- RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Gated communities especially apartment complexes like this one, are popular in the Drumblair area and appeal to professionals who prefer to live near Kingston's business district and commerical areas.Real estate is the buzz word in Jamaica today. In keeping with our mandate to cover real estate matters for our readers, Sunday Business begins a regular series today featuring communities in the island's major urban areas.
Ashford W. Meikle, Staff Reporter
NATIONAL HERO and Jamaica's premier, Norman Washington Manley, sometime in the 1930s, bought the area known as Drumblair Estates, where he built his famous home, Drumblair, which was located on a small knoll near the fork at Old Church Road. It was here, at this simple, classic wooden home that Norman and his wife, Edna, entertained Jamaican politicians and artists.
In fact, the Manley's second home 'Regardless' - built by the late A.D. Scott in 1962 - still maintains its unobtrusive presence on Washington Drive.
In 1961-73, to pay off his debts, Mr. Manley sold the entire area to developer Maurice Facey for £30,000, who subsequently transformed Drumblair into how we know it today - a massive housing development for the middles class.
The boundary has remained relatively unchanged since the days of Norman and Edna Manley and generally refers to the area abutting Upper Waterloo Road on the west, Grants Pen to the north and Annette Crescent to the south. Drumblair's eastern border kisses the King's House lands.
Today, it is regarded as one of Kingston's preferred neighbourhoods.
"Lovely area! Drumblair is well located and it is consistent in the types of houses there (that is, single family residence with its own lot). It's a great area for people to buy and modernise and renovate," realtor, Valerie Levy told Sunday Business.
UPGRADING
However, while she admitted that some of the homes needed upgrading, she emphasised, "Drumblair has maintained its charm. An urban renewal is taking place. People are moving into older, desirable areas like Drumblair and renovating."
Explaining Drumblair's central location, the realtor noted, "We have to look at gas prices. It's more feasible to live near to where you work. People are looking at convenience."
But property turnover is not common in Drumblair. Mrs. Levy explains why. "The lots are large but they (homes) don't come up often for sale. They are mostly owner-occupied. When you get a home for sale it won't last long. Once the home is priced at market ... you get multiple offers. In many instances the homes can sell for higher than the listed price."
But while Drumblair is not exactly a bedroom community - its appeal lies in the relative absence of commercial activity in the area. "There is no commercial development on the interior, side streets, thank God!" exclaimed Mrs. Levy.
But, what about MegaMart, that bright, imposing orange structure that greets one at the entrance to this otherwise staid neighbourhood?
"I don't think it has blighted the neighbourhood, because of the way it has been done, with the landscaping, the grounds and so on," insisted the real estate agent. She continued, "I think it is perfect for the neighbourhood. It is on the main arterial road and people on the way home just drive in and shop. And there are also the residents who live in the apartment complexes and homes who can come down and do their shopping."
Still, while land is scarce in Kingston and homes in Drumblair represents a developer's dream, don't expect any whole scale gated community developments in the area on the scale of, say, the Golden Triangle or Surbiton Road and Waterloo Avenue.
"You will see very small developments [but] I think it will always maintain its appearance with a majority of single family residences," asserted Mrs. Levy.
