Old police station being transformed to provide housing

Work is progressing apace on the transformation of the old Olympic Gardens Police Station building in St Andrew West Central.

The building, which is part of the Bay Farm Villas housing scheme, is being transformed to provide housing solutions for cops and residents alike.

Project Manager Nicoye Wiltshire said the renovation, which started in late January, is set to be completed in May, and the construction is already benefiting the community as it provides employment for several persons.

Holness in February said that one unit will be retained "to be used as a [shelter] for the police".

St Andrew West Central is the constituency of Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

"We note that there are many police officers who have to travel long distances and aren't able to find places to rent close to the station they work. Indeed, some of them work overtime and they will need a location where they can stay," Holness said.

ANNOUNCEMENT

One unit will be used as a community centre for the residents of Bay Farm Villas, while the remaining five will be used to house persons who are relocated from areas where development is taking place.

"With these five units that we will retain, we will be able to take some families off the existing plots that we intend to develop... develop them, return them and move to another set," Holness outlined in February.

He said that five units will go towards persons in the constituency.

Wiltshire on Tuesday said that he is unaware which residents have will be moved into the units, adding that "the prime minister will make that announcement when the time is right".

Holness stated that the housing development is being financed through the West Central St Andrew Trust, and was being spearheaded by the Ministry of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, and the National Land Agency.

A resident told the news team that he is happy to see the building being repurposed.

"The PM came and held a meeting earlier this year, and I can say it is a good look for the area. I know whoever gets one of these houses will take care of them, because it's upstairs and downstairs, and there is nothing like owning your own home. I am glad the building didn't stay and rotten down," he said.