an “unstable” environment, asserting that Jack’s Hill is defined by slippery and loose soil.

“My fear is that one day it’s all going to come down on us who are at the middle and lower end of Jack’s Hill. That’s my greatest fear,” she said.

Helen Chen, a resident since 1982, has warned that “dangerous things” are happening in the affluent community, especially on Tavistock Terrace and Harriman Close.

Alternative route

The terrace served as an alternative route for residents which would see them travelling through Millsborough, thereby avoiding Barbican square.

“I don’t know who gave permission. What sort of topological survey was done? Was a geologist consulted? Did they get the topology of the terrain before the architect decided to design the place?... The hillside really can’t hold anymore,” said Chen.

Further, Chen said that no formal notice was conveyed to residents about the latest development. She said instead, a letter was sent by the developer to an associate who was then asked to circulate it among residents.

That development, Tavistock Vistas, was commissioned by Solerno Estates Limited. Records at the Companies Office of Jamaica list Kirk Holbrooke and Melissa Chin Holbrooke as the company’s two directors.

The letter, seen by The Gleaner, said work is scheduled to be completed in 24 months and that “all construction will be done in accordance with government permits and licences”.

At the same time, developer Tariq Malik who is seeking to put seven townhouses and two apartments on the hillside through Avatar Development, insisted that the breakaway of the road and subsequent landslide was “no one’s fault”.

Responding to Gleaner queries yesterday, Malik said that work began on the project in January 2022 and a year later during further excavation it was discovered that there was a “leak” beneath the hill, caused by a worn 10-inch pipe and a faulty hydrant.

“It saturated the entire hillside,” said Malik.

He said that the initial leak “was so minor it was negligible”, but a subsequent attempt by the National Water Commission to fix the issue resulted in a greater problem.

“It never got fixed properly so it kept breaking down and the breaking down of a 10-inch-wide pipe is almost like a river and that is what really caused the damage,” he explained.

“Had it been fixed right from day one we would have been nowhere near any kinds of problem of either losing the road or spending this money or anything,” he said, noting that his company spent $80 million to complete a retainer wall in an attempt to reverse and mitigate further damage.

“The repair was not done properly and timely which really caused the landslide and then caused the road to break away,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents have said that they are unclear about the identity of the other developer, whose work, they said, caused the most recent landslide.

Government Minister Delroy Chuck, the member of parliament for St Andrew North Eastern where Jack’s Hill is located, said that he is aware of the issues facing residents.

“I have referred the matter to the KSAMC (Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation) for them to look at the developments taking place,” he said, pointing to the collapsing of a section of Tavistock Terrace.

“I know that that developer is not only fixing back the road but is responsible for laying water pipes,” he added.

KSAMC is the local authority which grants permit for the authorisation of construction in the Corporate Area.

The Gleaner contacted CEO Robert Hill, who requested additional time to provide a detailed response.

In an emailed, response to Gleaner queries, NEPA said that an internal response was being sought.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com