Column: Foley On St. David’s, Housing & More
[Opinion column written by OBA's Maurice Foley]
I appreciate Minister DeSilva’s response to my recent opinion piece and welcome his acknowledgement that St. David’s deserves more than housing alone.
On that point, we are in agreement.
St. David’s deserves housing. St. David’s deserves recreational spaces. St. David’s deserves opportunities for young people. St. David’s deserves economic development, community amenities and infrastructure improvements that improve the quality of life for residents.
Where many residents continue to seek clarity is not whether housing should be built, but how housing fits into the broader vision for our community.
The 2022 St. David’s Community Plan outlined a number of priorities and opportunities for our area. Residents were encouraged to participate in consultations and share their ideas for the future of St. David’s. Four years later, many are asking a reasonable question: what progress has been made?
What is the status of the proposed community amenities? What economic opportunities are planned? What investments are being made to support transportation, public services, recreational facilities and local businesses? How will existing infrastructure support additional growth?
These are not objections to housing. They are questions about planning.
As someone who was born and raised in St. David’s and remains deeply invested in its future, I believe residents deserve regular updates on the implementation of the Community Plan and how current developments fit within that larger framework.
Many of the concerns raised at the recent town hall meeting were not about opposing growth. They reflected a desire to ensure that growth is balanced, sustainable and beneficial to both current and future residents.
The conversation should not be framed as housing versus amenities. St. David’s deserves both.
The conversation should be about how we build a complete community where housing is supported by the services, businesses, transportation options, recreational spaces and economic opportunities that residents need to thrive.
As we look toward the future, I encourage the Government to provide a public progress update on the St. David’s Community Plan, outlining what has been completed, what is underway and what remains to be achieved.
Residents participated in good faith when they helped shape that vision. They deserve to know how that vision is progressing.
Our community has always demonstrated resilience, pride and a strong sense of identity. The people of St. David’s are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for transparency, partnership and a seat at the table as decisions are made about the future of the place they call home.
That is a conversation worth having, regardless of political affiliation, because ultimately, we all want the same thing: a stronger, more vibrant St. David’s for generations to come.
- Maurice Foley is the Deputy Co-Chair of the One Bermuda Alliance.
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