Gumbs says housing policy targets reuse and denser development

Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs Jr. said the government’s housing policy would expand supply through existing housing, apartment development, higher density, new construction and action plans. He said at least 70% of the housing programme is intended to come through reuse of existing housing stock and densification.

Gumbs said affordable housing is being defined as housing costing about 30% or less of median net household income. He also referred to a longer-term government objective to facilitate about 1,200 homes, saying this would not come from a single development or parcel of land.

According to Gumbs, financing tools being considered include the Mortgage Guarantee Fund, public-private partnerships, the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation and private developers. He said government’s role would include planning, land decisions, permits, subsidies and coordination.

Gumbs said VROMI is hiring a policy adviser to work on implementation from 2027 onward. He said any development at Vineyard Heights would require a housing action plan, available budget and implementation capacity, as well as resolution of outstanding legal or land-related matters.