Builders Jamaica December - March 2022

UDC's Note
URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Great Goat Island while allowing the Corporation to create
opportunities for local communities, through partnerships
and sustainable development .
UDC & Coastal Protection
4
Lisa Golding – Acting General Manager, Urban Development
Corporation
BUILDING SUSTAINABLY
For over 50 years, the UDC has been transforming Jamaica’s
landscape through sustainable interventions, real estate
management, project management and other urban
services. The Corporation was created with the mandate
to ‘Make Development Happen’ in its designated areas of
operation. While these are important elements of the UDC’s
remit, the Corporation prides itself on building sustainably.
As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), long-term
resilience must be the primary focus for Jamaica to protect
growth prospects and sustainable development gains.
UDC & Conservation
Specific management strategies and green solutions
form part of how we approach our urban development,
which includes conservation. Few projects showcase
this as clearly as the Goat Islands Wildlife Sanctuary.
In 2016 the Government announced the discontinuance
of plans to develop a transshipment port at Great Goat
Island. The UDC saw this as an opportunity to expand its
conservation efforts, thus the proposal to build out the
Goat Islands Wildlife Sanctuary. This Sanctuary will be one
of the Corporation's most significant steps to truly give
the rediscovered Jamaican Iguana and other endemics
and endangered species, a lifeline against extinction.
The development of the Sanctuary is envisioned to be
a means of safeguarding the viability of the wildlife on
In the 1970s the UDC was charged with the development of
the Montego Bay Waterfront. In doing so, the Corporation
created three (3) adjoining beaches, namely, One-Man
Beach, Walter Fletcher Beach and Dump-Up Beach (now
Harmony Beach Park). The beaches are separated by
groynes and breakwaters with submerged sills between.
Over time, these groynes have deteriorated and are in urgent
need of repair. As such, the UDC is currently undertaking
the rehabilitation of the Northern Groynes which boarder
One Man and Walter Fletcher Beaches. This project is of
particular importance to Jamaica’s tourism capital, as it
will protect the Waterfront from further coastal erosion.
A study conducted in 2001 highlighted that the shoreline
had significantly receded from its original position
due to hurricanes and other climate change-related
challenges. This critical project is strategically aligned
with Jamaica's national development goals to reduce key
climate change vulnerabilities in the Caribbean region.
UDC & Green Spaces
The UDC is committed to ensuring that our beaches and
properties are adequately outfitted with the necessary
infrastructure for the comfort of our visitors. This is done,
however, with as minimal disruption to the natural elements,
as possible. In May 2021, the 16-acre Harmony Beach Park
was completed. This flagship project saw the transformation
of ‘Dump Up Beach’ to a world-class, family facility. Harmony
boasts of environmentally friendly elements throughout the
property; the 600-metre jogging trail is made from recycled
materials, the main administration building is powered by
solar panels, solar lights are used for the walkways and
many of the existing trees remain. It was critical for us at the
UDC to have Harmony as a standard-bearer for how green
spaces could and should be built in the heart of the city.
Further to which, the Corporation is a key driver of the
Government’s ‘Park in Every Parish’ mission, which will see the
development of much-needed green spaces across the island.
The UDC continues to make development happen
and aims to maintain its commitment to utilizing viable
and innovative methods in doing so. Technological
advancements including Geographic Information Systems
have proven to add immense support to our work.
Our people can look forward to many great things
from the UDC as we sustainably build Jamaica.