The city of Kingston became Jamaica's capital in 1892, when the seat of Government was removed from Spanish Town. Downtown Kingston's rich and colourful history, is not only linked to its geography, culture, political and financial institutions, but to the people who walked its streets and called this city home.

Over the years, the rise of new commercial centres uptown, has threatened the continued existence of Downtown Kingston, as a viable commercial centre. Various efforts have been made to rescue Downtown Kingston from increasing urban decay and blight. These have had varying levels of success, but have served to provide periodic injections to sustain life in the city.

The Kingston Waterfront Redevelopment Company (KWRC) formed in 1967, was the first major attempt to resuscitate the area and bring new life to Downtown Kingston. It was forerunner to The Urban Development Corporation (UDC), which was established in 1968 and has been a part of the downtown landscape for three decades. The UDC redefined the Kingston Waterfront, completing the development in 1975. A new highway - Ocean Boulevard provides a throughway from the east to the city, and will eventually link the Norman Manley International Airport to Downtown, via a new Coast Road. Modern skyscrapers provide the infrastructure for a thriving commercial and business district in Downtown Kingston.

In the 1980s, the UDC moved further north to upgrade historic Parade Square, including St. William Grant Park and the renowned Ward Theatre. Together with façade improvements done by the Kingston Restoration Company (KRC) along King Street, Duke Street and in other areas, these developments have provided visual oases in Downtown Kingston.

Despite the continuing trek 'Uptown', Downtown has remained the significant hub of the city; the seat of Government, commerce, finance; as well as the major market district for wholesale/retail activities and transportation.

Urban Renewal

Recognizing the critical importance of capital towns and particularly the urgent need for renewal in "Downtown Kingston", the Government moved to stem the tide of urban blight and decay by introducing the Urban Renewal (Tax Relief) Act in 1995, to provide a programme of incentives which would facilitate revitalization of the city and eventually capital towns.

Launch of the TIP

The first phase of the Tax Incentive Programme was launched in Downtown Kingston, on August 2, 1995 and will be implemented over a ten-year period up to the year 2005.

Downtown SDA

The Special Development Area (SDA) in Downtown Kingston, is bordered by Pechon Street in the West where it meets the coast, going northerly to its intersection with Darling and Barry Streets; then westerly and northerly along Darling Street to Spanish Town Road, easterly to its intersection with Heywood Street; along Heywood Street to its intersection with West Parade; easterly along North Parade to its intersection with East Queen Street. It continues easterly to Victoria Avenue, on to its intersection with Paradise Street, then southerly along Paradise Street to the coast, (including the Bellevue Lands); and westerly along the coastline including abutments, back to the starting point.

The TIP in Downtown Kingston

The TIP has stimulated great interest within the area, with about 300 enquiries and about 10% of that number in applications. A variety of companies large and small have been making use of the incentives. Courts Jamaica Ltd., Jamaica International Insurance Co. Ltd. (a subsidiary of Grace Kennedy and Co.) Deatay Ltd. and Konvertra Ltd. have already benefited from the programme and several others are now going through the process.

Vision

There is a new vision for Downtown Kingston, shared by those who live, work or have allegiance to the city. There is a new outlook for business and a renewed sense of purpose in tackling the challenges of comprehensive development of the area.

The co-operative spirit has been rekindled and increasingly, the players are joining forces to rebuild and bring new vitality to the city. For example, The Downtown Kingston Management District (DKMD), was established through the joint efforts of the KRC and the UDC in 1994. The DKMD is managed by members of the private sector and takes responsibility for ensuring the efficient delivery of services to the various business districts.

There is also the Downtown Management Group which comprises Chief Executive Officers and other senior executives working Downtown, who are planning strategies to support the redevelopment effort and working together to shape the future.

The plans for Downtown Kingston envisage holistic, sustainable development, including social and human resource enhancements, macro-economic priorities, shifts in production, trade and investment, forging partnerships and eliciting the support and full participation of the entire community.

The UDC is at the forefront of this initiative and as agents of Government, will spearhead and coordinate activities to further the process.

Downtown Kingston is again providing opportunities for business or pleasure…The climate is perfect for partnerships. Be a partner ... join the effort.

PORT ROYAL

Port Royal adjoins Kingston and is the tip of the historic triangle including Kingston and Spanish Town. The town has long been acclaimed as a historic treasure, with great potential to enhance and boost Jamaica's tourism product, based on its notorious and colourful past.

Plans for Port Royal include the development of a unique tourism destination, recreating the vitality and essential features of its 17th Century character of 'swashbuckling' pirates/buccaneers in a modern setting as a major attraction.

The TIP was extended to Port Royal in 1996 and investors who participate will benefit from incentives up to the year 2006.

Port Royal SDA

The Port Royal SDA starts at a point where Dockyard Lane meets the coastline, continues southerly along the coast to Port Royal Point, then southerly, easterly and northeasterly along the coastline to a point approximately 168 metres from where the projection of the Foreshore Road would have met the sea. It then goes northerly to a point on the main road, opposite to the Water Works, easterly along the main road to where the Lagoon crosses the main road, then northerly along the stream to the coastline and north-westerly along the coastline back to the starting point.

Plans

In 1999, the Government invested venture capital in The Port Royal Development Company Ltd. through the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to finance the cost of completing studies and project documents required for international funding for the Port Royal development. The project will get underway, once funding has been identified.

The Tax Incentive Programme is an integral part of the plans to revitalize the town and develop its full potential.

Montego Bay is the island's second city and is renowned as the tourist Mecca of the Caribbean. Like Kingston, urban expansion has affected the city's infrastructure and facilities. Urban blight is also obvious throughout the city centre and various attempts are being made to return the city's lustre.

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has been working in Montego Bay since 1970. The UDC developed the beaches along the Waterfront, built the Howard Cooke Boulevard and opened up the area for development by the private sector. It also refurbished Sam Sharpe Square and spearheaded the Catherine Hall urban expansion programme, which included both industrial/commercial activities and housing.

The establishment of the Greater Montego Bay Redevelopment Company (GMRC) by private sector interests in 1995, gave a further boost to the city's need for planned development. The GMRC, working in collaboration with other organizations such as the Town Planning Department and the UDC, has now completed an overall development plan for the city, which is awaiting approval for implementation.

Cabinet approved extension of The Tax Incentive Programme (TIP) to Montego Bay in January 2000, as an integral component of the development plan for the city. Its introduction will provide the necessary incentives for capital investment in land and buildings, to help stem urban blight and begin the process of revitalization.

Montego Bay SDA

The Montego Bay Special Development Area starts where the high water mark of the sea meets the Montego River, then goes easterly along the centre line of the River to a point opposite Barrett Lane, then in a straight line to a point where Cottage Road meets Barnett Street. It then goes north easterly and northwesterly along Cottage Road to its intersection with Humber Avenue, then westerly along Humber Avenue to a point where it meets Duke Street; then northerly along Duke Street to Princess Street then westerly along Princess Street to Dome Street, then northerly along Dome Street to Union Street, easterly along Union Street to a point 233 metres east of Dome Street. It then goes northerly in a straight line to Upper King Street, then westerly along Upper King Street to a point where it meets North Gully Road. It then goes along North Gully Road to a point approximately 275 metres from the intersection with Orange Street, then westerly in a straight line to the centre line of Orange Street, then westerly, north westerly to the roundabout at Fourth Street and Harbour Street, then south of the Roundabout onto Howard Cooke Boulevard. It then goes southerly along Howard Cooke Boulevard for approximately 150 metres to a point where the drain crosses the road, then westerly along the drain to the high water mark along the coast.

The Process

Applications for Montego Bay are accepted at both the UDC Office in Montego Bay and in Kingston, and follow a similar procedure as for Kingston.

Representatives from Montego Bay are co-opted to the Incentive Recommendation Committee (IRC), from the following organizations:-

• Greater Montego Bay Redevelopment Company
• Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce
• St. James Parish Council