Guavaberry Emporium
not up for demolition
PHILIPSBURG--The Guavaberry Emporium is an iconic cedar townhouse on Front Street that hearkens back to the quieter days before tourism took a foothold and the street bustled with commerce. The building, earmarked as a monument, is expected to stand for years to come.
A public notice of a planning permit request for the Guavaberry property, printed in this newspaper, caused some stir in the community Thursday. Fears were raised about the possible demolition of the Caribbean-style house that is now used to market and sell varieties of the Guavaberry Liquor.
Emporium Managing Director Stephen Thompson told The Daily Herald the old house would remain the way it is. The planning permit has been requested for the construction of a similar building next to the emporium and an apartment/office building at the back of the property.
A courtyard-like setting similar to Old Street is planned in the centre of the property. Thompson wants to mirror the old fashioned charm of the emporium in the new buildings.
The property also has several large old fruit trees. Thompson said the trees would be saved as much as possible when the new development started. “We will try to build around them.”
The emporium sits on the site of a synagogue that was abandoned in 1781. The house was once used as the Governor’s House.
Philipsburg has long been experiencing an exodus of residents as more and more properties are turned into stores and offices. Thompson’s new project aims to encourage people to return to the town as residents. “Every town should have residents. It’s good in the long term for the town. People need to consider it [town] their home.”
The planning permit request for the Guavaberry property can be viewed at the Department of Environmental Policy and Planning VROM in the yellow building on Tamarindesteeg until August 16. Objections to the plans can be submitted in writing to the Executive Council.
