A housing initiative in Trench Town, west Kingston, to be spearheaded by Britain's Prince Charles, is generating positive feedback from community stakeholders.

A British newspaper revealed Sunday that The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment was to unveil plans for the development of bungalow- style houses for some 3,000 people in the community. Construction could start as soon as December, the Sunday Times newspaper stated and was to commence with the building of 20 houses at a cost of £250,000 (J$30.2 million). The Jamaican Government is to provide an initial £2.5 million (J$307.5 million) to fund the whole project.

Michael Black, president of the Rose Town Citizen' Association, another volatile community which annexes Trench Town, said the housing development would bring a much-needed facelift to the community and to downtown Kingston which has been neglected for years.

"The type of houses that exist right now are really some house that build from way back when, so the area really need some modern-type housing right now," he said.

He said the development should even be more welcome as the country draws closer to the staging of Cricket World Cup 2007.

Change the scene

"Just like what them do with Two Miles, change the scene from right there, so it will definitely change the scene," he said. Last month Government officially turned over 252 units, under the Inner-city Housing Project, on Spanish Town Road.

Morin Seymour, managing director of the Kingston Restoration Company, also welcomed the development, saying the company fully supported the move because of the rich cultural heritage of the community.

"We are the only country in the world that has had an asset (Trench Town) like that and not multiply it a thousand times. Nothing should be done to inhibit the smooth development and access to Trench Town," he said.

He also said the foundation had plans to bring the Trench Town 'Culture Yard', the old home of the reggae superstar Bob Marley, back on stream. But those plans are yet to be revealed.

Plans for the housing development will be released by the foundation's representatives and Government later this month.