The new Southern Coastal Highway will see a big boost in business activity for the parishes of St Thomas and Portland. 

Realtor Associate and Certified International Property Specialist at AS James & Associates, Jozette Walker, says now is a perfect time for small and medium-sized businesses to make the move to the parishes, before land prices and rents go up even further.

Speaking on MoneyMovesJa with Kalilah Reynolds, Walker revealed that land prices in St Thomas have already doubled and the highway is not yet complete.

“Two years ago you could get a quarter acre of land for $3 million in St Thomas now you’re looking at possibly $7 million,” she said.

The highway project is scheduled to be completed in 2025. 

Walker noted that the new infrastructure will mean much easier access to Portland and St Thomas, which bring a lot of opportunities for development.

“A lot of lands are there, so a lot of potential is there. So, housing developments will be there and in turn, you’ll need the businesses to cater to these people,” she said.

Often said the “forgotten parish”, Walker called St Thomas a “clean slate” primed before development.

She said once the highway is complete the parish, which is very similar to St Catherine with its number of beaches, will see an influx of visitors and potential homeowners.

She said that SMEs that are looking to capitalize on this development should consider moving now before demand for space drives up land and rent prices.