By Howard Walker, Staff ReporterTHE RENFREW Citizens' Association is irate over the multimillion dollar SuperPlus Food Store establishment on their up-market New Kingston doorstep, claiming that it will cause property devaluation and other unhealthy activities.
For just under two years the residents have been trying to get the project halted. They believe that the establishment of the US$3 million food store will be bad for the community, citing property devaluation, traffic congestion and loitering taximen.
The food store is located on one of Kingston's busiest main roads Trafalgar Road with a gateway leading to the quiet neighbourhood hosting the Courtleigh Towers and the Renfrew Apartments.
"We have complained to the KSAC (Kingston and St Andrew Corporation) early, that we are a bit concerned that a supermarket was coming on the street," said Marlene Jones, a lawyer and manager of a strata corporation in the area.
NEVER APPROACHED
"The people in the neighbourhood were never approached and asked if they have any problem with a supermarket coming there," said Mrs. Jones. "It's not like other businesses in the area. A supermarket carries with it a lot of persons who are given to loitering. It's a totally different environment."
According to Mrs. Jones, there are 110 homes located there and no one approved of the establishment of the supermarket. "We question whether Mr. (Wayne) Chen would want one beside his house in Cherry Gardens. We are quite willing to have a wall. We will walk around," said Mrs. Jones of the mesh gateway leading to the neighbourhood.
But Richard Chen, a director of the SuperPlus chain believes the residents' claims are unjust. "It's unfair because I have met with the citizens every time they ask me to meet with them. I have sat down with them in the presence of the KSAC and it's unfair for them to ask that I close an entrance on my property," said Mr. Chen. "When we bought the lot, it included an entrance to Renfrew Road and that is stated in the title. So there is an area for us on Renfrew Road."
According to Mr. Chen, he understands the residents concern because that's where they live and they don't want a lot of vehicular traffic on the road.
"But I have a substantial investment there and have no plans to leave the community. I am a part of the community and we have to live well together," Mr. Chen added.
He also noted that in an effort to make the citizens happy, he even went and bought a property on Dumfries Road so business could be transacted from an entrance there and would only open the gate on Renfrew Road in case of emergency.
NOT IMPRESSED
But the Renfrew Citizens Association is not impressed with the emergency talk. "Who is going to be out there from the government office to monitor that it is opened only if there is an emergency? asked Mrs. Jones. "What happens if he opens it and it's not an emergency. Will there be a penalty?"
Norman Shand, acting city engineer at the KSAC said so far, SuperPlus is acting within the legal parameters and the only problem is the exit onto Trafalgar Road. "Right now the only thing holding back that project is the exit on Trafalgar Road. That is something that is being sorted out right now," Shand added.
The SuperPlus chain currently has 33 stores islandwide with six in Kingston and is considered by Mr. Chen to be the largest such chain in the English speaking Caribbean. He hopes to open the Trafalgar branch this year.
According to him, three more outlets will be opening soon in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Angels Estate and Spanish Town in St. Catherine.
Wayne Chen chief executive officer of SuperPlus, in an earlier interview said "the strategy is that every Jamaican should be a short distance from a SuperPlus store."
