- CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAHER
One of the appeals of the Liguanea residential community is its proximity to schools, hospitals, churches, and shopping centres. Sovereign Centre, one of Jamaica's largest malls, is located in the heart of Liguanea, St., Andrew.Ashford W. Meikle, Staff Reporter
LIGUANEA IS the preferred neighbourhood in Kingston.
Well, at least according to real estate professionals and the number of developments taking place there.
Realtor, Deborah Cumming of Century 21/Heave Ho Properties, told Sunday Business that, "Kingston six and eight are the hot areas ... It's considered [the] Golden Triangle. Also, unlike New Kingston and Constant Spring areas, there is little traffic to fight."
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
In a previous interview, she stated, "Although you hear it time and time again, it is important to consider location, location, location when purchasing."
And that seems to explain the booming construction of gated communities in Liguanea.
For example, Liguanea Avenue beside Sovereign Centre has no fewer than three gated communities planned or already being constructed.
Mrs. Cumming explained why the Liguanea area appeals to developers.
"The houses are usually on very large lots, unlike Mona or Trafalgar Park where the lots are about 10,000 square feet. Also, there are many older homes that are ripe for refurbishing."
In the United States, Liguanea would be considered a school district - where real estate goes at a premium - and it is not surprising, according to the realtor that "so many people want to live there ... Developers can name their price."
One developer, Kravitz Homes Developer Limited, puts it succinctly: "Liguanea [is] central to shopping and the business hub of Kingston."
Kravitz Homes will be developing a gated community of apartments and town houses on Marley Road in Liguanea.
CENTRAL POINT
Dean Evans of Plantation Development Company told Sunday Business: "Liguanea can be considered the central point of Kingston. It is easily accessible to schools, hospitals, churches and the financial district of New Kingston."
The youthful businessman is developing St. Michael's Riviera, a twelve-unit complex consisting of a mix of one and two bedrooms, on St. Michael's Terrace, off Liguanea
All the units at St. Michael's Riviera come completely outfitted with a washer-dryer combo (there is no central laundry area) and air-conditioning in the bedrooms. The complex will also have a swimming pool and a jogging trail as well as a gym, since "what we find happening is that a lot of persons have become health conscious ... To add value to the product, we've added these things," explained Mr. Evans.
The Liguanea area is appealing, according to the developer, because of its proximity to Kingston's upscale neighbourhoods. "As an area, St. Michael's Terrace is surrounded by the Paddington, the Dillsbury, the Hopefield."
Another factor in the appeal of Liguanea has to do with price. Most of the units being built cater to the middle-income market, for example, the Monte Cristo, near Maryfield Apartments, off Hope Road. This gated community will have a mixture of two and three bedroom apartments ranging in price from $9.45 million to $13.9 million.
Explains Mr. Evans: "I am not in the high end. I am more looking at young couples and young entrepreneurs. I've got a lot of requests for one and two bedrooms and as the market is now we can't fully supply that market in this income bracket."
All the units at St. Michael's Riviera have been sold.
This is a point supported by Mrs. Cumming. "Right now, demand is greatest but least supply is in the middle-income bracket of $6 million to $12 million. This area needs to be looked at, because most developers are currently focusing on the higher end of the market."
