27 Storey Building approved, will be the tallest in Jamaica

By Shanieka Smith

Features Writer

#Jamaica, June 17, 2022 – Jamaica is about to get its tallest building installed because full approval has been granted to local developer Stratosphere Development Limited to launch its construction. The soon-to-be tallest building in Jamaica will stand 27 storeys and is be located at 1B Oxford Road in St Andrew and will be called The Ascent at the Oxford, Sheer Luxury.

Stratosphere Development has impressed the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) and the National Water Commission by paying keen attention to safety. As such, the project is expected to be completed by 2024. It will have three high-end components: a hotel, residential and commercial.

CEO of Stratosphere Development Limited, Littleton “Tanny” Shirley, said, “we are going to have an aquarium, [an] observatory tower that we expect to be the inspiration for not only the young but middle- and old-age to ascend and explore and see the beauty and the hills of Jamaica, and the landscaping. You will be able to see the mountains, and if you have a good binoculars, you might see Cuba. Also, what is transformational is that the clouds are magical, so you will be able to see what you want to see from the magic of the clouds,”

The developers will be building two massive blocks of parking towers to solve the issue of parking, and Shirley highlighted that at some point, he intends to raise the building to at least 27 storeys, which could be around 250 plus feet.

He added that the intention is not only to build the tallest building in Jamaica but also to transform New Kingston to trigger investment opportunities.

“Most cities are developed on the basis of high-rise buildings, and I think Jamaica is no different and I think it is time for Jamaica to benefit from global exposure. We have done so well in other areas — sports, tourism and music. It is full time for us to look at economic development to attract a global perspective on who we are,” he said.

Along with commending the Jamaican government for meticulously probing the details of the proposal to ensure safety for the people and the environment, Shirley added that there will be many benefits for Jamaicans in terms of work opportunities and inspirational value.

“It is not only for jobs, but it’s also for motivation — motivation for other contractors to say, ‘If this has been done, we can do it also.’ So, it will have a ripple effect across the country,” he said.

Jamaica Labour Party councillor for the Trafalgar Division, Kari Douglas, said there is excitement all around.

“I know there are persons who, because of a lack of understanding and information because it has never been done before, people might be a little bit nervous. People want to understand what the technicalities are surrounding the project, the infrastructure that exists, our water supply, drainage and sewerage infrastructure. What I can say is that from what I have seen and learnt from the information presented on the plan, it is definitely something to look forward to and has all the best, top-tier professional experts aligned sufficiently,” she added.