ROSE HALL, St James — Ongoing development of the Rose Hall belt on the outskirts of Montego Bay is being likened to the transformation seen in Drax Hall, St Ann, in recent years.

Councillor Anthony Murray (Jamaica Labour Party, Rose Hall Division) is thrilled at the progress being made in his constituency.

“Rose Hall is becoming the Drax Hall of St James with all the development that is taking place,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

That St Ann town has become a hub of activity, attracting major commercial and residential projects while steadily building a reputation as the ideal location for large events. Murray believes Rose Hall has similar, if not greater, potential. His view is influenced by the number of significant projects now in the works.

“I know we have Moon Palace [hotel], doing both residential and commerce development; Unico and Hard Rock hotels are to come on-stream,” noted Murray.

With a US$700-million price tag, Moon Palace’s 1,200-room luxury resort is set to be the tallest hotel in Jamaica at 33 storeys. It will also include staff quarters that are reportedly being built on an area of land adjacent to the property.

The Unico 18°77° Hotel is a 451-room, adult-only luxury resort. Then there is the under-construction US$850-million Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Jamaica. It will be a luxury, all-inclusive resort. These projects have spurred others that will provide support to their daily operations, and employees’ needs.

According to Murray, there are reports that a major player in the fast food industry will open a branch in the Rose Hall area. He opted not to provide details but did name another major player who has bought into the Rose Hall story.

“A Fesco gas station is being built now at Barrett Town,” he said.

The elected official also pointed to long-standing plans to develop lands near Dreams Resorts.

“Those lands were earmarked long ago for different developments, different entities have lots there,” he said.

Though many of these projects were approved years ago Murray is pleased to be at the helm of the Rose Hall Division as they come to fruition.

“There is development happening across the parish but I am happy that a lot of it is happening in my space, under my watch as councillor,” he said.

“Even if you go as far as Long Bay, you see some development going on out there, as well,” declared Murray.

He said when all the projects are completed the area will be almost unrecognisable for those who do not visit often.

“The transformation that is taking place will make the place look really different, especially for persons who have not been here for a while. They will find it hard to recognise [with] what is going on here in Rose Hall,” Murray said.

He reminded that the rebirth of the area is part of a wider plan to develop St James.

“Part of the concept is to build the town of Rose Hall because Rose Hall doesn’t have a town. It’s something that [Tourism] Minister [Edmund] Bartlett has been speaking about for a long while,” he explained.

Murray pointed to work being done by himself and his peers within the St James Municipal Corporation to facilitate the developments earmarked for Rose Hall.

“We don’t sit back and hold on to permits, we allow persons to get their building permits within the regulations and we let them go so people can build, people can invest,” he said.

He pointed out that the more than 10,000 people who live in communities close to Rose Hall will now have more choices of products and services closer to home, saving them a trip into Montego Bay.

“This development will take some pressure off the city because you will have other options… You don’t have to head to Montego Bay for employment, you don’t have to go into Ironshore or Montego Bay for shopping, we’ll have some of those facilities right here within the space,” declared Murray.

He said area residents have already been seeing the benefits of a more developed Rose Hall.

“Quite a number of persons within the space — since the work for the hotels started — they have gotten work already and there is more long-term employment when the hotels do come on stream, so they are seeing the advantages,” declared Murray.

“We already see additional people moving in too and they need a place to stay; and so it provides opportunities for economic growth in the space,” Murray added.

He expects that, within a few years, Rose Hall will be the envy of many other places in and outside of Jamaica.

Work being done at the site of the future Hard Rock Hotel in Rose Hall..

The site of a commercial project planned near Dreams Resort in Rose Hall.

What the Hard Rock Hotel in Rose Hall, St James will look like when completed.

An architectural render of what is planned for Moon Palace Resort in Rose Hall, St James.