Town house turmoil

A housing development in the upscale community of Tavistock Terrace in Mills-borough, Kingston 6, has reportedly sparked a raging debate which has engulfed Juliette Holness, the wife of Government Minister Andrew Holness.



A report in today’s edition of the Sunday Gleaner said Mrs Holness, an established building contractor, has been brought in to assist with the development of a number of five- or six-storey structures.



However, residents of Tavistock Terrace, opposed to the development, questioning the basis on which the development was approved by the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC).



The residents are also questioning the basis on which the sewage-disposal system for the development was designed and whether a slope stability analysis had been done.



They further claim that the soil is very unstable and falls within the well-known earthquake fault line.



Supported by technical experts, the residents have also questioned the decision to use block and steel masonry instead of a frame structure comprising columns and beams in what, they claim, is an unstable area.



But attorney-at-law and Speaker of the House of Representatives Delroy Chuck, whose company is representing the developers, says the consulting engineer, Tommy Leyow is of the view that no professional engineer could have made the statement that the building is structurally unsound.



According to Chuck, the developers had decided to change from town houses to apartments, but that the main structure which was inspected by the KSAC remains substantially the same.