Design & Build 02 | Page 18

Design On one hand, the right to own pri- vate property is paramount and no one should be generous with other people’s assets. On the other hand, where you have large projects of ur- ban regeneration, as is the case with the Paceville Master Plan, legislation needs to be amended so that those whose private residences or places of business are expropriated are paid over and above the market value. Re- alistic alternatives should also be of- fered in such circumstances. This type of expropriation is unlike that undertaken in the face of an im- pending war or national calamity; this is a ‘luxury’ aimed at enhancing a locality from which the public in general will benefit. Therefore, suit- the situation is manageable as long as we are building upwards from the same footprint. 16 Q1, 2017 able incentives should be properly devised so that