CH&PA warns of legal action if construction of Nandy Park apartment building continues
Contravention notices were served to the owner of an apartment building at Lindley Avenue, Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara that is under construction without permission.
According to Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Chief Executive Officer Sherwyn Greaves, the final notice was served last Saturday.
Stabroek News contacted CH&PA and was informed by Greaves that if the owner fail to cease construction, legal action would be taken. Two contravention notices have been served to the owner.
A concerned resident of Nandy Park had written a letter to the editor of this newspaper highlighting the construction and the breach of zoning laws relating to the residential area.
In a telephone interview with Stabroek News, the resident noted that construction is still ongoing.
Stabroek News visited the area last Friday and spoke with a neighbouring resident who said that he was recently confronted by the contractor, who asked if it was okay for him to concrete his parapet for parking. The man explained that he objected to the proposal. He added that a few other neighbours were confronted with the same proposal. In a bid to stymie the contactor’s plans, neighbours have placed huge rocks on their parapets.
“When rain fall all the water from the roof is coming straight over in my yard and as you can see there is no gutter there to direct the water. I was wondering if the Guyana Fire Service would certify this building since it’s so close to the fence,” the neighbouring resident said.
In the letter to this newspaper, the concerned resident said the construction was a clear violation of the land use for the area.
“This is a residential zone. Apartment complexes with a significant number of tenants are not permitted in residential zones. This apartment complex is not in compliance with the parking regulations. A significant number of tenants in the apartments will result in parking congestion and disrupt the quiet nature of Lindley Avenue,” the letter stated.
Also of concern is the proximity of the construction to a neighbouring property. “This is a serious fire hazard and breach of fire regulations. This would cause a significant alteration of the community structure,” the missive added.
The resident lamented that while there have been numerous letters sent to the Environmental Health Officer, the Chairman of the Eccles NDC, and Minister Nigel Dharamlall since the Month of May 2022, as it relates to the illegal construction of the property, the construction of the building has continued. The resident said as a last resort to get the government institutions to enforce the law, letters were also sent to the President and Vice President of Guyana.
“It seems apparent that there is some form of “institutional lawlessness’’ at the Eccles NDC to allow for the construction without the requisite approval from CH&PA, and a breach of boundary regulations. An intervention on this matter is needed urgently to direct the relevant institutions to act swiftly to apply the laws of Guyana and to act without prejudice or favour. A cease order to this construction needs to be implemented immediately to allow Nandy Park to maintain its residential structure that it had since its conceptualization more than 50 years ago,” the resident added.