Lead Stories

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

AFTER DIVESTING approximately 120 acres of its prime lands in Caymanas Estate, St Catherine, the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) is adamantly defending its right to do so.

UDC Chairman Wayne Chen said the agency reserves the right to dispose of some of the lands adjacent to the Caymanas Polo Club in St Catherine that it had earmarked for housing development to prominent housing developers, New Era Homes 2000 Limited.

"Once the plans of the purchasers fall within the scope of the UDC plans for the land, we have the option to consider the proposal," Chen told The Gleaner.

He said the proposal had been presented to Cabinet and received its approval.

Deputy General Manager of the UDC, Lenworth Tracey, said the transaction formed part of an agreement with the former People's National Party administration.

"The UDC has entered into an agreement with New Era Homes Limited for the sale of lands at Caymanas in partial fulfilment of a transaction approved by Cabinet during the previous administration related to a building at Trevennion Park Road, then owned by New Era Homes," Tracey said in a carefully worded written response.

Tracey said approximately 122.75 acres are being sold to New Era Homes based on two market valuations in accordance with UDC's divestment procedures.

Chen said acquiring independent evaluation ensured that the trans-action was above aboard.

"New Era's proposal was well within the valuation," Chen said.

He insisted that the procedures undertaken by UDC were not new. "This (transaction) is not a precedent. As a matter of course, the UDC facilitates development," he argued.

Middle-income housing

Chen disclosed that the property had been earmarked by the UDC for middle-income housing.

"They came to us with a proposal to develop housing on the land," he told The Gleaner.

"The UDC does not sell lands as a matter of course as part of its normal course of activities. This is a misunderstanding that has prevailed for years."

He said from time to time, the UDC received proposal from organisations which fell within the scope of the agency.

Chen told The Gleaner that the proposal presented by New Era Homes was consistent with the plans of the UDC.

New Era Homes 2000 Limited is expected to build construction units on the lands for aspiring owners in the upper middle-income bracket.

"The company brings with it capital and credibility, among other things," Chen said.

The company designs and builds volume housing solutions that it says are ideal for Jamaica's home buyers in the modest to middle-income brackets.

Established in 1997, New Era Homes has built housing units in Caribbean Estates in nearby Portmore.

They feature manned security posts, perimeter fencing, remote-activated gates, surveillance cameras, conveniences - shopping centre, kids playgrounds, community centre and sports fields.

It is understood that one parcel of the land was recently turned over to New Era.