By Shirley Thomas

THE ongoing construction of high-rise buildings in the city is causing City Hall much concern and currently the city council is working in tandem with the Central Housing and Planning Authority to address the situation, which can have implications, not only for parking, but on the landscape as well. To this end, strategies are currently being mapped out to deal with this situation.
Addressing a recent meeting of members of the Board of the CHPA and the media, Chairman of the Board Hamilton Green, who is also Mayor of Georgetown, noted: “The ongoing construction of high-rise buildings in the city is an issue the Board is looking at right now. Right now we are asking for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the administration will get that within the next few hours.”
Meanwhile, CHPA’s Chief Development Planner (CDP) Rawle Edinboro said that the intention is to put some more structure into the relationship between the Georgetown City Council, (particularly the City Engineer’s Department) and the CHPA, regarding the question of erecting high-rise buildings, hence the request for an MOU.
“The objective is to improve the protocols regarding construction of commercial buildings,” Edinboro said.
And while this issue has not yet engaged the authority as a subject matter, Edinboro said it is recognized that more stringent analysis is required regarding the construction of tall buildings in the city.
Geotechnical studies
He stressed that proper geotechnical studies for the design of those structures are necessary, particularly taking into consideration the effects of the weight of the building on the soil on which it is constructed.
Moreover, with regard to the Law of Tort, it is also required that neighbours have to be informed in advance of the commencement of a high-rise construction and other such considerations.
Meanwhile, commenting on the issue, Green reiterated that “the bottom line is we are concerned about these high rise buildings that don’t make the city pretty – a set of concrete, glass and plastic structures.”

Parking
The CHPA chairman said that while the buildings may be functional, in the light of the Authority’s efforts to narrow the gap between rural and urban centres, it is something they are looking at. He also commented on the fact that even as these commercial buildings continue to go up, there is no place to park.
In an effort to exercise some control over the construction of such commercial buildings which necessitate ‘parking’ requirements, City Hall proposes getting tough on the passing of building plans in this regard. The next strategy is that “when people bring plans for four-storey buildings and higher, we are not going to pass the plan until they can provide the parking space,” Green asserted.
Green also recalled that some businessmen have been approaching City Hall to request permission to park on Merriman’s Mall. In that light, Green reiterated: “The Merriman’s Mall is not to be used for parking. They’ve approached the council and they’ve approached me … and we have made it clear.” He said that other entities have also approached council and he has said a categorical “No!”
“As Mayor I said no, and I hope that whoever succeeds me as Mayor will maintain that position. Because wherever I am, and in whatever capacity, I will quash it to ensure that the Mall is kept pristine.”