Updated: Jun 14, 2023 02:24 PM
At a BEDC meeting on Tuesday, North East Hamilton stakeholders expressed concerns about plans to redevelop the area (Photograph by Jessie Moniz Hardy)
A meeting about the potential redevelopment of North East Hamilton grew heated on Tuesday evening, with area residents and business people expressing concerns about gentrification, noise pollution and the need for warehouse space.
Fifty to 60 people met at the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation headquarters on Elliott Street for a town hall-style meeting held to discuss the Government’s Uptown Development Authority, Approved Residential Scheme and the North East Hamilton Plan 2022.
In 2020, the BEDC received a capital grant of $1 million towards the establishment of the Uptown Development Authority, with the mission of implementing the new North East Hamilton Development Plan and driving residential development projects. More than 20 properties were identified as ripe for redevelopment after the area was granted special planning status.
During the meeting, one concerned citizen asked if people who did not want to sell their property would be bothered by developers.
“If I choose to leave my property as a parking lot, for example, I don’t want any pressure from anyone,“ the man said. ”It is mine, and I own it. I pay the little bit of tax, and leave me alone.“
He said as long as there was no harassment going forward, he did not have a problem with the plan.
Another person said: “People are sceptical.”
An entrepreneur at the meeting said: “Bermudians are land rich and cash poor. If we could have developed these properties, we would have.”
He suggested area stakeholders needed to work together to develop these properties.
DeRoy Butterfield, president of the Leopard’s Club on Brunswick Street, told the meeting he was in desperate need of help to redevelop the club’s property, damaged by fire in 2007.
“I have been talking to people at the BEDC on the telephone, but have not been able to arrange a meeting,” he said.
Mr Butterfield said the club was 75-years-old and an important social landmark in the city, but the club’s 60 members were ageing and needed help to upgrade and repair the property.
“We received insurance money,” Mr Butterfield said. “But I cannot say what happened to it.”
The BEDC apologised and said they would definitely meet with Mr Butterfield.
• What do you think about North East Hamilton redevelopment? E-mail
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Meeting on North East Hamilton redevelopment gets heated - Royal Gazette"
Post a Comment