Downtown Kingston: The cultural renaissance begins

Downtown Kingston: a potpourri of sights, sounds and aromas ….a melting pot of music, culture, old-world charm and class juxtaposed against intermittent signs of urban blight…a city rich in potential.

Born in 1692 as a refuge for Port Royal residents, who had fled destruction caused by a massive earthquake, Kingston has had a long, rich history. In 1872, the city became the capital of Jamaica and has since played its part as the cultural, economic and social epicentre of the island.

Downtown Kingston’s streets provide an insight into Jamaica’s history and culture. They are lined with historic buildings and monuments reflective of the colonial past, but they also reveal the evolution of the place, through the indigenous culture of Rastafarianism and Reggae.

The 1960s saw tremendous growth of Kingston’s central business district and waterfront. Overtime, the city’s infrastructure was impacted by rural/urban migration, which in turn saw migration further inland to the “New Kingston”. This signaled the onset of urban decay.

Downtown Kingston has undoubtedly been the socio-cultural and indeed spiritual fulcrum of the nation. This is reflected in a number of its facilities and institutions including the National Heroes’ Park which serves as the resting place for three of Jamaica’s national heroes: Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Sir Alexander Bustamante and Norman Washington Manley.

The cityscape is decorated also with diverse places of worship. They range from the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1912, to the 17th Century Anglican Church and the Kingston Parish Church.

The city is also home to the Gleaner Company, which has been shaping the intellectual base of Jamaica, the Caribbean and the wider diaspora since September 1834.

Downtown Kingston has since 1960 been the seat of government, with parliamentary sittings at Gordon House, named in honour of distinguished national hero and 19th Century House of Assembly member, George William Gordon.

“Parade” named in reference to its former use as a military parade ground, is a bustling commercial centre which revolves around the St William Grant Park, named in honour of a 1930s trade union leader. Parade is rivaled by the Market District, which brings together buyers and sellers from across the island, a true reflection of the culture and vibrancy of the people.

The Ward Theatre, home to 200 years of golden cultural heritage also adorns Parade, connected by an invisible path through the Park into the well-defined King Street, which leads to the Kingston waterfront, with its traverse through Justice Square, the seat of the nation’s Supreme Court. Parallel to King Street is Princess Street which also offers a rich multi-cultural-commercial mix in the informal China town area.

Leading the architectural delights of the city is the most unique conference centre of its kind in the Caribbean, the Jamaica Conference Centre, constructed by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) in 1982 as headquarters of the International Seabed Authority.
 
Memories of all things Jamaican are captured at the Institute Of Jamaica / National Library Of Jamaica. Other centres of intellectual interest include the National Gallery of Jamaica, the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica and the Bank of Jamaica.

The waterfront is fittingly enhanced by the "Negro Aroused" statue, produced by the mother of Jamaican art, Edna Manley, which stands as a reminder of the struggle of the workers in the 1938 riots.

Amidst these iconic gems of time, the sense of urban blight, at times, is still present. Ironically, it is these very elements of blight, amidst the wealth of the city’s heritage, geography and infrastructure which presents investment opportunities which is fueling the regeneration process.

Already fruit is being borne with the construction of the Digicel Green Global Headquarters on Ocean Boulevard, which on completion will enhance the shoreline of the world’s seventh largest natural harbour.
The city’s natural advantages have been complemented by fiscal incentives, which offer tax breaks to developers, investors and entrepreneurs renting or leasing accommodation in the core business district.
It is in the harnessing of investment opportunities that we will see the rebirth of downtown Kingston with designs for a redefined capital, improved physical and social infrastructure and increased economic activity. A city designed by people, for people to live, work and play.

Sources
www.visitjamaica.com
www.en.wikipedia.org