St Clair Belmont
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| The "wash out "Bridge |
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| Recreation/Leisure/Social Interaction at King George V Park |
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| Rada Community Cemetery |
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| Building Architecture the old and new |
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Art along Hayes Street
The sun was blistering as the St. Clair group of geographers exited our maxi. Greeted by the snow cone man serving the King George V Park users we refused to be tempted. Not so for the driver! We set out along Hayes Street where anyone would appreciate the physical layout. Artwork depicting local culture, a park, people from various surrounding communities (having spoken to a few users), building architecture, old and new, colonial essence and contemporary design. Jane Jacobs would be in awe. We made our way through St Clair Avenue passing the residential houses behind well fenced walls. No people were seen on the roads! We came across a smaller park where there appeared to be residents however the collective group seemed intimidated and were unwilling to speak to the people in the park who appeared mostly white. We scuttled off, myself and one colleague disappointed by the missed opportunity for some inside information! Crossing Alexendra Street government and financial institutions, and much diplomatic missions littered the area. We returned to Hayes Street passing the St. Clair Medical Centre at the end of our allotted time. With a birds view we noted the commercial businesses east of the King George V Park. The St. Clair district's planning is evident in its layout. It is no concrete jungle. Trees, shrubbery and small parks litter the landscape. Entertainment, recreation, leisure, utilities, schools, transportation, security, financial institutions as well as other services seem to be within reach of St. Clair residents.
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| First Financial Centre in Belmont
The journey started at the National Museum and Art Gallery on Frederick Street. Disappointed! Thought we were going to have a tour. A synopsis from Pre-Columbus to Independence were given by Mr Elton Scantlebury and Ms.Yvette Adams, our Belmont tour guides. Together we journeyed, a first for me, amiss of Belmont for crime headliners only. Mr Scantlebury painted a landscape of a community with a rich African heritage. We were made to see how that changed over time as urbanisation spread from the city centre to Belmont. First stop was the "wash out" bridge. Residents gathered here to wash clothes. Pipes were located along the man-made canal. This aspect of communal living have changed with the availability of a household water supply, wash tubs and washing machines. Mr Scantlebury who has done much work with the Free Town Foundation in the area, thinks the mentality of the people need to change in order for the community to rise from its current hapless state. Belmont's layout illustrates a lack of urban planning. The narrow roads are former tracks and the poor drainage system have caused much damage in recent years. In the 1940's Belmont had its first private housing scheme targeted at low income families. Terrence Mc Shine was the investor. Mc Shine was quite an entrepreneur as he championed the POS Charitable Brotherhood Friendly Society (1925), the first financial institution in Belmont. Lodges had meetings and community activities were also held at the location. At the Trinidad Theatre Workshop we encountered Ms Tyker Phillip, a resident who maintains that the community is still close knit, people demonstrate respect for each other and the residents are sociable. She pointed out that the Savannah was the main meeting ground for interaction and activities of a sociable and leisurely nature. Mas bands are an integral aspect of Belmont's heritage. We visited Glendon Morris Copper Works & Mas Camp where it was noted that the historical aspects of costume design (the Apache Indian and sailors) are no longer holding the interest of the mas players but "skimpy" two piece bikini outfits with much exposure of the body is what's selling. The historical aspects of Trinidad's Carnival is being lost to the demands of the international appeal. Our last Belmont stop was at the Rada Community Cemetery. This group of people, just over 100 populate the Belmont area with a spiritualism of their own. These non-slave African immigrants live and socialize with the other Belmont residents. The history is rich and there is much to be learnt. Its heritage needs to be protected, as well as its most important resource, the people. Crime is at a high and social attention is needed in the area for existing delinquents and deterring others. The main infrastructural problem highlighted was the dire need for solutions to its drainage woes. It must be noted that the houses though old and run down in appearance were concrete structures. This indicated some wealth had to be present in the past to construct such structures. Jane Jacobs would be aghast.
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Jane Jacobs saw "good neighbourhoods" based on her categorisation, districts like St Clair. It had mixed uses: parks, residences, schools, businesses and on going activity, which she said creates a safer environment. Belmont on the other hand lacked parks, commercial businesses and on going activity as the environment is not safe for such, given the high concentration of crime. Jacobs thought "good neighbourhoods" had different buildings, old and new which supported architectural design and persons of varying income levels. Old and new were seen in St Clair however Belmont's buildings were all unkempt and dilapidated. The streets were also littered with garbage contrary to the clean St. Clair. Perhaps we did not walk enough to clearly establish if there were much alternative routes to any one destination in Belmont. Given the narrow unplanned paths and a few noted dead ends I would not be hopeful if I were Jacobs. St. Clair seemed to have a grid type design based on the few streets we walked through. Such Jacobs thought encouraged the social and economic aspects of a neighbourhood. She finally put forward that a high density population was stimulating for city life. Given the spatial distribution of residences in Belmont they would outnumber that of St. Clair. Based on the two areas I would have to disagree with Jacobs on this last point. Like Mr Scantlebury puts it, the people of Belmont need to change their mentality and this I think would stimulate city life with a difference. The other aspects of her principles are applicable and supports St. Clair to emerge as a " good neighbourhood".
Having looked at St. Clair and Belmont, I would say that St Clair seem to be more successful than Belmont as an urban neighbourhood. Its success is attributed to the time in which it was birthed. Planning took place before its design. The physical geography of the area was allotted its space for housing, schools, parks commercial businesses, roads, sidewalks and other basic necessary infrastructure for any community. Financial status also contributes to the well being of a neighbourhood. The ability to have financial power to spend and invest in contemporary society lends itself to increased, socialization and leisure activities, not limited to the community itself.
Reference: Urban Geog\Jane Jacobs Urban Ideas.htm (Cited on 24th March, 2014).
