Silica City: A New Era of Sustainable Living

Silica City could look a bit like this. Somewhat similar to Florida, but hopefully without the huge parking lots.

Introduction to Silica City

Guyanese living abroad are being encouraged to invest in the next phase of Silica City.

This project is about to start its second stage. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali made the announcement on the West Bank of Demerara.

He told the crowd that the new phase would begin in two weeks and would be open to investment from the Guyanese diaspora. The president said many overseas Guyanese had already asked how they could take part.

Project Overview

The second phase will include modern infrastructure, supported by private companies. The project, recently presented at the Berkeley Innovation Forum, aims to create a smart, sustainable city along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. It is designed to be home to about 15,000 families and give them a high quality of life.

In 2024, the government teamed up with the University of Miami to create a full plan for the city. President Ali said Silica City is more than just a place to live—it will promote health, wellness, technology, and self-sufficiency. He believes this could help people live longer, healthier lives.

Design and Planning

The idea for Silica City came from President Ali when he was Minister of Housing and Water. The city will include smart homes, parks, community centers, and a health facility. It will use advanced technology to save energy and manage water and waste.

If the plans and models look a lot like a Florida suburb, that might be because it is. In 2024, the University of Miami became a formal partner in its design and planning, so that likely explains a lot of the Florida flavor.

The collaboration suggests an influence from U.S. urban planning models—maybe even directly modeled after sustainable Florida developments., especially with the curving streets and an ornamental lake designed to catch heavy rainfall runoff.

Unique Features

However President Ali has spoken of a more mixed-use development (combining homes and businesses within walking distance) which presumably will not have the massive parking lots typically seen in Florida. Possibly there will eventually be some kind of mass transit or a looped electric tram system to help move people around.

Current Progress

The first phase of development covers 3,800 acres of land, with about $2.11 billion already spent. Work is going fast on 110 homes for young professionals—75 are single-storey homes, and 35 are raised. The single-storey homes cost around $25.2 million, while the raised homes cost up to $34.4 million. ($25.2 million Guyanese dollars would be roughly equivalent to USD $125,000.

Silica City will also have shopping centers, apartment buildings, hotels, restaurants, and other modern facilities.

Conclusion

Silica City is an exciting new project that promises to bring a high quality of life to its residents. With its focus on sustainability, technology, and self-sufficiency, it has the potential to be a model for future urban development. As the project moves forward, it will be interesting to see how it takes shape and what benefits it brings to the people of Guyana.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Silica City?

A: Silica City is a new sustainable city being developed in Guyana, designed to provide a high quality of life for its residents.

Q: Who is behind the project?

A: The project is being led by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana, in partnership with the University of Miami.

Q: What features will Silica City have?

A: Silica City will feature smart homes, parks, community centers, a health facility, shopping centers, apartment buildings, hotels, restaurants, and other modern facilities.

Q: How much will the homes cost?

A: The single-storey homes will cost around $25.2 million, while the raised homes will cost up to $34.4 million (approximately USD $125,000).

Source: Guyana GIS.