Houses in Grenada

Construction

Houses in Grenada are made out of either concrete or wood.

Mixed neighbourhood just above ours in Upper Belmont

Concrete houses are owned by the wealthier people in Grenada. Most houses are built on concrete stilts. They build the house from the top down.  Usually the main floor is for the family, because you get breezes through the house and there are more windows.

Then they build down with apartments that can be rented to earn extra income. The apartments don’t have as many balconies or windows because usually the house is on a steep slope and one side will be blocked by the earth.

These houses almost always have glass windows that open. If you are really wealthy you have air conditioning. No one in our neighbourhood has air conditioning. Some house will have metal or plastic shutters to keep the rain out. Many houses (and most schools) don’t have bug screens- which explains the spread of Chickungunya.

Water in houses is not heated (unless you live in a wealthy area). Showers have hot water by using an electric heating coil inside the shower head. Other than that there is only a cold water tap.

Wood houses owned or rented by people with lower incomes. They are also built on concrete stilts but just off the ground, so rain can run underneath. They would rarely have additions underneath.

These houses really vary with windows. From wood boards you can move out of the way to glass panes. It depends what you can afford to upgrade to.

In some of these houses there is no running water. Some of our neighbours have outdoor showers and bathroom facilities. But is it very warm here so it is not like you are getting cold going out.

We are almost 100% positive that the sewage from homes goes straight into the ocean. I don’t think that is good for the marine life.

Our house

Our house is a concrete house with three stories and four apartments. We on the top floor. There

are four exits from our apartment but we only use the front to go out and the back to enjoy the view and the breeze. It has two balconies a big balcony that faces two directions and the one at the front facing the road and the boys. Inside it has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, more bathrooms than our house at home by half. We also have a living room dining room and kitchen. My bedroom has double bed (bigger than my bed at home), a closet and dresser. It also has 20ft vaulted ceilings! It makes the house cooler. My ceiling is also wooden, it is really pretty.

Local house in Belmont

Here the houses range from small and wooden to large with fancy gates. Most houses have gates,

bars on the window and lots have guard dogs. This neighbourhood is a mixed area with high and low income. It is also multicultural, we have people from Cuba, Canada, St. Vincent, and other Caribbean states.

 

Mansions

The places you would find mansions in Grenada are: Lance Aux Epines, Egmont, Fort Jeudy, Prickly Bay, True Blue, and Westerhall Point. But you can find large homes all over the island, but these are the main communities. These homes almost always have ocean views if not ocean front property.

I would go there every day if I could, I love the architecture. I have been lucky enough to be invited into two of these houses. I am really happy I that I got to see these houses.

Destroyed houses

80% of all buildings in Grenada were damaged by Hurricane Ivan and the Emily. Damages ranged  from total destruction like the Presbyterian church, partial destruction like the Anglican church and then varying degree of damage (broken windows, partial roof collapse, structural damage) ect. I feel really bad for the people whose homes were destroyed because they can’t afford to fix their homes. Most people have abandoned them. You see that all over the island.

I also wanted to say it is not too late to help Leshon andhis family. Here is a link to his page.

A New Mexican style home

Everyone has gates, by few are this fancy!



Heading down to Kirani James Blvd.