MAYOR of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby has revealed that preliminary investigations have indicated that no application was submitted to Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) for the construction of a used car dealership at 11 Westlake Avenue in Richmond Park, St Andrew.

The construction recently sparked protests by Richmond Park residents who argued that an invasion of their peaceful residential space was taking place and that the business people doing the invading — including the ones building the car mart — have no regard for their peace of mind.

According to the mayor in a statement issued on Friday, a stop notice ordering an immediate cease and desist on all building work was served on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 and was posted at the same location.

The mayor requested that a more thorough investigation into the matter be carried out.

When the Jamaica Observer visited the community during the protest on July 29, residents fumed at the influx of commercial entities taking over the neighbourhood.

It was not the first time Richmond Park residents were staging a protest over the issue, however they lamented that they had to take to the streets again with placards due to gross inaction from the State.

Preston Tabois, president of Richmond Park Community Development Committee, said, “We see it as an invasion of Richmond Park, which is a peaceful residential community. It makes it difficult for residents to co-exist in the community. There is limited to virtually no place for us to walk. These businesses contribute to increased concretisation of the community. As they come in, they cut down trees and grass and create concrete pavements which result in increased water run-off in the streets, and that causes flooding. There is a general depreciation of the residential life in community. That is why we are protesting, so we can finally get the matter addressed.”

Tabois added that the increased commercial activities has resulted in a fluctuation in the supply of electricity because of overload. This, however, could not be independently verified.

“The community was not originally zoned for that. It is a residential community. We are very concerned it might even increase crime as businesses attract strangers. As soon as a property is put up for sale, the business people buy the property, invade the community, and set up commercial entities,” Tabois said.

Elaine Dixon, another resident, said that in front of her house there are at least three businesses in operation. Such a set-up is far from desirable, she said.

“We just want the place to come back together. There are too many commercial buildings. Right in front of my house there is a gym, a bar, and another business. At nights, and even in the day, thieves harass us; they grab bags and take phones. We are scared, and it is getting worse and worse. We need the mayor to come and do something. Sometimes they tell us it is an apartment, and when it finishes, it is no apartment. The mayor needs to come and look at it,” said Dixon.