A stone’s throw from the capital city of St. John’s, 150 condominium-style units are under construction, providing new, free housing for over 300 residents who once lived in substandard conditions in Booby Alley, Point.

This XCD $50 million grant-funded initiative, supported by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), aims to alleviate poverty in a culturally rich area that has long been deprived of resources to thrive economically. The sod-turning ceremony on Monday evening at a 1-acre site designated for the Booby Alley Social Housing Development Project marked a hopeful moment for those who have endured inadequate housing conditions.

“This project isn’t just about housing—it’s about dignity, progress, and community upliftment,” prime minister Gaston Browne remarked. “We are establishing a new standard of living, lifting residents out of poverty and squalid conditions to provide not only shelter but climate-resilient homes that can withstand severe weather, including category 5 hurricanes.”

The units, designed to reflect the resilience needed for Caribbean climate conditions, will feature reinforced concrete and steel structures to safeguard against hurricanes and earthquakes. “Our commitment to a better future for Antiguans and Barbudans stands strong,” Browne added. “This housing project is a testament to that commitment, promising improved living standards and a brighter future for all beneficiaries.”

The Booby Alley Social Housing Development Project has overcome delays caused by COVID-19, legal challenges, and inclement weather. While some residents initially protested due to fears of displacement and community changes, those tensions have since eased. The Prime Minister directly addressed these concerns, emphasizing that the project is about empowerment and revitalization rather than displacement.

“Having grown up in poverty, I detest the sight of it in any form within our community,” Browne shared. “This project is deeply personal and aligns with our goal to eliminate pockets of poverty throughout our country.”

Browne, who initially announced the multi-million-dollar housing project in 2018, described it as “the most significant social housing project “in one of the poorest communities in Antigua and Barbuda. His hope is that residents, who like himself grew up in squalor, will see this as a new beginning.  He warned however that rules may have to be adopted to ensure that the development does not revert to what now exists.

“If they bring their old ways here, they will be self-defeating. The last thing we want is for this area to become home to several prostitution houses or drug dens. It cannot be the old way. We will dissuade anyone intending to continue that lifestyle from returning here. In fact, I will go further: anyone involved in such behavior will not be permitted to return,” he stated.

Clarence Pilgrim, chairperson for the Booby Alley Housing Project said 92 structures which collectively housed 302 residents were assessed as part of the development process. Pilgrim said the project is “designed to bring hope and opportunity” for Booby Alley residents and fully aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the eradication of poverty and creating a safe and inclusive environment.

Browne added that “One would expect that if there were to be any damage or maybe hurricanes, maybe we’d lose a few galvanized, but fundamentally they’re going to be really strong kind of resident homes compared to what you had here.”

The XCD$50 million Booby Alley project is the first stage of a much larger XCD$100 million urban renewal initiative. Additional homes are planned for other communities where the poorer class reside. Wei Shiquan, Vice President of ZhongAn HuaLi Construction Group said construction will be completed by the 2nd quarter of 2026. Song Jianhui, General Manager at China Northeast Architectural Design & Research Institute, said the homes will be built to international standards.

Once completed, the Booby Alley development will stand as the newest addition to the area, alongside the new cruise and cargo ports in Point.

Change in Project Plans

At the start of the project prime minister Gaston Browne stated intentions to allow those in prefab homes to keep those accommodations while still owning new units. However, he now states that this is no longer an option. “No, they can’t have two homes,” he clarified. He explained that residents who prefer to remain in the temporary housing provided may do so but will not be offered a rental unit in the new development.

“Some residents are so comfortable in the temporary housing that they may not want to move back. Others are renting. Clearly, if you’re renting and didn’t have property here, we cannot justify giving you a house like that. We will have a mixed-use rental arrangement to accommodate low-income workers, possibly charging $1,500 or $1,000, or something within their means.”

Landlords will be permitted to own a unit and rent it to others. For those moving out of the temporary housing, these homes will likely be allocated to other indigent families across the island.

Other communities to be developed

The communities of Bolans and Barbuda were initially slated to receive 50 units each, but Browne indicated that those plans may also change, explaining that “We have to look at an area where we have serious housing pressures and people living in very squalid conditions”

“I know in the initial discussions, and again not finalized, it’s about doing something Barbuda though, but the Chinese then say that logistically they create a problem, especially when you can split it into a smaller project to do a XCD$25 million easy dollar project, they prefer to have it concentrated in one area, so like here they’re doing at least 60% of the homes here.”

“So, I don’t know if Perry Bay is one of the areas that we could look at. I just hope we don’t have to go to the trouble. Having been through all this here, I hope that people will recognize now that, look, the government is acting in their best interests.”

“I’m hoping the next time around it’ll be greater cooperation and collaboration,” Browne said.