“Modern, affordable, accessible.” That’s the promise of the newly opened City Heights Development Project, a first-of-its-kind Public-Private residential community partnership, which officially opened in San Fernando on Friday.
The City Heights Development Project in San Fernando is a 90-apartment complex that boasts modern amenities at affordable prices.
A collaboration between the FURNESS Group of Companies, Home Solutions Ltd., and the Government, the residential community was delivered “on budget and on time” through the repurposing of State land.
Group Chairman/CEO of the Furnace Group of Companies, William Ferreira, lauded the Government’s Public-Private Sector Programme.
“It is no secret that this Government has an affordable housing policy. The first pillar of that policy is affordability. We partnered with Home Solutions Ltd., a well-known developer, and today this lovely property, which once housed our southern ice and cold storage facility, is now a jewel of San Fernando.”
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley hailed the pilot project as a “successful experiment.” He underscored the necessity of more Public-Private Partnerships in housing to address a growing demand that outstrips the supply of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
“We need to do more of that in order to satisfy the needs, particularly of young people who are willing to start their own families and find the marketplace for housing quite frightening.”
Directly addressing private organisations, Prime Minister Rowley stressed that with “a little bit of vision and a lot of cooperation, we can move mountains in this country.”
“There are Government initiatives in place. There are facilities available to the private sector if you get involved in housing so that you benefit financially by set programmes that are in place. And since there’s a demand and there’s some land available, and there’s benefit to be had, there’s nothing standing in the way of the replication of this programme, not only here in San Fernando but throughout Trinidad and Tobago.”
With the City Heights Residential Community officially opened, ninety families now have access to a safe, well-built community and quality lifestyle. Other units in the same location are in the works as the Government and their private partners continue their mission to provide accessible and affordable housing to all.