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Retaining wall comes crashing down @ Joe's Hill Manor Estate

- No injuries reported
A retaining wall collapsed at Joe's Hill Manor Estate, following heavy rains on May 7, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
There were no reports of injuries; however, the wall fell close to one of the apartments. Photo: Team of Reporters
There were no reports of injuries; however, the wall fell close to one of the apartments. Photo: Team of Reporters
Landslide in the Ballast Bay area of Tortola, following the heavy rainfall of May 7, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
Landslide in the Ballast Bay area of Tortola, following the heavy rainfall of May 7, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
Landslide in Virgin Gorda, following the heavy rainfall of May 7, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
Landslide in Virgin Gorda, following the heavy rainfall of May 7, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters
JOE’S HILL, Tortola, VI- Apart from putting central Road Town underwater, the heavy rainfall of May 7, 2024, also caused infrastructural damages, including damaging roads and collapsing at least one retaining wall.

The retaining wall collapse occurred at Joe’s Hill Manor Estate.

There were no reports of injuries; however, the wall fell close to one of the apartments.

It is unclear whether the apartment was occupied at the time.

Joe’s Hill Manor Estate

Apartment units at Joe’s Hill Manor Estate are reportedly still available; however, many residents have complained about the cost to own one.

The development of the Joe’s Hill Manor Estate was initially a first-time Homeowners Programme with homes constructed on seven acres of hillside with views of commercial Road Town and the South Coast Harbour.

As part of the 7 acres of land, the housing community is made up of twenty-five (25) buildings: comprising fifty-two (52) residential units and one (1) commercial space.

Prices, according to SSB, start at $275,900.

41 Responses to “Retaining wall comes crashing down @ Joe's Hill Manor Estate”

  • smh (10/05/2024, 11:09) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    The government, SS & JT were warned, do not build those homes in a Ghut!!
    • WOW (10/05/2024, 14:19) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
      So they were approved to build in a ghut but my house plan can't get approve when no one can see what wrong with. Auditor general check TCP for cronyism please.
    • jack (10/05/2024, 18:00) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      The government was warn because ss and jt know who the contractors would be and how the money will spent and who will get a draw back in there pockets,whoever sign over this contract never study it tru.
    • Real (10/05/2024, 18:08) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Money ga pass them could careless about the country once them pocket stays fat
    • @ SMH (11/05/2024, 09:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      What about the former director what was her role?
  • Roger Burnett (10/05/2024, 11:22) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Indiscriminate cutting of hillsides and the flawed construction of roads, retaining walls and buildings thereon, is common throughout the region. More often than not, they can be traced back to shortcuts and substandard work by inexperienced contractors.

    One of the biggest civil engineering blunders in the Caribbean was caused by a self-made contractor dumping millions of tons of spoil in a swamp that served as nature's safety valve in times of heavy rain.
  • A retaining wall retains (10/05/2024, 11:23) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    It’s easy to call it a retaining wall often a lot harder to accomplish designing and constructing one that works . A shoddily designed ill thought out structure with no proper foundation or drainage is just a wall .
  • cantgetright (10/05/2024, 11:29) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    well sah
  • wall (10/05/2024, 11:36) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    IF ITS THE SAME WANNABE CONTRACTORS THAT HALF BUILT THE HIGH SCHOOL WALL / THEN THATS GOOD , BECAUSE YHEY SHOULD NOT BE GETTING WORK FROM THE GOVERNMENT EVER AGAIN , IN FACT THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO REFUND THE PEOPLE'S TAXPAYERS MONEY , WELL LETS SEE IF BLONDIE GOING TO BLAME WALWYN
  • Construction quality (10/05/2024, 11:38) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Looks like there was no rebar in the concrete parking! Not surprised though, probably lots of shortcuts trying to make some extra dollars at the expense of the Social Security Board!
  • Blindman (10/05/2024, 11:40) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now when they were doing that wall that fell it was pour broblem the machine had to dig the footing from above the road first wrong move poor footing second Mr KING THE subcontractor should have anchor the wall by putting colum beams under the road to tie the wall clearly from the picture no steel from the road to the wall . This was poorly contructed i suprise the other one further down on the corner aint either . They need drains on the roads its alot of water that comes down from joes hill.
  • Cookie crumble (10/05/2024, 11:41) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well well well
  • Parking bays (10/05/2024, 11:50) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do all the parking bays down that steep hill enjoy the same footings on obviously made up ground . I’m assuming the construction company are contractually obliged to repair their obviously inept design at their own expense.
  • bad (10/05/2024, 11:58) Like (36) Dislike (3) Reply
    How come the Chinese, British, Italians and others can build walls that last THOUSANDS of years and we can't build one that lasts even 10.
  • Cheap housing (10/05/2024, 12:10) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    Which bank will lend on properties changing addresses by themselves soon to be at the foot of the hill.
  • ccc (10/05/2024, 12:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    How sad
  • Asking For Myself (10/05/2024, 12:35) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where is jamsy
  • Strupes (10/05/2024, 12:45) Like (4) Dislike (44) Reply
    Retaining walls fall all the time.......So.......Fix it and move on. Thank you.
  • Want2Kno (10/05/2024, 13:07) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    My God! Was there a cut back on steel in this project?
  • justin (10/05/2024, 13:35) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    could it be poor construction
  • ... (10/05/2024, 14:54) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We have no leadership judging from actions not words.

    You all know its the big hill and above it are more hills including Sage Mt.

    If you are going to build at least take extra precautions or better yet find a better place not build based on money...
    Im starting to wonder if the old generation went through the same education system. Lacking common sense is a serious problem.
  • Uninsured liabilities (10/05/2024, 15:11) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Tax payer hand over your cash
  • Bush Professor (10/05/2024, 16:01) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Retaining walls makes steep/sloping ground functional , minimized erosion, etc., but to meet their design intent, purpose and value they must properly constructed and maintained. The retaining walls must be deep enough in the ground to prevent overturning and sliding from the hydrostatic/lateral pressure build up behind the wall. Water build up behind the wall resulting in increasing lateral pressure; the deeper the water the greater the pressure. To prevent the retaining wall failing, the pressure must relieved. This can be accomplished by installing weeping holes in the wall or installing a pipe to collect and move the water. Weeping holes sometimes get clogged and needs maintenance to unclogged them. Construction in hilly terrain requires a drainage plan to prevent/minimze damage to foundation and other structures. A drainage plan also provides a safe and effective means of managing runoff.

    Cutting down trees to build without a mitigation tree plan increases erosion. Laws on the books are useless if not enforced. What is the construction criteria for retaining walls and who is responsible for inspecting projects to ensure they are followed?? We tend to blame contractors for poor quality work but if plan reviewers, inspectors, etc are not doing their jobs all blame are not theirs.

    Was the intent of this project to reach the lil man? If so, was it practical @$275, 000.? It seems the intent was to keep:shut them out. Is this a VI black line process like the redline in the US?
  • John (10/05/2024, 16:35) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    All these ideas you all sharing now did you all say it before and they did not listen
  • mad max (10/05/2024, 16:38) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Who inspected this during construction? It should never have been signed off
  • Green Flags (10/05/2024, 17:05) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    Just thinking out loud, looking at the amount of water that was running down Joe’s Hill is very disturbing, and if you calculate the height & weight of those 30 buildings sitting on that vertical mountain slope, I am sorry to say with a full day of heavy downpour on a saturated terrain with those buildings occupied with people, furnishers, vehicles and more, can lead into the unthinkable, a massive land slide.
    The ideas and designs for the homes were excellent but the location to put so many on the hills in Long Bush was a recipe for disaster.
    I cannot imagine how the architects, town & country planning and RDA overlooked and approved so many buildings to go in that location after seeing the flooding that took place in 2017.
  • Real People (10/05/2024, 17:12) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    That was one of the parking lots that came down. What if it was occupied with few cars. Insurance companies would be busy
  • E. Leonard (10/05/2024, 18:47) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    On in situ, natural, undisturbed, ground with vegetation, when rain falls, the trees and soil absorb the water to the soil saturation point , after which run off in earnest starts. With development, especially in hilly terrain, the in situ condition is disrupted/disturbed, increasing the volume and velocity of runoff, resulting in heavy erosion. The impact of this increased runoff can be managed with proper planning, effective drainage, etc. The drainage should be collected, transported, and conveyed away from the building foundation and other facilities and structures. Often trees are removed to facilitate construction but none are replanted to mitigate the loss of removed trees. Removed trees should be replaced not only aesthetics, but also force drainage control, and to limit the impact of erosion. Tree mitigation plan needs to be explored.

    Moreover, in hilly terrain, the design, type, construction, etc., of foundation are critical for buildings, retaining walls, etc., stability. Proper drainage is also critical to constructing in hilly terrain. Bush Professor is on point with blog on retaining wall construction and maintenance, eg, weeping holes for relieving built up lateral pressure,,adequate depth to avoid sliding and overturning, etc.
    • @E. Leonard (14/05/2024, 16:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      To E. Leonard, need you settle a discussion on whether government had sent you to away to US to study? My position was no.
  • smh (10/05/2024, 19:59) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is them the house they want sell people when the wall they build can’t even hold up government need give poor people for free an take the lost
  • who is who (10/05/2024, 20:02) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    If it was a small rat contractor, the public would have dragged him through the bush. But in this place the response depends on who is who.
  • BUSH PROFFESOR (10/05/2024, 20:35) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    you come strong
  • @ BUSH PROFESSOR (10/05/2024, 20:56) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    as I was saying , you came across impressive , and it's always good to read a comment and learn something from it ???? ( all we seeing is a whole set of racially motivated narratives , and nothing constructive ) so keep it real
  • ugly (10/05/2024, 21:09) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    God don't like ugly them should have given them houses to the poor people. Maybe he would have smile on them but wickedness will never stop. You all said they for the poor and needy and you flip the script. Trickery God don't like. Repent and turn from your wicked ways then he will hear and heal the land. It's a constant purging and purifing going to be happening until we have a change of heart. Watch it watch it watch it unfold. Repent repent repent and it goescto all of us not a selected few. Search our hearts and repent none is better than none. Sin is sin small or great.
    • Linda (15/05/2024, 23:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ugly. If they had given those houses to poor people, the poor would now be poorer when they collapsed.
  • no foundations, no steel, no tie in... (10/05/2024, 21:38) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who on earth was allowed to get away with this! Its just a pour on soil, so shoddy - will the contractor be held accountable?
  • sindy (11/05/2024, 19:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    steel missing or what
  • GateKeeper (12/05/2024, 16:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Several commentators asked about the depth of retaining walls footing and foundations, weeping holes, sliding and overturning of the wall, site drainage, drainage plans, vegetation and trees mitigation plans, etc. Are there available plans and specs for the project? Are there redline drawings of the completed project? Are there files of construction inspectors observations and notes? Are there specific drainage plans for the project? Was this a design build project? Who was the engineer, if any, on the project? What is the warranty, if any, on the project? Was the contractor bonded? Was the contrsctor required to post bid, performance, etc bonds? Was the retaining have steel reinforcement?
  • RealPol (14/05/2024, 16:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Clearly,,this project was void of quality control, quality assurance,,value engineering,,etc..Further, there is much practical feedback on what should have been done in constructing the retaining wall,,drainage,,vegetation mitigation,,etc.. Low bid, especially in major construction, is not the best option.,
  • Hmmmmm (14/05/2024, 17:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lets hope the houses stay up. Soil is already moving from under some. Check them out.
  • Contractor (17/05/2024, 21:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Isn't his wife the head of Immigration?


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