Manchester Co-operative Credit Union

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021 11 MCCU 70TH ANNIVERSARY I N 1990, the Manchester Co- operative Credit Union (1977) Limited entered into an agree- ment with the owners of Hill View Farms in Manchester to purchase 43 acres of land. The property is located just out- side the town of Spaldings and approximately two miles from Christiana. It also adjoins the Percy Junor Hospital and is in proxim- ity to several primary and high schools. The main objective for acquiring these lands was to meet the needs of members who were desirous of owning homes in the community, where the cost of residential lots was at a treacherous peak. On May 6, 1991, when the Manchester Co-operative Credit Union opened its doors, it had entered a new phase, as mem- bers were not only going to make lodgements and payments; some of them were, for the first time, making down payments on what they say today is their most valua- ble asset – a lot of land at Glencoe Meadows. In April 1992, the sale was put on hold in order to accommodate the contractors carrying out work on the infrastructure. The land was carved into 131 lots, measuring between 10,000 and 17,000 square feet each. The infrastructure was completed in December 1993, and the remain- ing lots were ready for sale. The credit union management sought to give the property a new name, and after launching a competition among staff, the name was changed to Glencoe Meadows. It was a very momentous occasion in the life of the Manchester Co-operative Credit Union (1977) Limited when the then president of the board of directors, Mr Balford Banton, turned the soil at Glencoe. This marked the beginning of the preparations for the site by Guaran-Tee Construction Company Limited. By mid 1994, the National Water Commission and Jamaica Public Service Company were on site to carry out their share of work. In July 1995, the remaining lots were sold and more than 40 pur- chasers had possession of their lots. There were 15 lots that were re- tained for commercial purposes, to be developed by the credit union. A decision was however taken to convert these into residential lots. A new survey was done and this number was reduced to nine resi- dential lots. In 1995, the project went into high gear with the erection of the first dwelling house on Lot No. 2. At present, there are 39 com- pleted houses and 16 still under construction in phase one, while there are six completed houses and two still under construction in phase two. Members who have acquired lots have lauded their credit union for venturing into such a project. Building communities through Glencoe Meadows sub-division Glencoe Groundbreaking at Glencoe in 1994.