Young Haitian-American Invests in Luxury Housing in Haiti
Sunday, 08 July 2012 07:50
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - As a young Haitian-American student at Columbia University, Jimmy Toussaint, is demonstrating first hand the opportunities available in Haiti by investing in luxury lodging in one of Haiti's more affluent neighborhoods.
It was a month before the earthquake that construction workers began to lay the foundation for a large estate akin to a sprawling Beverly Hills property. Little did anyone know that it would soon be hailed as one of the exciting lodging establishments set to open its doors in December 2012.
In the posh neighborhood of Vivy Mitchell, a gated community just minutes from the Haitian international airport, lies Hilltop Terrace. What is equally as interesting about this project are the people behind it.
Jimmy Toussaint is far from the traditional businessman in Haiti. He was born and raised in New York City to parents that immigrated to the states in seek of opportunity and a better life. He is also a student at Columbia University studying Financial Economics & Computer Science.
"I am only a managing partner", Jimmy says jokingly, "The people who really propel this project forward are the family that I have to support the construction of Hilltop Terrace because they believe in it and see the opportunities in Haiti."
Before the earthquake, the Toussaint family built and operated a large preliminary school for two years. Unfortunately, the earthquake destroyed the school and they are still rebuilding. “The earthquake took down the school, but it didn’t take down Hilltop Terrace. I guess I am half lucky then?,” Jimmy said.
Jimmy has at least something to be optimistic about. The earthquake cut Haiti’s hotel room capacity almost in half. All of the three star hotels in the country didn’t withstand the quake. And, after the earthquake, a major influx of foreign nationals rushed into Haiti employed by major NGOs, private contractors and business men looking for new opportunity.
“The market for lodging sky rocketed because having a safe place to stay in Haiti became gold after the earthquake. Vivy Mitchell is a gated community, so houses are rented for about $10,000.00 a month over here. We always wanted to invest in Haiti”, Jimmy stated. Hilltop Terrace will help meet the demand for lodging in Haiti.
“Hilltop isn't being built as a massive hotel. That isn't what we want to be. Hilltop Terrace is mansion. I want someone to feel like they are at home when they are with us. We will have a rooftop bar and a swimming pool. If the numbers are what I think it will be in our first two years of operation, we will expand. We already own the necessary amount of property to expand if need be”, Jimmy said. In a country like Haiti that suffers from rampid unemployment projects like these are just be what Haiti needs.
Jimmy concludes,“I don’t think I can change Haiti as a whole. I don’t know if I will ever be in that position. All I can do right now is what I can and hope that I can inspire others that may have the ability to do the same. That’s all.”
i just saw the fb page. i honestly don't know what the big deal is. it looks like an average house turned hotel belonging to someone with lots of money.
also looks like it's built like every other house in haiti that a good earth jolt will knock down.
i just saw the fb page. i honestly don't know what the big deal is. it looks like an average house turned hotel belonging to someone with lots of money.
also looks like it's built like every other house in haiti that a good earth jolt will knock down.
sorry for being so pessimistic, but.... smh
LOL LOL but that didn't stop you from blasting the picture on HX.
You are correct though. Nothing special, typical, earthquake-ready.
This house is actually right down the street from forum member HaitianCreation's house (where I used to stay while visiting Haiti.) I've seen them working on it for what appeared to be years, but i had no idea it belonged to Jimmy Toussaint and his organization. The Vivy Mitchel neighborhood has seen better days. Despite the huge and beautiful homes, the area has become quite dangerous, especially after the earthquake which has opened up multiple paths to enter the gated community without having to go by the security check points. At one point, it also had a reputation of being a place where many Diaspora drug dealers built their Haiti homes.
Notable thefts, rapes, kidnappings and murders have occurred there and I definitely stopped feeling safe...so I eventually moved out and got my own place. Not as fancy or comfortable, but a million times safer. Since the homes are large, and many faired well during the earthquake, a lot of them are are now rented out to NGOs or MINUSTAH by cash-strapped members of the Haitian middle class and elite. It's an interesting neighborhood, but it is definitely not living up to its potential.
since there are other houses like his up there in vivy wharever, what's special about this jimmy toussaint guy and his house anyway?
You have a contigent of Haitix posters who are tired of all the bad news in Haiti.
Their solution? Post any and everything that even resembles "positive news" e.g. a few guys with wheelbarrows picking up trash.
They are bored with the reality of Haiti and want to create some "postive energy".
So ignore want Haitian Nationals live with everyday and focus on stupid stuff like wheelbarrows instead of sanitation trucks and fancy hotels/houses instead of shacks without infrastructure.
It's the same with the Cholera situation.
They are so bored with it, they simply ignore it.
But that's the beauty of Haitix and CoolP.
He and his minions get piissed at me for some of my viewpoints, but all in all, they let it post with only minimal hassles at times.
That's to their credit, as almost 100% of the posters on Haitix are dyed-in-the-wool, NGO, and Democrat Party suppporters.
since there are other houses like his up there in vivy wharever, what's special about this jimmy toussaint guy and his house anyway?
You have a contigent of Haitix posters who are tired of all the bad news in Haiti.
Their solution? Post any and everything that even resembles "positive news" e.g. a few guys with wheelbarrows picking up trash.
They are bored with the reality of Haiti and want to create some "postive energy".
So ignore want Haitian Nationals live with everyday and focus on stupid stuff like wheelbarrows instead of sanitation trucks and fancy hotels/houses instead of shacks without infrastructure.
It's the same with the Cholera situation.
They are so bored with it, they simply ignore it.
But that's the beauty of Haitix and CoolP.
He and his minions get piissed at me for some of my viewpoints, but all in all, they let it post with only minimal hassles at times.
That's to their credit, as almost 100% of the posters on Haitix are dyed-in-the-wool, NGO, and Democrat Party suppporters.
Gunner, you make great points, but you need to know when to stop. Otherwise it becomes counter-productive and the same people who want to support you get caught in the fire. I haven't been here since the website's launch, but I can say I have not seen CoolP go after you a single time because of your sensible views. Also, a few people on HaitiX is not HaitiX. Plenty of people are rejecting the bullshit.
Jimmy concludes,“I don’t think I can change Haiti as a whole. I don’t know if I will ever be in that position. All I can do right now is what I can and hope that I can inspire others that may have the ability to do the same. That’s all.”
Relax people. He doesn't say he's trying to save the world.
