City Hall says it has taken action against popular restaurant New Thriving over its use of a parapet and other companies have been given notice to vacate them.
In a statement, City Hall yesterday said Japarts and BM Soat have been asked to return the city’s parapets and in some cases alleyways, while legal proceedings have been brought against a “stubborn” New Thriving which has ignored building boundaries and claimed alleyways at its Camp and Brickdam location. New Thriving no longer operates a restaurant there.
Stabroek News was unable to get a comment from the restaurant on the city’s claims.
A letter, seen by Stabroek News, was sent by City Engineer Colvern Venture to the restaurant informing it of a breach. The letter, dated June 18, 2015, was addressed to Che Jiang Ping and urged the immediate removal of all unauthorised works.
It noted the extension of the northern and eastern sides of the existing building with a steel frame, leaving less than 4’0” of the Council’s required distance of the eastern and northern boundaries of Lot 37, Camp Street & Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown, without the Council’s written permission.
Venture further advised that the letter constitutes a notice under the Georgetown Building By-laws and upon failure to comply he will take such steps as are available to him under the law.
City Hall further said New Thriving Restaurant has been summoned to court on several occasions for several building code violations but has blatantly ignored the court’s summons and the Council’s requests. In this light, the Council is set to reconsider this matter with a view to addressing it in the interest of the city, the statement said.
The statement also said that sometime back Japarts was granted permission by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to pave and utilise the parapet in front and adjacent to its 38 Croal Street location.
The location was supposed to be for parking purposes but City Hall said the company engaged in mechanical repairs and related activities, which then saw the dumping of waste oil into drainage system, “contributing to the destruction of the ecology of the environment.”
The company was then advised that City Hall is reclaiming all of its parapets and restoring them to green verges. It was stated that as at January 1, 2016, the parapets will no longer be available and all items should be removed.
BM Soat and Demerara Bank, the statement added, were given the similar notices. They were told that while they may have gotten permission in the past to operate at their various locations, it will not continue in the New Year.
