After painting more than 100 murals as a key part of the first phase of the downtown transformation project, Kingston Creative launched the start of their second phase on Wednesday with the aim to further improve the city’s appearance as they seek to install more lights, seating areas while enhancing signs and shading in the city.

Speaking at the launch of phase two of the Downtown Transformation Programme, executive director at Kingston Creative Andrea Dempster Chung said this phase will primarily focus on improving areas around the Water Lane in the city.

This is under an initiative called “Adopt a Block”, which she said will focus on uplifting the appearance and accommodation around eight blocks in the Water Lane area between the Institute of Jamaica on East Street and the National Gallery on Orange Street.

“The area itself houses historic architecture, conference centres, markets, bars, hotels, restaurants and what we are doing is inviting everyone to come together and adopt a block to help it to be a really viable, vibrant cultural centre. What we are trying to do is called Creative Place-Making and it is important to know that many Government of Jamaica entities are already actively engaged in leading the charge to regenerate and preserve downtown Kingston and making sure of the sustainability of these blocks,” she said.

Chung explained that the aim of creative place-making is to enhance communities and cities using cultural art through urban design and planning which contributes to economic and community development. She said the 111 murals painted as part of the first phase played an integral role in improving how people felt walking through certain parts of downtown, noting that the second phase will look to improve not just the aesthetic of the city but will develop the night economy under safer conditions.

“The first thing is going to be the paving. The streets need to be fully paved and then shading needs to be installed that makes it more habitable so people can spend a longer time there and then we move on to the street furniture and signage and I think the last thing we will tackle is the greening and the activation, so we are hoping the timeline is that by February 2025 all eight blocks should have the place making elements in,” Chung explained.

In an effort to encourage more investors to join the initiative, Chung said they are aiming to raise up to $30 million so they can start work as early as September.

“We are really asking you to invest for impact. By investing in art districts, safety improves, well-being improves, mental health improves…as it relates to safety, more lighting takes it to a life after five, without lighting everything shuts down at sun down, the safety is compromised so we will be installing some lighting, hopefully solar,” she highlighted.

She said, while the main communities will continue to be a key target for these improvements, the development plan will be a boost to Jamaica’s brand across the world and the tourism economy.

In the meantime, chief executive officer of Digicel Foundation Charmaine Daniels announced that the foundation will be contributing $3 million to the adopt a block initiative.

“This contribution underscores our dedication to the revitalisation of downtown Kingston and the celebration of Jamaica culture. I am always amazed and inspired when I past the art as I traverse and navigate downtown Kingston and especially when we have to walk from Digicel to Kingston Creative and you are passing Water Lane and you are passing all the art that you see,” Daniels said.

Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby, in his keynote address, said this initiative is a big boost to the city that will allow tourists to enjoy the creative space and improve appreciation for Jamaica’s cultural heritage.

“This transformation of once dirty walls into colourful, vibrant areas is definitional a step in the right direction. Art in all its form stimulates the mind, it conveys message more effectively than words sometimes can,” he said.

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding with Kingston Creative in July 2023 with a plan to work together towards the redevelopment of Kingston.