$58M Upgrade Transforms Torrington Park Housing After Decades of Neglect
Jamaica Live News Desk– | Dec 9, 2025
In a significant step toward improving housing safety and community infrastructure, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Robert Montague, earlier today led the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $58 million Torrington Park Rehabilitation Project.
The long-awaited project—completed on November 21, 2025—marks a major milestone for residents who have endured decades of structural deterioration, dangerous stairways, and chronic leaks throughout the complex.
The rehabilitation works were extensive, targeting some of the most hazardous and longstanding issues at Torrington Park. Among the major upgrades completed were:
- Reconstruction of the collapsed staircase
- Retrofitting of other staircases with new structural members
- Full rehabilitation of deteriorated and leaking roof sections, including fresh waterproofing
- Preparation and repainting of external walls, stairwells, and common areas
- Replacement of defective water closets and corrective plumbing to eliminate persistent leaks
- Ancillary concrete works, including patching, landings, thresholds, and the installation of a garbage skip
For many residents, these improvements represent not just beautification, but a restoration of basic safety, dignity, and livable standards.
Present at the ceremony were Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding, and the Member of Parliament for the community, highlighting a rare moment of bipartisan acknowledgement of the urgent needs within under-resourced urban communities.
Their joint presence underscored the shared national responsibility to ensure safe housing for all Jamaicans, regardless of political affiliation.
The need for accelerated intervention became undeniable on Sunday, November 17, when 59-year-old Althea McIntosh was sitting on the staircase leading from the second to the third floor at the front of the building and the entire structure collapsed beneath her.
Though the staircase had been in dilapidated condition for decades, the incident served as a stark and painful reminder of what is at stake when maintenance is delayed.
Fortunately, the collapse did not result in fatalities, but residents expressed long-standing fears about the state of the infrastructure—a fear finally being addressed through this major rehabilitation investment.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Montague noted that the government is committed to upgrading aging residential complexes, improving structural integrity, and ensuring the safety of families across Jamaica. The repairs at Torrington Park form part of a broader national effort to modernize public housing infrastructure and prevent future tragedies.
Residents welcomed the improvements, expressing hope that continued maintenance and oversight will keep their homes safe for generations to come.
The Torrington Park community now enters a new chapter—one built on restored confidence, upgraded infrastructure, and a renewed sense of security.