Businessman Rizwan Khan, who is behind the development of the building under construction at the junction of Camp and Robb streets, says the country could lose a huge investment that would bring jobs and significant revenues if he is not given permission to add a seventh floor to the structure.
Khan yesterday told Stabroek News that he has not received any response from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) or the Georgetown City Council denying his application.
But City Engineer Colvern Venture yesterday confirmed that the application for the additional storey has been denied. He explained that Khan was written on several occasion and given notices to cease works. He noted that an application made by Khan to advance work for the additional floor did not mean that he could begin the works.
Khan yesterday told Stabroek News that he made an application to have a seventh storey added to the building since last November. He explained that after a fire gutted the old structure at the site, he followed up an application for a six-storey building that was made over two years prior to the fire. According to Khan, when he followed up with the application and asked to submit an application for a seven-storey building, he was told he would have to go back from the start—a process that he did not want to go through again.
Khan said he followed a recommendation made by the CH&PA to submit a separate application, which he did. According to Khan, he spent over a million dollars to conduct tests on the foundation and have a structure drawing to prove that the building can handle an additional floor. He noted that the results of the tests and the drawing were submitted along with the application.
Khan pointed out that from the tests carried out, he can build up to eight floors but he only applied to add another floor after it was requested by a client.
The building would house a food court, a mini-mall, and a call centre, which he said would provide jobs for 2,500 persons.
Stabroek News understands that the seventh floor would be a lunch and recreation room for employees of the call centre.
However, Khan is now fearful that if he is not permitted to construct the seventh floor, as required by the investors, they would pull out. He added that not only will he lose investors but the country would lose millions in taxes and foreign earnings.
To date, Khan said they have halted works on the seventh floor after they received a notice from the city council. He said they have completed 50% of the work on the floor.
Additionally, Khan said he made an attempt to address the CH&PA board during the last meeting but was not permitted. He said after waiting two hours he was escorted out by a guard.
