Reclamation project gives City new look
It is not often that one project can transform a city and it is doubtful that the impressive Fort George reclamation project shown to the media today will by itself turn Belize City around. But it’s an important step that, coupled with the new Carnival Cruise Complex in Port Loyola, will give the nation’s largest municipality a major boost. News 5’s Patrick Jones took the tour.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
The newest part of the old capital is literally sitting on the Caribbean Sea. Started in July of last year, the Marine Parade Boulevard Project is a bold addition to a city badly in need of a facelift. City Engineer Rick Magaña says it was no walk in the park to complete phase one of the project.
Rick Magaña, City Engineer
“We did approximately a thousand feet of single lane carriage way, approximately one thousand five hundred feet of dual carriage ways on existing land. And we did approximately a thousand three hundred feet of new construction of road built on top of an embankment into the sea.”
Magaña says one of the biggest challenges engineers faced during the construction was making sure that the sea does not reclaim what was taken away.
Rick Magaña
“What we had to ensure was that we don?t dredge more than what was required into the containment burm to have that area more elevated than this area and to create some serious flooding. As you are aware, many years ago they tried something similar like that out at the Bliss, in that area and it created a whole lot of problems with flooding because there was no proper drainage and stuff like that, but in this case it was properly designed and properly planned.”
And indeed it appears much planning has gone into the project, including drains and canals to empty excess water into the sea, cobblestone sidewalks along the entire length of the seawall, landscaping, and street lights, with underground wiring. Deputy Mayor Danny Madrid says the impact on the City should be felt immediately as the bulk of traffic generated by the tourism industry will now be diverted from the already congested downtown area.
Adrian “Danny” Madrid, City Counsellor
“They will come through Marine Parade Boulevard here, they will continue and come out by Princess Margaret drive around and out of the city. And coming back they will enter from Princess Margaret Drive, into Eve Street and back into this Boulevard and back to the tourist village.”
As for ordinary traffic in the area, Madrid says changes of Barrack Road and Daily Streets to one way traffic made months ago will remain permanent. But improving the traffic situation is not the only effect of the multi million dollar project.
Adrian “Danny” Madrid
“Definitely has increased property value in the area. As a matter of fact you have some houses that were built by the area representative over there. And since this project started, everybody has been saying the value of your property is definitely going up. The only concern that the residents in the area are saying is that it will take away some of the breeze when the put up the big buildings. That’s the only thing; but they are happy, they like it and nobody is complaining. Saying, boy my house value more now.”
But several area property owners are not so thrilled as their seafront property has not become landlocked. According to Madrid, their concerns are being addressed.
Adrian “Danny” Madrid
“As far as I understand they are being compensated by giving them a piece of land either in the area or somewhere else. But I know that compensation has been made because it was a concern by them in the beginning and after many meetings and talking to them we have the Boulevard. So something good must have come out and I understand that it’s compensation of land.”
The project also includes this area, about twelve acres of reclaimed land. It?s prime real estate, which Senior Town Planner Froylan Alvarado says should generate funds to recover part of the fifteen million dollars spent to bring the idea to life.
Froylan Alvarado, Senior Town Planner
“Initially the project was conceived that the sale of the land reclaimed would serve to subsidize the cost of the project itself. The land that we are currently standing on is proposed to be sold. We are inviting developers who are interested in the project so submit their proposal to the ministry of finance, and actually we are planning to sell this portion and another portion over there. It could be for tourism purposes mainly.”
But tourism does not mean Belizeans are not welcome.
Rick Magaña
“This is for Belize. It is for Belizeans. Let us preserve it, let us protect it, let us not try to destroy it. This is for all residents, tourists who will be coming to Belize, to our shores to enjoy this most aesthetically pleasing view of our country. And we need to preserve it for generations to come.”
And that appeal is especially fitting at this time, as even before the project is officially opened, there are signs that rules will need to be enforced.
Adrian “Danny” Madrid
“We appeal to the public because it’s the public who are the ones right now who are enjoying it. They come and the do their fishing , the come with their family, they sit in the are they bring drinks, so we just have to appeal tot hem that whatever you bring, use a plastic container, put your garbage back into that, and take it with you, don’t leave it there.”
“We are looking at setting up garbage container. But one of things we are afraid of and again it has to do with education of the public. Because in the downtown areas we had it and we had to remove some of them because the businesses were using it to throw away their one garbage and then after that it becomes a mess on the street. So we want to do it, but we have to study it very carefully so when we do it, that doesn?t happen here.”
Patrick Jones, for News Five.
The official opening of the area is planned for the end of October. Efforts to find who, if anyone, has purchased the reclaimed land and for what price were unsuccessful, as officials in the Ministry of Finance failed to return our calls.
