often overlooked by the general populace.

According to architect Henry Ming, designers of the new plan, the Corporation of Hamilton and the Planning Department, are working to meet that desire.

"The City of Hamilton has developed considerably since the last plan was done in 1984,'' he said. "And I fully endorse what the Corporation is attempting to do and how they are going about doing it. They're seeking input from persons from all walks of life -- business developers, residents, etc. and they're also putting a lot of focus on North Hamilton. So I take my hat off to the Corporation and to Peter Adwick at the Department of Planning. The new Plan could be very exciting if it's handled correctly the entire way through.'' Although not an official representative of North Hamilton interests, Mr. Ming grew up on Union Street and spent most of his life in the area. And even today, his architectural firm is based on Ewing Street.

"I travel the streets of North Hamilton on a regular basis and am comfortable being on those streets,'' he said. "Speaking both architecturally as well as about the people, one of the things I love most is its colour and its flavour.

That's something we can capitalise on and further develop as opposed to saying that North Hamilton is a bad area. What I'm saying is, let's build on it.'' The Corporation of Hamilton and the Planning Department are now asking for recommendations and suggestions, addressing any existing areas of concern and seeking remedies if and where any problems are found, by way of planning.

"Most cities have a human element and if you look at Hamilton, the number of persons residing in the City today have declined. There's been a major decline. Par-la-Ville Road, Bermudiana Road and Woodbourne Avenue have all had the human element taken out of them to some degree. And what happens after 5 p.m. is that there is no reason for people to be in that area unless they're patronising a bar or restaurant. So it's a lot different for me leaving my building at 9.30 p.m. or 10 p.m. and walking a few blocks than leaving my office on Par-la-Ville Road and walking one or two blocks. There are people here. It's something that North Hamilton hasn't lost yet.

"Throughout the City there is concern for safety. And it's interesting because at the last meeting, the Corporation presented a plan which showed areas of crime, based on colour codes. Up until I saw the plan, I was somewhat skeptical of the reasons for placing camera surveillance in certain areas and not others. Now I understand why.'' Much of what could be done to entice a wider cross-section of the population into North Hamilton is already in place, said Mr. Ming.

"We already have something which could lead to a New Orleans style of commercial and residential developments in Court Street and the North Hamilton area with the scale of the buildings and the type of commercial buildings there -- the bars, the boutiques etc.

"Hubie's Bar, for example, especially on a Friday night, sees people from all walks of life. That must say something about the neighbourhood and the people who run that facility. Multiply that by ten and we'll see something good for the area and for the Island as a whole. But what needs to happen is encouragement, by way of a plan, to allow for activity to spill on the street on occasion or on a regular basis. And it should be encouraged not just for North Hamilton, but for all Hamilton. It can happen and it should happen, but in certain areas, it should be encouraged by way of planning.'' Pedestrianisation of portions of the area might help, Mr. Ming said.

"Whatever takes place in this part of Hamilton, it should allow pedestrians to move freely without fear of being hit by a car or bike. The suggestion has been raised for pedestrianisation on Court Street. I think that might work for portions maybe, but we need to consider the human element.

"A good idea would be to provide a facility where people can sell carvings, paintings etc. and would be yet another outlet to showcase wares. Somewhere for people such as the street vendors who are now selling their wares on Victoria Street. Some of them may not have permits. Why not provide an area where they can lease space on a monthly or weekly basis? Major souvenir shops in Hamilton can take part as well. I think the will is there but encouragement and planning factors have perhaps been lacking.'' Also to be encouraged in the area and throughout the Island, is the preservation of typically Bermudian architecture; one treat which may be glimpsed throughout North Hamilton, the architect said.

"I think we've seen a certain type of new development taking place on the western side of Hamilton so that what was once defined by the Bermudiana Hotel, now bleeds to Hamilton Princess. I believe that we need some major type of development to keep North Hamilton lively and to bring a wider cross-section of the population to the area, but that scale of development, that is, such as seen with ACE and XL and other major developers should not be duplicated on this side.

"There should be some incentive for buildings to remain, even if maybe the type of occupant changes say from residential to business. They should be preserved and we should have a healthy mix of these with new buildings. I am very concerned that Bermuda is losing its architectural heritage in Hamilton in particular. North Hamilton however, still has a strong sense of heritage and I would like to see it preserved.'' Incentives for preservation, many of which are practised in other countries, could serve as great aids, he said.

"I chair the Historic Buildings Committee at the National Trust and as a result, see documents from other countries on building preservation methods.

We don't have any of those in Bermuda. Many sites worth preserving are suffering from structural neglect, especially smaller buildings. For us, the simplest thing is to demolish it and the next simplest thing is to sell.

"I'm not sure it's a solution for Bermuda, but what has worked in other countries is that owners manage to retain and maintain their lots by selling the air rights above it to an adjoining company. It enables certain properties to develop higher and allows those persons with small pieces of property with architectural significance, to preserve them.

"One of the first things that happen locally when you upgrade a building is that your taxes increase. While this makes sense, it may be detrimental to those who want to improve their property but perhaps because of the financial barrier, can't afford to do so. Tax incentives can be offered to offset these costs.'' One development which could greatly enhance the North Hamilton area would be if Government were to go ahead with its plans to develop the former Pembroke Dump into a park. However, he said, little has been done to forward plans drafted by Howard University students as long ago as 1987.

"Hamilton has a natural boundary in Front Street and its harbour. The Northern part of Hamilton has the potential of the park as another natural boundary but unfortunately I think it has become a political embarrassment.

Government should begin to move ahead with plans to develop it; do more than just planting trees.

"(The plan) places the entrance to the park east of TCD. It's now the location of the Salvation Army Shelter. If Government were really serious, they would be searching for a new site for Shelter or looking at a way of working around it. So any Development Plan should include the park as an integral part, or use it to form part of a natural boundary to North Hamilton.'' With the future that in mind, many have already relocated to the area, he said, a positive change which also brings concerns.

"Already there's new businesses moving in that area, partly because real estate is available and partly because those individuals have the foresight to see that in the future, that will be the place to be. My concern is that it might result in a change in the social demographics of that area. And while I'm not suggesting that property owners in that area are ignorant of the value of their land, I think there should be something put in place to educate or advise (them) of the potential of properties in the northern part of Hamilton.

But I don't know what vehicle could be used, other than public forum, to see that they are made aware.'' As with all of Bermuda, said Mr. Ming, development has brought a real increase in traffic to the area.

"It's unrealistic to think that the Corporation of Hamilton can solve this by itself. I think that Bermuda should address the issue. We've had suggestions which are good, such as more parking structures, but it's not addressing why people are driving to a city at all.'' A brilliant opportunity was missed, he lamented, when the Naval Annex became available and Government did not take it over.

"All traffic entering Hamilton comes from the eastern end of the City and all major new developments are at the western end of the City so everyone must travel through the City. Although the Annex is outside the City, it could have impacted on traffic entering the City if there where a good rapid transportation ferry service. Traffic, even in North Hamilton, has increased by 100 percent since paid parking was installed in Hamilton. There was a time when people wouldn't venture into this area but now those same people park here because it's free.'' Despite all, Mr. Ming said, North Hamilton is still a place filled with numerous possibility.

"I like it here. It's a great place.'' Plans for a park at the former Pembroke Dump give hope to North Hamilton GOVERNMENT GVT 100 YEARS ANNIVERSARY ANN