WARNING MEASURES FOR CONDOS AT PROVIDENCE

Oct 06, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
The decision to build multi-level dwelling units in Providence can be classified as either a bold initiative or a dream of grandeur by Minister Patterson. By her own observations, the completed one storey structures, which are called houses, are plagued with cracking walls coupled with sags and drifts in other sections of the construction. One is left to imagine what will happen with 4 stories!
Here are some factors the Honorable Minister and her planners and builders need to evaluate:
•The water table at Providence is high as the area is scarcely more than half a mile from the Demerara River. In this regards retention walls, strengthened concrete foundation, steel piling and high quality material should be used.
•With apartments divided by the same wall, sound proof materials are needed.
•High quality fire retardant materials are a definitive way forward so as to make sure that a fire in one apartment should not be able to spread and endanger the entire set of units.
•Sprinkler systems and hallway smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be installed.
•The back to back ‘E’ design is the best model for this project.
•An occupancy code, so that too many persons are not sleeping in a one bedroom condo.
•A condo board of directors should be appointed to enforce the rules and regulations.
•The right to resell has to be consented to by an independent board. Factors like ethnic discrimination, age and gender regularly play a determine role in choosing buyers. It must be noted that to date Guyana has no Fair Housing Act Laws.
With a high concentration of residents there are issues of:
1. Water supply and the pressure to reach 4 stories.
2. Parking for residents.
3. Garbage disposal.
4. Sewer treatment plants.
5. Recreation facilities.
6. Wi-Fi and phone systems must be well planned.
7. Power supply must be adequate to accommodate all the residents.
8. Medical facility on the premise.
9. No smoking must be allowed inside the buildings.
10. Crime may occur as persons will be in very close proximity to one another.
11. Diseases could be easily transmitted as persons literally rub shoulders daily.
12. Security: perhaps a gated community with housing police. Such buildings have a higher crime rate and drug use.
13. Convenience stores.
In the long run, the consequences of such a high concentration of people need serious evaluation. But I do think that Guyana has enough land for each of its citizen to get a free house lot.
Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine
Real Estate Broker and Builder
New York

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