–single units at Onderneeming taking shape

CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Lelon Saul, has said that the authority will soon form a joint venture with private investors to construct 750 houses across the country.

Saul made the disclosure during an interview with reporters after a tour of the housing solutions at Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara (WBD) on Tuesday.
The CEO said more details about the project will be provided by Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams, at a later date, but highlighted that the authority is moving apace to complete their target of 247 homes for the year.
“Houses will be constructed in Bath/Experiment on the West Coast of Berbice, Perseverance, Onderneeming and Cummings Lodge,” said Saul.

Construction of single-unit houses has already commenced in Perseverance, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Onderneeming on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).
Construction has also started on 10 of 19 houses in Onderneeming.
Project Manager at Onderneeming, Deron Mckinnon, said the new housing solutions comprise elevated two-bedroom houses.

Mckinnon explained that four contractors were hired to construct the 10 buildings, which are being built using the same method of construction. The houses are made of reinforced concrete and timber floors.

“We are making sure that the beneficiaries get their money’s worth… so we did testing specification and even carefully considered the placement of the house,” said the engineer, who added that persons will have an additional five feet in front of their homes to extend forward and a lot of space at the back and sides.

Beneficiaries will have ample yard space, because the lots are all 46 x 100. The engineer explained that there was no specific reason for building elevated houses, but those will be the new style going forward.

Construction of the houses was expected to be finished by March, but due to inclement weather, they are now expected to finish by May.
Director of Operations at the CH&PA, Denise King-Tudor, said the houses cost $8 million, with $7.5 million being the cost of the house and $500,000 the cost of the land.
She explained that interested persons could apply for those houses through the normal application process.

“Nine more houses will be built in the area… some will be two-bedroom and three-bedroom, but those will be flat houses,” said Tudor.