SPECIAL POST:A slice of UrbanTrinidad

  A trip to two distinctly different areas in the city of Port-of-Spain materialized urban planning theories studied in my Urban Geography course. Evidence of Corbusier and Jane Jacobs were seen in both areas. St. Clair and Belmont were explored and observations were made about the areas.

  The first area visited was St. Clair, one of the high end areas of Port-of-Spain. Recreational facilities (parks, tennis courts, playgrounds), private and public, high density and mixed use buildings were observed. Ministry offices, embassies, a police station and private hospital were all present in the area. Residence observed had either high walls surrounding them, fences, barbwire and or security cameras surveillance. However among the modern and administrative buildings, and high walls, abandon lots and buildings were seen sticking out like sore thumbs, some were of colonial styled architecture, but few residence and private business offices still maintained the previously mention architecture among the modernity of the majority of buildings. There were predominantly no pavements, and verges lined the roadways, there was police patrolling the area at the time, short streets, quiet roads and residents were unseen.

Image showing surveillance and barb wiring on wall in St. Clair

Image of Ministry of Education in St. Clair

 What was liked about the area was the availability of facilities within the area (hospital, police station, recreational) for the residents, and the conservation of some colonial architecture. What was disliked was the fact that persons who were using the recreational facilities were not residents of the area, and the seriousness of this is that persons of the community prefer to stay indoors than use the facilities provided to them, therefore preventing socialization. What needs to be improved in the area is the sense of good neighborhood, with respect to socializing, the refurbishment of old buildings, use of empty lots and replacement of verges with pavements. 

  Though similar in some features, there is a distinction between the communities. In Belmont or previously called Freetown by the ex-enslaved, the first suburb of Port-of-Spain, streets are narrow, houses are close to one another, old buildings businesses like Laundromats and bakeries are still erect but derelict. Some residences maintain old architecture, and fences or walls surrounding homes were not tall as those in St. Clair. There are several cultural buildings such as pan yards, and mas camps like the Glendon Morris Copper Works and Mas Camp, in addition to a theater workshop from since 1958, which conserves colonial architecture as well.

  Aspects in Belmont which were appreciated was the cultural vibrancy present from the architecture to the Mas camps and pan yards. What was disliked were the exterior negative stigma attached to the area, the concern of residents for better amenities, and the evidence of irregular garbage service. Revitalization of old historic buildings, better utility services like water supply should be done, additionally drainage planning to alleviate flooding and activities for young people should be embarked on.

Image of a narrow road in Belmont

Image of an old architecture home with low surrounding wall

 According to Jane Jacobs a “good neighbourhood” should have mixed use, mixed blocks with different buildings of different ages and conditions, streets with short blocks and numerous corners and a dense concentration of people. When assessing St. Clair and Belmont, they both have aspects of the first 3 principles in different degrees. However they differ drastically in concentration of people. In comparison to St. Clair, Belmont has more people due to the fact that the former has more ministry buildings and embassies and a single residence in St. Clair can fit maybe 4-5 Belmont homes. It is in my opinion that evident communal activities such as persons of an area using facilities in the area and conversing with neighbours makes a successful neighbourhood. In addition to proper amenities for all residents.