Minister for Social Development and Housing, the Hon. Delma Thomas has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese Real Estate, Construction and Development Company, Gao Zhen, and the Grenada Housing Authority for the construction of over 2,000 middle-income housing units over the next five years in various locations around the country.
“Today’s signing signifies that we are taking a step in the next direction to assist middle-income earners in having their own homes,” Minister Thomas said.
“We are happy to sign this agreement and look forward to seeing the construction phase begin, as we strive to provide housing for persons in the middle-income bracket.”
Gao Zhen, which proposes to construct high quality, storm and earthquake safe, affordable houses in Grenada on a Build and Transfer basis, commits to the construction of a minimum of 500 units in the first year and an additional 500 units for the next five years, without any capital input from the Government of Grenada or the Housing Authority of Grenada.
Chief Executive Officer, Wuyan Shen, says that he is happy to partner with Grenada and that his company will work hard with the Grenadian Government do good things for its people.
“We’ll do our best to support the Government to providing the best quality, affordable houses possible. Our Government supports us and I can assure you that we will do good things in Grenada. We have a great team to do this,” Mr. Shen said.
The proposed square footage of the housing units would range from 550 square feet to 1,400 square feet and the buildings would include individual houses and three level apartment type town houses. Full infrastructure of road, water, electricity, central sewage, green areas and play areas would also be included in this turn key project.
According to Minister Thomas, her Ministry has already begun to have talks with Gao Zhen regarding a collaboration for provision of housing units for lower-income owners.
“We are committed to working with Gao Zhen to bring that benefit to people who are in need of housing assistance at this time,” Minister said.
The construction work on the first 500 middle-income housing units are expected to begin by January 2014.
