#BTEditorial – A little gentrification to revive Bridgetown

A sizeable portion of the population looks forward to the peace and tranquility that come with living in a rural village or quiet residential development. There, they expect to be surrounded by people who share their ideals, and neighbours who are likely to be in their socio-economic class.

On the other hand, there will always be those among us who like the hustle and bustle of living in or near The City. They prefer the shorter commute in order to access most of the goods and services required. Then, there are people who just enjoy living near to where the action can be found.

From afar, Bridgetown would seemingly represent the picture-perfect place to set up residence. It is a central location for public transport and other amenities.

The City’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, with attractions such as the much-expanded Jewish Synagogue, should be a pull factor for visitors, individuals and businesses looking to invest.

For the shoppers, Bridgetown still holds appeal, with Swan Street representing the average man’s go-to place for bargains. On Broad Street, the iconic Cave Shepherd Store, recently rebranded Bridgetown Duty Free, still holds pride of place.

The state-owned Barbados Tourism Investment Inc (BTII), has made some laudable attempts at upgrading the capital.  Among its major projects have been the redevelopment of the Inner Basin of the Careenage, renovation of the Old Town Hall Building, Jubilee Gardens and the upgraded lighting of Bridgetown.

But the recent history of Bridgetown is not one that is complimentary as a place of residence. Instead, our capital is known more for its undesirable housing stock and the absence of some of the basic amenities for families.

The lived experience of those who have chosen to make Bridgetown their home will reveal some wonderful stories of close-knit community life. But the underbelly is a story of poor housing in places like Cats Castle, Greenfield, Nelson Street, and New Orleans. And of promises of improvements, many of which, have failed to materialise.

Yes, there have been transformative housing solutions over the years, such as the elegantly designed London Bourne Towers on Bay Street, or even Kensington Lodge, at the other side of Bridgetown.

There has been an announcement of plans to transform the abandoned seven-storey Treasury Building into a modern housing complex, targeting young couples who find City life attractive.

If the plan bears fruit, it would be a groundbreaking move and represent an ideal complement to the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus proposal to open its first satellite campus in Bridgetown.

For the most part, Bridgetown has flattered to deceive. Its commercial life has been near gutted. And while public and private sector leaders have lamented the demise of Bridgetown, both have contributed to its atrophy.

Government has built few, if any, new corporate offices or redesigned existing structures in Bridgetown in recent years, save for car parks and the restoration of the Old Town Hall.

In fact, the state has shown a preference for green shoots in Warrens such as the controversial Warrens Office Complex (a.k.a.) the Barrack Building, as well as the two National Insurance Scheme-financed offices, also in Warrens.

The private sector has shown little willingness to invest and support City life, with the exception of a few such as Republic Bank’s multi-million-dollar headquarters on Fairchild Street and redevelopment of its Broad Street branch.

Cave Shepherd & Company has also invested substantially in its flagship store on Broad Street. Then there are private sector developments along Bay Street that are succeeding in diverting attention away from the street’s perception as a ‘soft red-light’ district.

The evidence is clear that Bridgetown has lost its shine. Most businesses, save for mainstays like Woolworth and Collins Limited, have chosen to establish outlets in popular malls away from the City scape. Bridgetown’s malls are on life-support, while one cannot walk for very long without coming across a “For Sale” sign.

Some people may baulk at the idea of gentrification, but Bridgetown requires a revival. It is an ominous foreboding when our capital has more “strip clubs” than it has nightclubs or major supermarkets.

One way to attract people to reside in Bridgetown and possibly save the capital from barreling to its demise, is to offer high-quality housing to mainly higher net-worth individuals.

The on-again-off-again plan to develop a marina would be an important attraction and pull factor for those with deep pockets.

We understand that use of the term gentrification may offend some because it evokes uncomfortable discussions about the disenfranchisement of people of colour as has occurred in cities like New York.

So what is gentrification? It is the process whereby the character of a poor urban neighbourhood is changed by wealthier people moving in. They pay property owners higher prices to own or lease. By their presence, they attract new businesses. But in the process, they displace the current, often poorer inhabitants, who are forced to find housing outside of their old neighbourhoods. 

The disenfranchised then find it hard to source quality accommodation and amenities that are within their reach financially and geographically.

To ensure Bridgetown’s revival, a concerted effort is required to attract people who desire to live there, and who have the wherewithal to lift the capital’s status.