FUTURE ST HELIER
I think St. Helier has a lot of potential in areas of new construction, community and culture, especially because we are a small island with rich history and opportunity for improvement. Now, it almost gives me the impression as quite preservative with a need for change to improve life in 'town'.
Personally I think that we need to refine our community more than renew a concrete landscape.
In my view St. Helier is made up of the people who work and live in it. For it to become better, the sense of community and acceptance of all people needs to improve. However, the main focus of is construction, due to rise in population and demand for work spaces from the finance industry. I understand in order for the community of St. Helier to improve these steps must be taken, especially with the struggle to house the increasing population of Jersey. However I feel that Jersey thinks it has no room, time, or money for any creative art which essentially richens the islands culture and sense of community, not to mention boosting the tourism industry which once was one of the biggest industries in earlier years. St.Helier is dull and there is little art. Any time a proposal has risen to improve this, nothing has happened.
I feel that Jersey is trying to become something it has never been and this is essentially destroying the essence of the island. Jersey should improve on what we already have.
When we rebuild St.Helier it should enhance what we have in terms of landscape and history through art, photography and architecture, rather then try to be like an existing city.
Masterplan: a comprehensive plan of action
The masterplan for St. Helier only solves two problems in Jersey; housing and work space with added restaurants and shops to please the residents of St. Helier and the island. These are important tasks to be completed but, I think we shouldn't forget the importance of enhancing culture and art and we shouldn't lessen its value and its part it has in our society. If five finance buildings are to be built along with apartment buildings along the water front, I want something to be given back to the community like a quality skate park which has been repeatedly promised and delayed, a multi-story art gallery to house all types of creative mediums, public places reserved purely for the display of artwork and what about a new arts center?
My assigned area of St. Helier; https://www.theislandwiki.org/index.php/Broad_Street
The area I have been assigned includes Broad Street which was St. Heliers first shopping area with many of the retail establishments opened up by English and French immigrants.
The side of the street that is now consisting largely of financial institutions was originally a row of houses. The opposite side of the street was made up of shop fronts which are now seen as the back entrances of shops on King Street. Overtime this has flipped around with the growth of town, as today the frontage of these shops face King Street. Many of the retail establishments were opened up by English and French immigrants, which leads me to focus on the people that make up St. Helier as inhabitants of Jersey have never been truly Jersey bred.