OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES [Archive]

dysan1

April 17th, 2005, 03:25 PM

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The Cotswold Downs Estate is to be developed into one of the finest golf estates in South Africa offering a quality, secure and convenient lifestyle, with an emphasis on environmental enhancement and incorporating a wide range of facilities both within and adjoining the Estate.

The golf course is to be built to USGA championship standards and is designed to be playable and enjoyable for golfers of all handicap levels.

The golf course architect, Peter Matkovich, is the mastermind behind the top golf courses Arabella, Leopard Rock, and Pinnacle Point, just to name a few!

LOCALITY

Cotswold Downs Golf and Country Estate is situated between Hillcrest and Waterfall 35km inland from Durban and 5km from the Hillcrest shopping precinct.

It is situated in an area which has seen rapid growth over the past two years and is in close proximity to the Kirtlington Park equestrian estate and the Camp Orchards Health Resort and polo club. It adjoins the highly acclaimed, 680 unit, Le Domaine active adult community launched in October 2002.

Hillcrest is reputed to have one of the healthiest climates in the world and is well positioned as one of the major property growth areas in South Africa.

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STATE OF THE MARKET

The Durban property market has shown strong growth over the past two years and is expected to continue growing throughout 2004.

Property prices have risen substantially and the average property price in the Upper Highway area (Kloof and Hillcrest) according to Wakefields records is up 40% from June 2003 to July 2004 to R878 166.

At the adjoining Le Domaine development a 2 bedroom unit priced at launch in October 2002 for R400000 is now selling for R745 100 and a three bedroom plus study unit priced at R800000 is now selling for R1,3m. The Kirtlington Park equestrian estate is sold out.

The land at an 8 unit development close to Cotswold Downs recently sold for R875000 per site.

The last remaining sites at Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate, Durban's only other golf estate for permanent residents, are now selling from R1,2m each.

SITE ATTRIBUTES

The Cotswold Downs site measures approximately 230 ha and is planned to contain 623 freehold sites for individual homes, 5 condo sites as well as a lodge site.

In addition to a championship golf course, an impressive lifestyle centre with amenities such as tennis courts, squash courts, a pool, and a sports shop is proposed. A wellness centre, a lodge and walking trails are also planned.

The site is characterised by an undulating landscape with hills and valleys and contains pristine indigenous forest areas as well as wetlands and streams.

The balance of the site is farmland and contains sugar cane fields.

SITE LAYOUT

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As a general principle, within each village, sites will be arranged into groups of four sharing a common entrance driveway.

Two front sites will have direct fairway frontage while the two rear sites will have an exclusive feel as well as views onto the fairways via a wide shared access pathway to the golf course.

With the correct demarcation of footprints on front and rear sites an interesting urban landscape will be created. This arrangement also satisfies the needs of residents who prefer direct fairway fronting sites as well as those who prefer less exposure to the golf course.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

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ARCHITECTURE

“When it comes to ‘making places' – which is what we as urbanists do – I've always been determined to create living environments in which we can live ‘lives less ordinary'. It seems fundamental to me that the places and spaces, in which so much of our lives take place, should constantly provide us with a subliminal reminder of how special and important life is – how life is so much more worthwhile than the mundane grind of mediocrity.” Erky Wood GAPP Architects & Urban Designers.
The approach at Cotswold Downs has been to optimise a golf course that has a seamless interface with a wider natural environment of reinstated forests, wetlands, grasslands and wild habitat that has become possible with the removal of sugar as a monoculture. Within this, residual, often awkward pieces of land, have been identified that can be considered as small-scale villages tucked within this rolling, verdant landscape. Throughout, there has been an emphasis on pedestrian permeability with several breaks between properties to give access into the wider open space system.

The proposed architectural style for the development is “COTSWOLD”.

The challenge of the architectural style is to encapsulate the essence of the Cotswolds within the realities of local building conventions and materials.

The main elements of this style are:
Golden brown stone / slate roof and walls
Village layout
Simple building forms
Country Atmosphere
Irregular or skewed layouts
Chimneys

There are 8 villages, all named after villages in the Cotswold. Within each village, variations of the Cotswold style will be permitted – a strictly imposed style is not the intention, but the relevant architectural guidelines will have to be adhered to.

THE GOLF COURSE

The Cotswold Downs golf course is designed to be playable and enjoyable for all home owners. It is a course that all classes of players will want to play over and over again. It will be spectacular and challenging and it will set new standards in playing surfaces in KwaZulu-Natal ie. bent grass greens.

The Cotswold Downs Estate will be a model of excellent design and layout where golf and nature go hand in hand. The estate will be maintained with total love, care and attention to detail.

The golf course has the right balance in shot demands, direction of play and difficulty. The course is more than about scoring; it's a walk with nature, through indigenous trees, pristine wetlands and grasslands. Cotswold Downs is designed in such a way that the strike lines are much further than at any other golf estate. Enjoyment and playability is our design criteria. “The real test of a golf course is that all players after a round can't wait to play again”.

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THE GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS

Matkovich & Hayes are one of the leading golf course architects in South Africa.

The company has been responsible for the design and construction of the following courses :

Woodhill
Arabella (Achieved highest rating for a new course in South Africa)
Prince's Grant
Steenberg
Leopard Rock ( Ranked No. 1 course in South Africa in 1999 and 2000 )
San Lameer
Umhlali
Worcester
Silverlakes
Leopard Park
Centurion
Borrowdale Brooke ( Zimbabwe )
De Zalze
Mabablinge
World of Golf

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QUESTIONS REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT

Q1What are the major components of Cotswold Downs?
A1 Cotswold Downs is a 240 ha residential golf estate which is planned to contain no more than 621 freehold sites for individual homes, 7 sites for condominiums, a lodge site, a championship golf course and an impressive Lifestyle Centre.

Q2 What sets the design of Cotswold Downs apart from other golf course estates?
A2 Cotswold Downs is an extremely low-density estate with a density of less than 3 units per ha. Unlike many other golf estates, the objective was never to fit in as many houses as possible around the golf fairways, but instead to design very generous landing zones and strike lines.

Q3 The Hillcrest area is growing rapidly with many new developments. How will the extra traffic be accommodated particularly along Inanda Road and how will improvements be financed?
A3 Cotswold Downs, like other developments in the area, have entered into an agreement with the Ethekwini Municipality whereby for every unit built, the developer will contribute R10000 towards the upgrading of roads. Upgrading of roads in the area is anticipated to commence early in 2005.

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Q4 Who is the developer?
A4 The developer is the Cotswold Downs Development Company (Pty) Ltd.
The executive directors who will be responsible for the development of the project are :

Keith Wakefield , CEO and major shareholder of Wakefields Estate Agents , Kwa-Zulu Natal's largest estate agents and one of the largest privately owned property companies in South Africa.

Nico Van Rooyen , Director and shareholder of Global Property Investments , a major property development company which has been involved in projects totalling R2bn to date. The company specialises in up-market residential developments including a number at Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate (R40m) and Zimbali Coastal Resort (R50m).

Q5 What financial backing does the development company have?
A5 The entire development is bond free. A pre-determined number of sales options were concluded to ensure the demand and success of the development. The sales options were well received by investors and were oversubscribed.

Q6 I understand a “Lifestyle Centre” is to be built at Cotswold Downs. What will the Centre comprise?
A6 In addition to normal golf club-house facilities the Lifestyle Centre will contain:
• Tennis courts
• Squash courts
• Walking and jogging trails
• A sporting centre, where residents will be able to purchase sporting equipment
• A wellness centre, where an extensive range of treatments, including holistic options and a spa, will be available from professional therapists
• Gym
• Restaurant and pub
• Lounges and conference facilities
• Changing room facilities
• Luxury suites for short stay guests.

Q7 Who will manage the Lifestyle Centre?
A7 A professional management team will be put in place to manage the Centre, however, where appropriate, some of the services may be outsourced.

Q8 Is it compulsory for all owners to become members of the Lifestyle Centre?
A8 Yes.

Q9 What membership structures will be available for non-golfers?
A9 Members will be able to utilise all amenities in the Lifestyle Centre. However some, such as the use of the golf course, will require additional usage charges.

Q10 Are equestrian trails planned for the estate? "
A10 Horses will not be stabled on the estate, however equestrian trails are proposed. A licence system will be introduced to control the use of the equestrian trails by both residents and non-residents.

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Q11 What standard of golf course has been designed?
A11 The golf course is to be built to USGA championship standards and is designed to be playable and enjoyable for golfers of all handicap levels. The golf course architect, Peter Matkovich , is the mastermind behind the top golf courses Arabella, Leopard Rock, Pinnacle Point and San Lameer, to name just a few!

Q12 When will the golf course construction commence and when will it be playable?
A12 Construction will commence in November 2004 and contractually the completion date is March 2006 barring unforeseen weather conditions.

Q13 Who will own the golf course?
A13 The golf course will be owned by the Cotswold Downs Development Company.

Q14 Who will manage the maintenance of the golf course, and will the developer cover expenses with regards to the golf course until the golf course is playable?
A14 A 5 year maintenance contract has been entered into with the golf course architect to ensure that the standard of the golf course during its construction and after its completion is maintained. The value of the property is influenced by the quality of the golf course and thus it is critical that it be properly maintained at all times.

Q15 What guarantees are there that unforeseen costs in the maintenance of the golf course will not have to be borne by homeowners?
A15 The golf course is fully insured against unforeseen natural disasters

Q16 I understand a lodge is to be build at Cotswold Downs. What will it comprise and when will it be built?
A16 A site has been set aside for a lodge adjoining the Lifestyle Centre and will complement the suites contained in the Centre. Detailed plans for the lodge will be drawn up at a later stage and it is planned to be built when there is sufficient demand.

Q20 What is the architectural theme for Cotswold Downs?
A20 The proposed architectural style for the development is “COTSWOLD”, details of which are available in the architectural design manual available from the sales office. Variations of the Cotswold style will be permitted – a strictly imposed style is not the intention, but the relevant architectural guidelines will have to be adhered to.

Q21 How are building activities controlled?
A21 In addition to the statutory building plan submission and inspection procedures required by the Municipality, the Cotswold Downs Homeowners Association requires all owners to submit building plans to its Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee for approval prior to submission to the Municipality, the ultimate regulatory authority for building plan approval.

Q22 Do I need to get permission from the Cotswold Downs Homeowners Association to extend or alter my home?
A22 Alterations, which do not affect the external elevations of the building, require no consent but all external alterations extensions or modifications require consent from the Homeowners Association. However, all alterations, whether internal or external, require the approval of the Municipality.

Q23 Can a purchaser use their own choice of builder to construct their house?
A23 Yes, provided that the builder has met the criteria of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee. The Committee will also have a list of recommended builders.

Q24 Is there a time related building clause for buildings at Cotswold Downs?
A24 To ensure the minimum period of disturbance, all building construction must be completed within three years from date of transfer.

Q25 Will I be permitted to build a swimming pool on my site?
A25 A swimming pool is permitted provided it is constructed within your site boundaries and meets architectural guidelines.

Q26 Will I be permitted to fence my site and is there a restriction on the style of fencing?
A26 Yes, you will be permitted to fence your site, providing the architectural guidelines are met with regards to materials and design.

Q27 How many villages will there be?
A27 There will be 8 villages, all named after villages in the Cotswolds in England .

Q28 What form of security and access controls will be provided?
A28 Electrified fencing and security walling with underdig barriers will encircle the entire estate and the total perimeter will be monitored by a combination of surveillance technology, all linked to a central control room. Vehicular access will be through security entrances manned 24 hours a day. There will also be patrols constantly observing the perimeter and the inner environs, and, in accordance with improvements in technology, security systems will be upgraded on a continual basis.

The intention is to have a single security firm for the entire area including surrounding developments, which will promote quick response. Although the security at the Cotswold Estate will be very advanced, the ultimate goal is to make it seem as unobtrusive as possible.

Q29 How will the natural environment be conserved at Cotswold Downs?
A29 A thorough investigation has been performed by a leading environmentalist and from that a unique network of natural and recreational open spaces has been designed into the layout of the estate. This greenway system includes functional forest, grassland, wetland and river habitats, which will provide homeowners with magnificent views and a special opportunity to live close to nature. A variety of walking trails will allow homeowners to safely enjoy these habitats on their doorsteps. This system will also provide sustainable nature-based stormwater and wastewater treatment and disposal services, ensuring that the local and regional environment is minimally impacted by the development

Q30 How will sewerage effluent be treated at Cotswold Downs?
A30 A new private sewerage plant, approved by the municipality, is being constructed in Fischer Road to service a number of developments in the area. Wastewater will be treated and purified to a level suitable for re-circulation and irrigation of the golf course and common areas throughout the development.

Q31 When will the construction of the new sewerage plant be completed?
A31 Phase one of the sewerage plant will commence November 2004, and completed in April 2005. The remaining phases will be constructed when required.

Q32 Can I build anywhere on my site?
A32 Sites will have a coverage of 35%. The Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee will ensure that houses are positioned in such a way as to not obstruct views. On some sites only single storey houses will be permitted.

Q33 Are mortgage bonds available for South African and foreign investors?
A33 Once sites are proclaimed, mortgage bonds will be available for South African citizens as well as foreign investors provided they meet the lending requirements of financial institutions.

Q34 What will the rates for Cotswold Downs be and will they be in line with similar developments in the Durban area?
A34 Rates will be in line with other developments in the Outer West area.

Q35 What services are included in the Homeowners Association levy?
A35 Levies are payable to the Cotswold Downs Homeowners Association from the time of registration of transfer and include the following:
• Safety and security
• Administration
• Maintenance of the conservation area and all common property.
• Internal road and footpath maintenance and general upkeep.
• Street lighting.

Q36 What membership and other fees are payable?
A36 Currently, non-refundable fees totalling R20 000 are payable at the time of transfer for entrance membership of the Lifestyle centre (75%) as well as a contribution toward the Cotswold Downs Homeowners Association (25%). The entrance membership fees will be held in trust by the attorneys, with interest earning to the buyers account until such time as the golf course id fully playable.

Q37 Will pets be allowed at Cotswold Downs?
A37 Dogs will be allowed onto the estate, however there are strict rules regarding dogs on common property. No cats will be permitted.

Q38 Am I permitted to allow my housekeeping staff to live on my premises?
A38 Yes. Provided that the staff quarters form an integral part of the house design, and that it meets the architectural guidelines.

Q39 I am a keen gardener. Will I be allowed to develop my own garden?
A39 Yes, provided the landscaping guidelines are adhered to. The planting of indigenous species is strongly encouraged although limited number of exotic and non-invasive plants and shrubs are acceptable provided they are restricted to your site and are not of sufficient concentration to dominate or alter the natural character of the area.

Q40 What kind of landscaping is planned for Cotswold?
A40 The design philosophy at the Cotswold Estate is to create a landscape character based on the English Cotswold countryside and villages using a South African indigenous plant palette.
Romantic villages with houses clustered around squares, village greens and courtyards; informal tree boulevards; and dry stacked rock and wood rail fences are just some of the key characteristics that will be used to underline the Cotswold feel. In order to create this “feel” dense planting will screen boundaries and other facilities, natural products will be utilised as surface finishes to roads, pathways and public open spaces, and a smooth transition between homes, open spaces and golf course will be created.

Q41 Will satellite TV be provided?
A41 Yes.

Q42 To what extent will the latest technology be used at Cotswold Downs?
A42 Cotswold Downs is planned as a leading edge development and the latest technology, particularly in the field of communications will be used. An intranet system is planned together with 24 hour internet connectivity. The entire development will also be piped for gas.

Q43 What shopping facilities are available?
A43 Both Hillcrest as well as Waterfall has several shopping centres and a thriving business centre, which can meet most needs. In the longer term a neighbourhood shopping centre adjoining Cotswold Estate may be considered.

dysan1

April 18th, 2005, 09:00 PM

THE VICTORIA COUNTRY CLUB ESTATE - Pietermaritzburg

more details www.vcce.co.za

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The Victoria Country Club Estate, a prestigious and secure golf estate development, offers a combination of 588 residential sites together with a 23 site office and business park.

Catering for a wide range of residential options, including apartments, cluster homes and medium to upmarket single residential properties, the estate will appeal to permanent residents and out of town investors.

The integration of nature reserve, golf club and estate offers residents a unique opportunity to live in harmony with nature, while enjoying rolling golf course vistas and open spaces.

The exclusive Victoria Country Club Estate is situated on the western boundary of Pietermaritzburg, ‘The City of Choice’ and capital of KZN, close to the CBD and city amenities, but nestled within the wooded slopes of the Town Bush Valley overlooking the city.

Pietermaritzburg and the surrounding area are well known for their excellent public and private schools and university. The estate offers national and international families supporting these institutions the opportunity of investing in the ideal property and lifestyle within close proximity.

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Long recognised as the hub of the province’s picturesque Midlands area, the city of Pietermaritzburg is the gateway to the popular Midlands Meander, a tourist destination located within fertile agricultural landscapes, sparkling streams, tumbling waterfalls, open fields and verdant pastures, ultimately leading into the splendid magnificence of the fabulous Drakensberg mountains.

Adjacent to the N3 freeway, the estate is within one hours driving distance of Durban, famed for its sunny beaches and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. From there, scenic coastal drives take you to the many popular coastal resorts and game parks.
Inland choices include the many hiking and fishing resorts of the Drakensberg range, and historical areas of international repute such as the many well known battlefields of the Anglo, Boer and Zulu Wars.

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All residents in the estate will have access to wide landscaped corridors connecting residential villages with the golf course and nature reserve. Walking and cycling trails throughout the integrated 230 hectare estate will bring families into contact with small antelope, wildlife and indigenous flora. Country club amenities include an international standard 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, tennis and squash courts and a well appointed clubhouse with restaurants, conference and function facilities.

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ARCHITECTURE

Situated on a spectacular expanse of real estate overlooking KwaZulu-Natal’s capital city Pietermaritzburg, the Victoria Country Club Estate is a desirable address for the individual who appreciates a personal space unified with nature.

Throughout every aspect of the process, the developers have remained sensitive to the geography, topography and ecology of this magnificent estate. Imported architectural themes have been excluded and concise guidelines have been established by the architectural team, strongly adhering to the architect’s mantra of “form follows function”. These guidelines will result in a naturally evolving and continuous style of design that will have a distinctive stamp. This will pose a creative inspirational challenge to the architect and homeowner alike, to combine a contemporary approach with local historical heritage.

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The common vision of all concerned is to enhance the area and work with – not against – the environment, in so doing, creating a development that is an expression of the African landscape, is unique to Pietermaritzburg and does not rely on imported architectural styles.

Homes will be designed to adapt to the site and not vice versa. Indiscriminate levelling of land will be actively discouraged; rather, structures should articulate the natural fall and shape of their site, accommodating existing trees, rocks and natural features.

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In order that buildings do not dominate this magnificent estate but rather blend in and enhance its natural beauty, it is stipulated, for example that monolithic structures will be avoided, roofs are to be charcoal or dark brown in colour and are to be articulated (multipitched); walls are to be earth tones with no more than 50% consisting of face brick or brick or stone; windows must be clear glass. In short, materials are to appear as natural as possible.

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MERCURY ARTICLE

The property market in the Pietermaritzburg area has exploded in recent months with the launch of the Victoria Country Club Estate (VCCE), a unique new golf and eco estate situated on the City's northwestern boundary.

This project has inflamed the imagination of prospective property investors and homeowners in the middle to upper income bracket. The 230 hectare Estate, which incorporates the scenic Queen Elizabeth Park nature reserve, has seen 251 of the 306 residential sites released thus far sold for prices ranging from R250 000 to R1.5 million.

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Explaining its runaway success, Rob Darroll, head of marketing for the VCCE, says, ‘This Estate has really been a first for Pietermaritzburg and its attractions are multiple. The combination of housing estate with nature reserve, golf course and country club, all situated within the city limits of Pietermaritzburg – which also offers some of the best independent and government schools in the country – provides a cachet that is hard to beat. We are offering a combination lifestyle that is irresistible – convenience living coupled with the great outdoors and nature reserve, all within a secure boundary.

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‘Moreover,' he adds, ‘contained within the estate are five villages offering a generous range of residential property options, from premium quality sectional title simplex, duplex and triplex units sold off-plan; exquisite freehold stands ranging in size from 450m² to 2 200m²; two- and three-bedroomed apartments, and a selection of cluster homes.'

Montrose Office Park , a business and commercial park situated within Village 5 of the estate, is also due to be launched soon.

Richard Kelland, Director of developers Riel Associates, has years of experience in the property development market throughout South Africa and has seldom seen a development that has attracted interest like this. ‘My wildest expectations were exceeded when we sold two stands recently for R1.5 million each, which is three times the previous highest sales value for any piece of vacant land of a similar size in this area. This places the VCCE on a par with other top golf estates around the country and proves that Pietermaritzburg is undoubtedly part of the global property market.'

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VCCE residents will enjoy access to wide landscaped corridors connecting residential villages with the golf course and nature reserve. Walking and cycling trails throughout the integrated golf estate and nature reserve will bring individuals into close contact with small antelope and other wildlife, outstanding bird life and indigenous flora. Country club amenities include an 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, bowling greens and a well-appointed clubhouse with bar, restaurant, conference and function facilities.

The Victoria Country Club Estate is undoubtedly the best property investment opportunity in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands right now. A superb selection of single residential stands on and off the golf course are available from R 500 000 to R 1.5 million, together with sectional title units which range from R 1 800 000 to R 3 000 000 in price. Further releases are expected soon.

Pam Golding Properties Pietermaritzburg, Remax Midlands and Natal Property Consultants are the agents appointed on a joint mandate to handle the project.

dysan1

April 18th, 2005, 09:03 PM

THE MARITZBURG ECONOMIC MIRACLE

In the sense that it was remarkable, unprecedented, unexpected, and somewhat inexplicable, the growth of the Maritzburg economy, during the past fifteen months, can aptly be described as being miraculous. However, it is possible to identify some milestones, and the recent publication of a detailed analysis of our city's economy by Clive Coetzee, of UKZN's School of Business , provides factual substantiation of astounding growth.

The opening of the fully-let Liberty Midlands Mall in September 2003 should have been an eye-opener. The doubting Thomas's criticised its appearance and predicted the decline of the city's shopping centres – particularly the CBD. Well, seven million shoppers later, and with virtually all other centres having expanded, economist Coetzee, concluded that “There has been a sharp increase in retail activity in Pietermaritzburg” during 2004. In fact, a 50% increase in total retail activity, clearly indicates that retail trade was created rather than diverted.

The next indicator that shows the city's economy was on the move, was the December 2003 opening of the new and larger airport terminal building, at the city's Oribi Airport. According to Coetzee, the number of flights arriving increased by 23%, based on second quarter 2003 and 2004 figures. The air service from Pietermaritzburg to Joburg International, is overwhelmingly used by businesspeople, and therefore reflects the increasing linkages of the city's economy to Africa 's major hub.

The 14 April 2004 , national and provincial elections resulted in the city becoming the undisputed legislative and administrative capital of KwaZulu-Natal . This ended years of uncertainty, and undoubtedly boosted business confidence. Coetzee surveyed local business confidence in July 2004, and found it to be “very positive”, and indeed considerably higher than the national confidence index – Maritzburg outperforming other cities and the country? Nooit! Hayibo! Well I never!

Just how much confidence had soared, became apparent when the Victoria Country Club Estate was launched on 19 April, 2004 . By June, 2004 more than 250 residential sites had been sold, at an average price that was more than double than that expected. The highest stand sold for R1,375 million, and it was as if the city suddenly had two hundred new millionaires! Anecdotally, two of the five villages sold out before the building of a temporary sales house was completed! The city as a whole recorded a 36% increase in house prices from June 2003 to June 2004.

The Victoria Country Club Estate comprises 588 residential sites and offices, and along with other high-value residential developments, will add 5% in real terms to the city's rates base. Confidence in the city also manifested itself in a marked increase in sales of industrial land, and the expansion of existing manufacturing undertakings, in the aluminium and timber sectors. Industrial land which had been on the market for several years was snapped up, and the municipality is in the enviable position of fast running out of industrial land. During 2004, the municipality granted a concessions package to 12 new investments, and 8 expansions of existing enterprises. Significantly, these investments are reinforcing our historically strong economic sectors, as well as adding new dimensions to our economy.

National investors began to converge on the city, as they noted underutilized land in close proximity to the N3. Fallow land, such as the former Polocrosse fields and golf driving range, is now valued at R2 million per hectare, and a CBD extension node – which has attracted a more than R100 million investment in motor showrooms alone – has emerged. Some 8 ha of land for further development is still available within this node, and there are indications that development of underutilized portions of The Royal Showgrounds, is also on the cards.

The CBD Extension Node, when fully developed, will add another 5% in real terms to the city's rates revenue. A 10% real increase in income from rates is of course astonishing in any city, let alone a formerly lethargic provincial city!

Fortunately, our new node is adjacent to the existing CBD – it is not a Sandton or Umhlanga Ridge situation – and the office component of our CBD is being strengthened by the ever-increasing presence of government employees. The decision by Game to reopen their CBD store speaks volumes!

Not surprisingly, therefore Coetzee, on the basis of twenty four economic indicators, concludes: “Pietermaritzburg and the uMgungundlovu District have achieved remarkable growth in economic activity during 2003 and the first two quarters of 2004.”

Without blowing our own trumpet too loudly, the municipality's proactive approach to development, spearheaded by the Mayor, who chairs the Executive Committee, and Councillor Osman Ganie, who chairs the Economic Development & Planning Committee, has reaped rich rewards. In the case of the mall, the municipality made a substantial and decisive contribution to the upfront cost of the roadworks. In the case of the Victoria Country Club Estate, the municipality facilitated the development by agreeing to a small upfront payment for the land, to be followed by a percentage of the selling price of each property, which is to be used to upgrade the golf course, and fund other developments. Clearly, the municipality is no longer just a regulator and service deliverer, but almost a development partner. Roger Newman, who recently developed the Rhino Centre at 420 Pietermaritz Street , has stated:

“the transformation in the municipality over the past few years is remarkable and it stands to reason that as a result development has gone from strength to strength. There is no doubt that with the current level of co-operation developers are coming back to The City of Choice .”

So far so good, but just as our political miracle extended the franchise to all South Africans, so the fruits of Maritzburg's economic miracle needs to extend to all of those who live, work and/or shop in the city. Our economy is dependent upon them and vice versa.

One only has to visit the mall, to see how multi-racial shoppers have become. Our city, like our country, now has a sizeable Black middle class, and their spending, along with low interest rates, has been a major contributor to the surge in retail shops.

The prime lesson of 2004 is surely that, as is the case with the national economy, our city's economy can be stimulated by investor confidence and consumer spending. We no longer have to bemoan the gold price or the strength of the Rand , or pin our hopes on foreign investment. We are now a country of more than 40 million consumers, and more particularly, we who live in and around Maritzburg have the momentum to shape our own economic destiny.

But the city's economy is in fact supporting far more than just the 600,000 who live within the Msunduzi municipal area. The Pietermaritzburg economy, by as much as 85% of the levies on turnover and remuneration accruing to the uMgungundlovu District Council, is supporting, if not carrying, the entire district, which has a population of some 920,000 people.

The cherry on the top of this economic resurgence, is the announcement that our district, has been chosen as a pilot area for a KZN European Union local economic development programme. Suffice to say that Euros – and that converts into many Rands – will therefore be available for economic projects, which will impact positively on the district.

It is, therefore, imperative that the economic stakeholders throughout the District seize the moment, by forming a coalition for an economic growth strategy that yields jobs, and spreads the benefits further – to Swayimane and Impendle – and wider – not just to the upper and middle classes. No city can afford to be an island of relative prosperity, floating in a sea of poverty! Now is the time, therefore, for ALL of the municipalities in our district, to get together with our unified business sector, and our tertiary and NGO sectors, to forge an integrated and inclusive growth AND development strategy : we need BOTH globally competitive firms and employment opportunities for BOTH the urban and rural poor. Now is indeed the time to create another miracle—an economic redistribution miracle!

THE PIETERMARITZBURG & DISTRICT ECONOMY :SUMMARY TABLE

Turnover - Total sales of business increased by 27% from 1st Quarter, 2003 to 2nd Quarter, 2004

Residential Property Market - House prices increased by 36% from 2nd Quarter, 2003 to 2nd Quarter 2004

Building Plans Approved - The value of plans approved increased by 20% from 2nd Quarter 2003 to 2nd Quarter 2004

Civil Cases for Debt - Number of civil cases for debt has decreased by 42% from 2nd Quarter 2003 to 2nd Quarter 2004

Economic Performance Indicators (EPI) - The EPI weights and combines some twenty economic indicators into a single indicator. The Pietermaritzburg & District EPI grew by 30% in 2003, and by 20% in the first two Quarters of 2004

Business Confidence Index (BCI) - The BCI measures confidence on a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating extreme confidence. The Pietermaritzburg & District BCI for 2nd Quarter 2004 is 81 (71 for South Africa )

dysan1

April 18th, 2005, 09:19 PM

BOSCHOEK GOLF ESTATE - Natal Midlands

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Bosch Hoek Golf & Country Estate in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands must qualify as one of the most picturesque layouts in the country. Rolling hills, abundant wildlife - birds, antelope at sunset, a picturesque golf course, serenity, tranquility, security, trout lakes and convenient accessibility are just a few of the characteristics that make Bosch Hoek so unique.

The estate is conveniently positioned at Balgowan near Howick, just a four hour drive from Johannesburg or a leisurely one and a half hour drive from Durban. It is easily accessible via the N3 toll highway (exit 125).

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Set high on the hillside overlooking its own private lake, this superbly appointed home offers a lifestyle of privilege and freedom for a very few in a secure wild environment.

There is serenity about the place which is immediately apparent after entering the estate via the security gate. One could be a million miles from the bustle of the city - the abundant birdlife (the malachite kingfisher has appropriately been adopted as the club's emblem), the tranquil lakes, the thoroughbred horses grazing in the pastures bordering the course - all of these attributes make for a special golfing retreat.

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The Bosch Hoek Country Estate offers secure country living on this prestigious development for discerning investors looking for idyllic views and access to fishing, golf and horse riding. The housing sites have been selected on the basis of their impact on the environment, the golf course and the privacy of the golfers and estate residents. To this end, they are positioned on the hillside to the east of the course and each site was individually pegged out to maximise its characteristics.

"Green belts" of indigenous flora have been retained between the properties, ensuring both privacy and the retention of the panoramic views. The architectural theme of "Colonial Natal" or "Natal Verandah" fits perfectly with the surroundings and, while each home retains it's individuality, the common building materials and external finishes in earthy tones make for an aesthetically pleasing blend.

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The golf course is magnificent and the club house a friendly meeting place. On 450Ha there are 37 sites overlooking the trout-stocked lakes. Tennis, horse riding and fishing are just some of the past times enjoyed - not to mention the golf.

Added attractions are the variety and abundance of bird life, the fresh country air and the views of the indigenous bush on the surrounding hills. All of which add up to a feeling of tranquility and serenity

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dysan1

April 18th, 2005, 09:23 PM

FIVE ACRES - Pietermaritizburg

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Five Acres, with distinct “Cape Cod” style homes set in the north of Pietermaritzburg, is an established area, ideal for those who are looking for modern living in tranquil, spacious surroundings close to the city.

Five Acres offers unique features in five styles of design, colour and finishings, all in secure park-like surroundings.

Five Acres is conveniently situated close to schools, shopping malls, main anterials and the splendour of the KwaZulu Natal Midlands.

Five Acres has been created with vision to satisfy your lifestyle.

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The Urban design theme adopted for the Five Acres Development has been based on the “Cape Cod” style of Architecture, which evolved in New England, a British colony in the USA. Good quality timber in New England was more readily available and was used externally to enhance the aesthetic and thermal qualities of the homes.

“Everite” have developed a fibre cement product called “Nutec Vermont” which has gained popularity for its aesthetic appeal in enhancing the texture of the domestic urban fabric and have been used extensively in Knysna, a town also with a rich history in timber logging.

Typically the Cape Cod style houses were double story structures with the sleeping accommodation occupying the roof void, lit and ventilated by way of dormer windows. However in the event of a single storey dwelling being preferred, the owners will be required to feature a minimum of two dormer windows to the elevations.

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dysan1

April 18th, 2005, 09:29 PM

KEMBALI - Pietermaritzburg

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In the highly prestigious area of Montrose in Pietermaritzburg, with a proud past, the city of Pietermaritzburg is a thriving, modern capital. It plays host to spectacular sports events, annual outdoor festival and an agricultural show without parallel on Africa's east coast.

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It's a regional hub for higher things: education, arts and government. Hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and bed & breakfast establishments cater for every tourist need. And it's a dynamic commercial, educational and industrial centre, with companies that are relocating into its orbit, drawn by a quality of life not easily obtained in South Africa's larger cities.

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There will be 42 homes.

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The use of traditional earthy tone tiles or dark Grace wood will enhance the subtle merge between the manmade structures and the beauty of the natural surrounds.

All the rooms are designed to be spacious, creating a relaxed and airy feeling. The ambience and elegant finishes ensure a happy, comfortable and stylish home.

Kembali is situated within a conservation area which, includes a unique natural habitat.

This area will be rejuvenated to encourage indigenous flora and fauna to flourish and will include a large sanctuary for local bird life. This spectacular asset will provide a daily bonus for the residents of Kembali

The landscape design is Balinese, giving the units a unique, vibrant feel that strongly conveys the tranquility and privacy of a typical Eastern Garden.

dysan1

April 18th, 2005, 09:40 PM

GOWRIE - Nottingham Road, Natal Midlands

www.gowrie.co.za

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Nottingham Road village sits squarely in the beautiful Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. It is a village with old world values, friendly people and long-standing institutions like the Nottingham Road Hotel ("Notties") and Rawdons Hotel where world affairs and the morrow's crop vie for attention over a glass of the local brew..

It is here, in the middle of the village and on the old polo fields, that GMS Projects has developed Gowrie, a village within a village. The objective of the development has been to allow the local community and others who love the Midlands, to buy a plot of land and to enjoy a village lifestyle.

The first 12 homes and 2 flats have been completed and the charm of Gowrie is already evident. The first shops have already opened for trading: namely Gowrie office solutions, The chemist, the village Vet, Decadence, Dirt roads. The next few shops will be opened prior to Easter.

The urban design put together by a team of architects and urban designers, cherishes old world values, as embodied in the new urbanism town planning concept. The village development will, eventually, have narrow streets and charming public spaces as well as in excess of 12 hectares of commonage.

A perimeter security fence has been erected and incorporated within the perimeter is The Junction Complex comprising of: The Junction Restaurant, The birding + Fishing shop, The candle dipping shop, Wishbone, Notts Salon, Funtasy, Fusions, Cindy + Paulas', Douchka, gowrie House and White cottage books.

Come to the Midlands and drink in the beauty of the KwaZulu-Natal countryside and enjoy the charm of Nottingham Road."

The steady growth in Gowrie has proven to be an excellent investment. Buildings are steadily going up and the original vision which was relayed to us by developer Guy Smith, is now taking shape. Sales are still ahead of our original time scale. Gowrie has placed Nottingham Road on the map as a destination either to locate to as a family, retire to or invest as a weekend getaway. The kind of person who has invested in Gowrie are: Local 4th generation folk moving off their large family farms, folk retiring from Underberg, UK, Hillcrest, Durban, Witbank, Johannesberg, younger folk who can pop up for the weekend as Gowrie is ideally situated off the freeway and is within easy access to the berg, fishing, etc.

Commercial section

The commercial section has grown and offers a range of shops within the boundary eg. Gowrie Office Solutions (for all your office requirements including internet), Whistling Duck (exclusive upmarket grocer), Country Casuals (ladies boutique), Chemist, Village Vet, Gowrie Lodge (B & B or self catering), Dirt Road (ground cover and adventure apparel), Decadence (exclusive bead ware), the private gym is under construction and will be up and running near the end of the year, Meander/Gowrie Sales Office, Golf Resorts Club Sales Office, Board Room.

Residence and Construction

To date Gowrie has 12 families who have taken occupation with another four anxiously awaiting completion of their homes.

ARCHITECTURAL CODE

Introduction
Gowrie presents the opportunity to participate in a special living experience offered by the growth and development of a country village nestled in the heart of Nottingham Road and the natural splendour of the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal.

A Village of Charm
One of the main objectives of the design of Gowrie has been to integrate as part of Nottingham Road and thereby create a charming village reminiscent of those in the Eastern and Western Cape. Gowrie will, however, be rooted in the rich history of KwaZulu-Natal. It will not only compliment the historical aspects of Nottingham Road but will be an expression of the vernacular of today – the result will be harmony of form, colour and texture in a townscape of unified character.

The Roots of the Architectural Code
The architectural style and character of Gowrie finds its roots in Southern African architecture. It derives its elements and features from the Cape Dutch architecture of the Western Cape, the settlers' influence so prominent in the Eastern Cape and the Victorian verandah architecture of KwaZulu-Natal. The architectural code forms part of the conditions of approval imposed by the Development Tribunal. The code's objective is to ensure that the development achieves the aims and objects of the developer and adheres to the conditions imposed by the Development Tribunal.

The Architectural Code Benefits Everyone
The aim of the architectural code is to achieve a village form of special charm and delight which will enhance the existing town of Nottingham Road. Your investment will be secure in the knowledge that the village will be developed as planned at the time of purchase and you have the comfort of knowing that all buildings that are developed will have to undergo the same approval process. By adhering to the architectural code, owners will ensure that ownership will not only be a good investment in its own right, but that the investment will be enhanced by being part of the unique village within the village of Nottingham Road and also part of the magnificent Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal.

clive330

April 19th, 2005, 12:31 AM

Hey - go PMBurg! I always thought it would stay the same forever!

datilguy

April 19th, 2005, 03:55 AM

WOW.Maritz is on the rise. FANTASTIC :)

dysan1

April 24th, 2005, 02:32 PM

KwaZulu-Natal Midlands among the fastest growing regions in SA

Howick and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands are considered to be one of the fastest growing areas in the country, with demand for property outstripping supply.

This growth is expected to continue especially in the Midlands, Keith Wakefield, CEO of Wakefields Estate Agents, who points out that there are proposals for as many as five new large residential developments, in and around Howick, before the Umgunglouvu regional council.

Like most areas there has been a massive growth in the property market over the past two to three years with house prices increasing year-on-year by an average of 32 percent.

Among reasons for this growth is the perception that this area still offers quality homes that are well priced. In addition Howick is only 20 minutes from Pietermaritzburg, the environment is appealing with Midmar, the Midlands Meander and the Drakensberg close by and it has a cooler climate.

Recently demand for homes in the area has outstripped supply and this has driven rising prices. As an example Baker sold a property a year ago for R470 000. With a bit of touch-up and paint it was resold for R530 000. Now with further changes to the house it is back on the market at R600 000.

However, affordability has put a ceiling on the growth of pricing, which Baker expects to slow down this year.

“Homes need to be well priced to sell. Because of the way the property market has soared seller tend to think they can put any price on their home. But people are far more aware of price and over priced homes are more likely to remain unsold until the market rises and finds value,” said Baker.

While the balance between buyers and sellers is currently out of kilter he expects the proposed new developments to fulfill the demand once they come on stream.

dysan1

April 24th, 2005, 02:33 PM

Le Domaine : an environment that adds a new dimension to life

Viewed from the street the walls and rooftops of R600- million Le Domaine located in the verdant green belt along Hillcrest’s Inanda Road, belies a spacious and tranquil environment that provides a new dimension to cluster living.

Positioned in the market as South Africa’s first development created with the active over 50’s in mind Le Domaine, is designed on a Tuscan theme, emphasizing columns and arches, farmhouse terracotta tiles and an attractive, earthy colour palette.

Built on what was once sugar cane land, each of its seven villages is interlinked by a system of quiet roads and a four kilometer water course with a series of streams, ponds and waterfalls.

“The water course as well as the reclamation and enhancement of an existing wetland provided us with an opportunity to add a “wildlife” dimension to the outdoor surroundings,” said Keith Wakefield CEO of Wakefields Estate Agents and one of the developers of Le Domaine.

A paved path along the water course provides for long walks, jogging, quiet places to sit and contemplate and each day in the morning and evening residents are out there exercising and soaking up the ambience.

The wetlands provide the opportunity for bird watching and since the launch of Le Domaine in 2002 the number of bird species spotted has increased.

Recently residents woke to the sound of spilling water for the first time as the pump and water reticulation system that will keep the ponds full, waterfalls tumbling and the water circulating was tested. “It was absolutely magnificent,” said John Bezhuidenhout, managing director of Le Domaine.

“The water provides a different dimension to our environment. All of a sudden nature came to life. The birds were seen splashing in the ponds and the fish were visible playing in the streams for the first time.”

When complete Le Domaine will comprise 680 exclusive sectional title units, varying in size from one-bedroom apartments priced from around R495,000 to luxury three-bedroom, free-standing homes with double garages and a study, priced from around R1,28 depending on location and finishes. To-date 300 homes have been sold and the development has reached critical mass.

Once you have selected your home, you will be able to express your personal taste in your choice of finishes and an extensive range of customised options is available.

All ground floor homes will have private gardens for exclusive use, where you can either exercise your green fingers, or make use of the garden services provided by the Body Corporate.

Le Domaine is more than just a place to live. Every endeavour has been made to create an environment that is caring and stimulates mental well being.

dysan1

June 1st, 2005, 10:21 AM

Hey i've been hearing alot about these new lifestlye villages that are planned for the drakensberg and Midlands. They are along the lines of country towns in Europe, where instead of developers just building houses, they now intend developing little villages, with a central area, with local stores and cafes. sounds rather nice. I'm liking the idea of more quaint villages in the berg, for there aint that many at all

HirakataShi

June 1st, 2005, 10:49 PM

Midlands? Why on earth would anyone move there?

clive330

June 2nd, 2005, 01:31 AM

Midlands? Why on earth would anyone move there?

Midlands? really - its a great place to settle down and marry your own sister ;)

No seriously, the Free State is better for that. I lived as a kid in Howick (big town outside Pietermaritzburg). It was a great outdoorsy lifestyle in pretty, rolling hills until I turned 10 and it got boring quickly and we luckily moved back to relative civilisation in Durban.

dysan1

June 2nd, 2005, 10:31 AM

Loads of people retire out there, plus plenty of people in Durban and Joburg have weekend homes up there and as such are now demanding a lifestyle that suits their needs. Personally i LOVE the midlands. So peaceful, so many things to see and do, and a great place to just get away from the city, its only an hour away from durbs.

datilguy

June 2nd, 2005, 08:19 PM

@Clive-

You would literally DIE if you saw where I grew up!;)

dysan1

June 4th, 2005, 12:28 PM

really? sheep.....

dysan1

June 13th, 2005, 11:11 PM

dysan1

June 13th, 2005, 11:18 PM

Developers help unlock urgently needed infrastructure development in Hillcrest

A close working relationship between the eThekwini Municipality and the developers of the Cotswold Downs Golf Estate in Hillcrest has resulted in the country’s first privately owned regional sewerage plant coming on stream in the Upper Highway in June, and a multi-million rand upgrade of major roads.

After months of intensive negotiations, agreement was reached this week between the developers of Le Domaine, the developers of Cotswold Downs and the Metro on the privately built Fischer Road plant, due to be commissioned during June 2005.

The agreement includes the treatment of Le Domaine sewage at the new plant, and according to the developers enables both Cotswold Downs Golf Estate and Le Domaine to continue with confidence.

The sewerage plant being constructed by Cotswold Downs at a cost of R6,5 million will initially service three major developments in Hillcrest – Cotswold Downs Golf Estate with 590 units, Le Domaine a retirement estate for active over 50’s with 680 units and Clifton Hills, which is part of a Redhill development of residential and shopping.

The sewage reticulation plant will, depending on certain requirements and conditions, also be available to take the effluent from other developments in the area. Already Cotswold Downs and Le Domaine are being connected into the system.

Dispelling concerns about the capacity of the sewerage system Andrew Aitken chairman of the Le Domaine Development Company said: “Sewerage treatment for both the Cotswolds and Le Domaine developments is being carefully planned and residents of the Outer West region have no need for concern. In fact, I would say that to suggest otherwise is an insult to the professionalism of highly skilled individuals within the Ethekwini Metro Water and Waste department.

“A contingency plan is also in place should the Fischer Road plant fail for whatever reason so any suggestion that sewerage treatment in the Outer West is not being carefully planned is based on misinformation,” he said.

The new sewerage plant serves two purposes. It will relieve some of the burden on the existing sewerage system and it will provide millions of liters of water for the 18-hole golf course being created at Cotswold Downs, by Peter Matkovich.

The sewerage plant, built to municipal specifications, will purify the water to drinking status and what is not used on the golf course will be returned to the river.

“We have undertaken environmental impact assessments, and worked closely with environmentalists on this project with the intention of restoring the natural wetlands and wildlife habitats that used to exist in the area both on the Cotswold Downs and Le Domaine sites.

“Hillcrest and adjacent area of Waterfall have seen unprecedented growth in the past two years, severely affecting the capacity of the local infrastructure especially the access roads. Aware of the issues we agreed with council to contribute a substantial amount towards the improvement of the major arterial roads in Hillcrest, and we believe the go ahead for this project has been given.

“We understand that in January the municipality approved a R60 million upgrade and widening of the main arterial roads in Hillcrest.”

Initially the project will bring additional traffic lights, turning circles and glide ons followed by the expansion and upgrading of Old Main Road and the expansion of Inanda Road to four lanes of traffic to be completed by June 2007.

“We fully support council in its view that developers should contribute to the improvement in the local infrastructure and that developers should ensure that they as far as possible minimize the impact their developments will have on the environment,” said Aitken.

thryve

June 13th, 2005, 11:19 PM

Reading the adverts depresses me... South Africa is going thru the suburbanization of USA and Canada in the 1980's and 1990's and it started in the 1960's or so.. and I don't see light at the end of this urban planning tunnel... little enclaves like this are socially unhealthy... suburb=crime...

"A Village within A Village"... if Jane Jacobs heard that in her Annex, Toronto home, she would go into a panic attack... or a cardiac arrest!

dysan1

June 13th, 2005, 11:24 PM

are u refering to gowrie?

well that development is just amazing...it has grown the village and given it better sense of place...and it is not fenced in, it is literally a part of nottingham road...and i love it.

thryve

June 13th, 2005, 11:38 PM

By urban planning standards it is such a mistake, though...

dysan1

June 14th, 2005, 04:34 PM

i dont think so at all

dysan1

June 14th, 2005, 10:10 PM

Four new developments for the Drakensberg

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(Sectional Title) There's a buzz of expectation in the property market in the picturesque Southern Drakensberg towns of Underberg and Himeville, where the demand for residential properties in an unspoilt, village atmosphere has taken off in recent years, resulting in properties being purchased sometimes within days of becoming available and vacant land hard to come by.

An unprecedented four new residential developments are being launched, offering eager home buyers and investors a total of almost 40 hectares of prime real estate in a picture perfect scenic environment, report Moira Bath and Angela Walker, joint area principals for Pam Golding Properties, based in Underberg.

Says Bath: "Previously virtually unobtainable - apart from the successful Mountain Airs Village project which was built in 1984 and is fully subscribed - sectional title developments in particular are in huge demand. Now some 103 new residential units are being brought to the market over a two-year period.

"These units will help meet the strong demand for residential accommodation, which is currently in short supply. At present tenants are looking to pay only R1 500 to R1 800 per month and so owners of upmarket properties are reluctant to let for such a poor return on investment.
However, once the new units in the developments become available, this is expected to impact favourably on the rental market. Visitors to the area often prefer to 'test the water' by renting a home for a period of time to ensure this is where they want to stay, and entering a year's lease in a secure complex is bound to be an attractive option for them," she says.

The agency is now marketing units at the new Links Field residential development on an exclusive mandate. There are also sites at three other projects - Fairmount Estate, The Meadows and God's Haven. All four developments have security as a priority, although this area has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.

At Links Field, situated on one hectare of land with spectacular mountain views and 100 metres from the Underberg Country Club and golf course, six sectional title units are selling from R850 000, each with approximately 1300sqm of exclusive use area. Says Walker:

The eight hectare Fairmount Estate, which borders the Underberg golf course, also has exceptional mountain views including Hodgson's Peaks. The land is almost level, which will afford homeowners pleasant walks along the roads of the development, while a water feature will traverse the centre of the land. The 26 homes planned will offer outright ownership of a mini sub measuring 900sqm, and compulsory membership of the Fairmount Estate Homeowners' Association. Prices of the stands start at R285 000.

The proposed designs are ideally suited to its location, however they may be altered to suit the specific requirements of the owners. Buyers have two years to build their homes. A large area surrounding each mini sub will comprise the common property with homes staggered to facilitate each having its own view. The roads are currently under construction. Fifteen sites have already been reserved.

The Meadows, situated on 11 hectares of rolling land bordering the Underberg golf course and farmlands, offers 50 sites ranging from 900-1507sqm and priced from R270 000 to R390 000.
The sites will be freehold title of a mini sub with membership of the homeowners' association, which will manage, control and maintain the common property facilities. Two dams are being constructed within the perimeter of the development, together with a tennis court, swimming pool, clubhouse, children's play area and a 1 500m cycle and running/walking track. There are five basic plans in the style of English country homes, and which may be adapted to suit individual needs.

Fourteen sites have already been reserved. Building must commence within six months of date of registration.

God's Haven is a 22 site sectional title development on 29 hectares with river frontage onto the mighty Umzimkulu River with its own three trout dams. The sites range from 2 554-5 221sqm and price from R525 000 to R625 000. A special design and development guideline has been created wherein the buildings will blend into the surrounding hills and trees. With access to the river and the three dams, and approximately 20 hectares of undeveloped land, the owners will experience a freedom seldom obtained in a secure development. Seven sites have already been reserved. With all the facilities available this development will have special appeal to corporate buyers.

dysan1

June 14th, 2005, 10:41 PM

Hilton property soaring as demand grows
May 4, 2005

By Lesley van Duffelen

For Pietermaritzburg the trek is on, and it is to the north to Hilton and beyond where property is battling to keep up with demand and prices have more than doubled in the past year.

As a satellite suburb (literally 10 minutes up the highway) Hilton seems to have become the step-up market for the city, says Maureen Rowlands of Pam Golding Properties.

First-time home buyers are taking up property, so enabling those homeowners to move up into the next price bracket and they are moving north into a good residential area that is cooler and has no smog, she says.

But it is not only Pietermaritzburg moving north. Andrew Line, principal of Homenet Hilton, says there is huge influx of people from Hillcrest, Kloof and Ballito and a lot of inquiries from Gauteng, the Cape and overseas.

Rowlands says they receive at least six inquiries a day countrywide from people looking to buy property in Hilton, and they are scouring the area for property for developers from as far a field as Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Echoing this, Line says he has had as many inquiries, let alone what his staff have received. "The Midlands is where the demand is," he says, adding that Homenet Hilton has just hooked up with a migration consultant who has clients looking for property in the area.

The result is that prices have soared by more than 200% in some instances and land prices have more than trebled. Giving examples, Line says a piece of land selling for R65 000 three years ago is now selling for R295 000, a house sold for R210 000 three years ago is now R700 000 and the last house in a new development, Chingford, is priced at R930 000 while starting prices were R450 000 in July 2003 when the development was launched.

Developers are doing their best to keep up with demand and in the past 18 months Chaseford, Villa Cortina and Fern Ridge, Garlington, Cherry Mews, Chingford, have been released amounting to about R152 million, and almost all are sold.

Investors are playing a large role in driving the property demand in the area. They make up a quarter of all the deals done by PGP Hilton and a lot of them are youngsters in the 20 to 30 years age group who are working overseas and intend to return to South Africa or just want a foothold in the property market.

Many of them either once schooled or lived in Hilton. "They are pushing prices with their dollars and pounds and are not scared to work hard to pay their way," said Rowlands.

Garlington - an equestrian estate boasting country leisure including walking and hiking trails and a restored wetlands only has xxx properties remaining for sale and already some of the early investors are reselling for a profit.

There are no new units for less than R850 000. Fern Ridge, a complex of 14 duplexes retailing from R935 000, is all but sold out, Villa Cortina priced from R950 000 is sold out and land at Garlington is priced from about R300 000, but with homes, when built, will be worth more than a million rand. Chaseford, which had a starting price of R650 000 18 months ago, is now selling at more than R1 million.

Cherry Mews, launched in January, is being developed on the grounds of the Hilton Hotel and retails from R895 000 for a two-bedroom unit to R930 000 for a three-bed unit. Its concept is a little different in that it is aimed at part-time owners or investors who can lease out the property via the Hilton Hotel.

Expected to be released soon is Toscana Ridge opposite Cowan House. According to its website "the development will offer residents a village atmosphere with shops, cafes and recreational facilities.

In addition it boasts facilities such as exceptional security and wireless connectivity as well as roads and utility services that have been carefully thought out to enhance the overall lifestyle experience."

dysan1

June 18th, 2005, 08:06 PM

Midlands meandering

Kate Witherspoon
Thu, 02 Jun 2005

I’d been planning a weekend away for weeks on end, but after numerous delays we eventually headed for the hills and into 'the country'. The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands — the last outpost of idyllic country living — beckoned hypnotically as the sun descended behind the distant mountains ahead of us.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Midlands Meander has grown beyond all imagining. Hardly recognisable as the rural collection of crafters it once was, today the Meander is a thriving tourist destination and growing at a phenomenal rate. Thankfully though, it has not lost the tranquil atmosphere and peace and quiet that continues to bring people back year after year.

Small crafters, big ambitions
The first route of its kind in the country, the Meander was initially just a small collection of crafters hoping to attract visitors off the beaten track — that well worn road between Johannesburg and Durban. They had no idea of the success that awaited them, and today it boasts an eclectic mix of arts and crafts with a wide range of sporting, environmental and historical attractions.

We left Durban in the mid-afternoon and took a leisurely drive past Pietermaritzburg, Midmar Dam, Balgowen and on to our overnight stop a mere two hours later. Just beyond the Nottingham Road area, about 10 minutes along a dirt road and 100m down a verdant driveway, Thatchings Guest House swung into view.

The epitome of peace and quiet, Thatchings was exactly what the name promised. Whitewashed walls contrasted the rustic, thatched roofs to create a sense of rural tranquillity, all topped off with sweeping views across the still waters of their three dams.

With warm hospitality luxurious rooms, goose down duvets and en-suite bathrooms it made for the perfect overnight stay, and after a few locally brewed beers sampled at their little pub we were definitely feeling like the real world was very far away!

Brilliant sunshine and crisp, cool air sent shivers of excitement down our spines the next morning in anticipation of the day ahead, and after a truly sumptuous breakfast we continued on our merry way.

Cheeses, leather and lavender...

From Thatchings we made our way along the 'real' Meander with its winding roads and undulating countryside, stopping to look at an abundance of places selling anything from cottage furniture to trout fishing essentials to handmade leather shoes.

Well worth visiting is Swissland Cheese. Located at the very top of a rather roughly hewn road you’re rewarded with magnificent views across the valley and the chance to relax with a picnic tray of assorted goat’s cheeses — a gastronomic indulgence!

Further down the road you’ll find Jim Green Footwear, the home of well made, hard wearing leather footwear and belts. It is one of a number of handmade leather goods stores, such as the well-known Groundcover, that have sprung up in the area and developed a loyal following of regular customers.

Also on the Meander is Rawdons Hotel, a perennial favourite with visitors to the Midlands with its peaceful surrounds and longstanding reputation for excellence. Although given our experience at teatime, I was left wondering why, as burnt food, compounded by appalling service, doesn’t score many points in my book.

Right next door though you’ll find the Nottingham Road Brewing Company. A rustic brewery producing some of the best tasting beers you’re yet to enjoy — this is a definite 'must' on the Midlands Meander. Taste a Whistling Weasel Pale Ale, a Pickled Pig Porter or a Tiddly Toad Lager and make sure you’ve booked accommodation nearby!

We managed to avoid the evils of alcohol (although we did buy a few one litre bottles to take with us!) and made our way to Barrett's Country House in Dargle. As we approached the farm, the main house stood out white and stark against the burnt oranges of the dry winter landscape, evoking thoughts of colonial-style lodgings at their best.

Our room was at the end of a gently climbing pathway at the top of a hill. A bit out of breath already, we were left speechless as we enjoyed the most beautiful view out across a sweeping valley, kissed with the golden light of the setting sun.

The kitchen at Barretts has already received a number of complimentary mentions by Durban’s most respected food critic, Anne Stevens, and we were not to be disappointed. A rich, creamy butternut soup was the perfect starter on the chill winter’s night, while the local speciality, trout, was cooked to perfection and literally melted in the mouth.

Master craftsmen on the Dargle route

Staying on the Dargle route the next morning, we set out with great expectations as this area in particular is said to be home to some of the best stores and master craftsmen on the Meander.

Set in a tiny wooden hut surrounded by lavender fields, The Lavender Company offers natural lavender, tea tree and geranium products such as heavenly bath milks, creamy soaps, scented bath crystals and enriching body lotions, as well as lavender plants to grow at home.

The Woodturner & Hampden Inc. was another indulgent sensory experience in its own right — the earthy smell of wood, natural glowing tones, silky smooth textures and wonderfully organic shapes. Although slightly more expensive than the average wares on the Meander, father and son team John and Andrew Early produce exquisite functional art from that s worth every cent.

Reluctantly heading back to Durban, we made one last stop at the Dargle Arms for lunch and soaked up the sun and atmosphere at this quaint, early 1900's inn before heading for the highway and modern civilisation.

We left the Midlands Meander feeling rejuvenated and ready to face the pressures of city life, albeit with great reluctance.

dysan1

June 30th, 2005, 08:30 PM

"new" Residential Land Fuels Hillcrest Growth April 2005

Home owners are capitalising on the ongoing demand for residential land in Hillcrest by sub dividing their properties and in so doing, putting hundreds of thousands of rands profit in their pockets.

According to local real estate expert Patrick Davison, whose company Progressive Realty is a member of the 200 strong National Referral Network (NRN), while residential buying activity in many other suburbs is dependent on the availability of second hand stock, Hillcrest"s residential sector is being buoyed by a steady trickle of "new" land on to the market.

Davison, who believes that the price boom in the second hand housing market has ended, said that house prices had firmed in Hillcrest and that annual growth had slowed from last year"s 30 percent to a more realistic and sustainable 15 to 20 percent this year. However, he added, growth in Hillcrest"s vacant land sector showed no sign of slowing as more and more brand new sub divisions made their way on to the market.

People were increasingly embracing the concept of building their own homes, he said, despite the fact that it was about 25 percent more expensive to build than to buy an existing home. According to Davison, the cost to build an "average home" in Hillcrest is now in excess of R1 million, allowing R450 000 for a half acre of land (2 000 square metres) and a conservative R4 000 per square metre for a 150 square metre house.

Fueling the area"s residential growth and its resultant demand for property, said Davison further, was the strengthening of its commercial and retail sector in the form of office parks and shopping centres. "The one sector is feeding the other," he said, noting that there was a strong trend for people to relocate from other areas to Hillcrest, not only because of its fine schools but also in order to be able to work closer to home. "Entrepreneurs and employees alike are attracted to Hillcrest by the thought of being able to work in its central business area and live close by, rather than having to commute long distances every day."

Refuting the possibility that growth would slow as availability dried up or the minimum size of sub divisions changed, as had been proposed by the local authority, Davison said that growth was already moving northwards into the corridor between Hillcrest and Pietermaritzburg. "The future will see one continuous residential and commercial area," he predicted.

Mike Bennett, NRN member and director of the Proprop Group concurred, saying that any land that came on to their books was sold within days as a result of the huge and ongoing demand. "There are small, four to six unit developments springing up all over the place and we get phone calls daily from prospective developers looking for high density land. Many home owners are talking to their neighbours about exploring the possibility of consolidating their plots and in so doing, creating a piece of land big enough to sub divide into three. Land is an all-time premium, especially in the central areas near the work place," he said.

thryve

July 2nd, 2005, 12:24 AM

Any developments in other towns, cities and provinces can be posted in this thread.

thryve

July 2nd, 2005, 01:05 AM

The East London beachfront is to receive a major facelift with the construction of an R8 million shopping centre on vacant land next to the Osner Hotel.

By Ayanda Salayedwa
The East London beachfront is to receive a major facelift with the construction of an R8 million shopping centre on vacant land next to the Osner Hotel.

The multi-storey centre will feature a liquor store, a supermarket, other line shops and a roadhouse which will resemble a lighthouse.

Revealing the plans, Avril Kaschula, managing director of Kat Leisure and director of SWS Retailers, said building had already started and it was hoped the centre would be finished by March.

The centre will be owned by Osner Investments and the tenant for the entire centre will be Kat Leisure, which recently acquired 66 percent majority share of SWS Retailers, which also owns the Southernwood Spar complex.

Kaschula said that, apart from the construction phase, the complex is expected to provide at least 70 permanent jobs.

He said the development was needed because in comparison with other cities, there was still very little that the East London beachfront area was offering in terms of up-market retail and supermarket shopping.

He added that the beachfront area was a node that had huge potential and hoped that such development would encourage further growth.

Kaschula said the investment would mean a lot for the city and would add to its value, as well as providing a service to citizens and, most especially, to tourists.

'The beachfront should be a tourist attraction. There are a lot of holiday flats around here for tourist families and the only thing missing is a convenient shopping centre.'

He added that the complex may open after hours.

The revitalisation of the city's beachfront has been at the forefront of many economic development projects by both local and national stakeholders, aimed at stimulating growth and adding overall value to Buffalo City
__________________

dysan1

July 2nd, 2005, 02:40 PM

ummm.... the nelson mandela metropole only covers pe and uitenhage...east london is a few hundred kilometres away

thryve

July 2nd, 2005, 04:50 PM

I must have been really tired when I did that haha... thanks.

SA BOY

July 3rd, 2005, 09:13 AM

East London is now called Buffalo City. What a joke. I mean its been East London for hundreds of years and now its changed to something that sounds like the wild west aka 1800.
How will anyone talk the city serously if its called Buffalo city?

thryve

July 3rd, 2005, 06:22 PM

Buffalo City... sounds like Buffalo, New York which is a joke of a city.... yes East London is FAR better than Buffalo. And it sure as hell isn't racist.

azzurri.chris

July 3rd, 2005, 06:33 PM

When the hell did they rename it to Buffalo City???

dysan1

July 3rd, 2005, 08:52 PM

Buffalo city is the name of the metro area and council, not the cities name per se

datilguy

July 3rd, 2005, 09:29 PM

Now SP!RE, dont make fun of Buffalo......poor New York......its not their fault the Sabres suck.......u have it good, the Maple Leafs. As far as the name change ....at least its just the council and not the city proper.

GregPz

July 6th, 2005, 10:56 AM

A new provincial legislative building could be on the cards for the Pietermaritzburg city centre.

In a report to the city's executive committee yesterday, Strategic Executive Manager for Economic Development and Growth Rob Haswell quoted the Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Willies Mchunu, as saying that the province was investigating the need for a new building.

Haswell said given the city's "vision and plan for Freedom Square to become the centrepiece of a parliamentary precinct" in the city centre, it urgently needed to formulate a plan to ensure that the new legislature was built in the precinct.

"Any other location would detract from our revitalisation efforts," he said.

With the relocation of taxis and traders to the lower square, enough space might be generated, he said, to accommodate the construction of a multipurpose, integrated complex, which incorporated legislature offices, hotel, restaurant and conference facilities, and underground parking.

The legislature could also be used jointly as a venue for meetings of the Umgungundlovu District Council and the Msunduzi Local Council.

"It's an exciting prospect and we would have the finest centrepiece of any South African city," he said.

A design proposal needed to be formulated before the province and district were engaged.

Haswell said this would cost no more than R90 000.

Sources had mentioned that land in the Town Hill area had also been considered as the site of the new legislature, but this could not be confirmed.

datilguy

July 6th, 2005, 08:14 PM

Is that downtown?

GregPz

July 7th, 2005, 09:59 AM

Is that downtown?

Yip, it's smack in the middle. The area at the moment is a bit of a mess but it's prime land that is just being used as a taxi rank/open wasteland. Since Pmb got its provicial capital status though there's been a lot happening. There's currently over R1 billion in property development and a office space is running short. It should be SA's prettiest city with its fantastic architecture and great setting. It just needs a bit (lot) of TLC. Maritzburg is considered to be the 3rd best preserved centre for victorian architecture. Put this together with its history associated with Ghandi, Mandela etc and I think there's the potential one day to have the CBD as a world heritage site. Ok this may be a bit far fetched but who knows...

thryve

July 7th, 2005, 01:28 PM

No no, we know what you mean. I am quite excited about Pietermartizburg... never hear about it when truly, I think it has alot of potential. You know, let's not forget it... let's try to keep posting updates about it

GregPz

July 7th, 2005, 02:23 PM

Pietermaritzburg has 3 buidlings which are 20F+ I think PE & Bloem also do. Are there any other tall buildings outside of the major metropolitan areas?

dysan1

July 26th, 2005, 01:08 PM

Losing hope in the heartland
7/26/2005

Business Day -

SA’s secondary urban areas deserve closer attention.

Ann Bernstein and Sandy Johnston

SA’s secondary urban areas deserve closer attention. Early last year the Centre for Development and Enterprise embarked on a research project focused on Bloemfontein and Welkom. Our key concern was with the condition of SA’s heartland — provincial cities and towns sandwiched between the dynamics of economic growth in the metropolitan areas and the poverty of rural areas.

It is outside the major metropolitan areas, in the places that are "halfway to everywhere" as Free Staters wryly put it, that development policies are most rigorously tested and deficiencies exposed. It is for this reason that we believe our findings and recommendations are of national, not merely local, significance.

In Bloemfontein, a comparison of the 1996 and 2001 census results show a city whose total population has risen from 603704 to 645441. The African proportion has increased, with other population groups static, except for whites, who are leaving. Economic growth is stagnating, unemployment is rising, with a brain drain of young, educated people.

There has been a spatial redistribution of growth in the city and a growing disjuncture between private and public growth initiatives. Enterprise formation, private development and investment are now taking place almost exclusively in the western and northern suburbs, while public-spending priorities are largely in neglected former black townships of the southeast, and the official development plan prioritises the rehabilitation of the central business district.

Overall prospects of development are clouded by a sense of marginalisation, a "branch economy" with little local capital formation. Over the past decade, foreign investment in manufacturing (textiles) in the region has declined.

Bloemfontein seems unable to deliver on people’s aspirations largely because of a lack of synergy between public and private sectors. In this respect, it is not unique. There is a wider collective despondency about the nature of the challenges, which are the challenges of "middle SA". These include: geographical isolation; slow, jobless economic growth; little external or local fixed investment; incomplete racial reconciliation, and emigration or internal migration of the young and smart.

This diagnosis does not portend well for the city or the province. The critical concerns for Bloemfontein cannot simply be those of coping; they must be issues of national and global competitiveness in common with other similarly sized and located cities worldwide.

In Welkom, both population and confidence are shrinking. On most economic indicators it is the consistently worst performing urban area in SA, a feature mitigated slightly by some economic dynamism in selected "new economy" areas.

One trend in Welkom is so dominant that it dwarfs all others — the decline in cost-effective gold mining, on which the town’s economy was founded.

In differing ways, both case studies show how difficult it is to adapt to challenges and overcome vulnerabilities to changing trajectories of economic development. Stakeholders in both areas seem aware of the problems. Plans have been produced at provincial and municipal level in response to government devolution of responsibility for development.

However, such planning has been slow to produce results. Our interviews with civic, business and government leaders revealed a lack of synergy between public and private sectors and the absence of a common understanding of growth. Local business organisations are too concerned with political priorities at the expense of growth and developmental initiatives, while political leadership does not fully understand what is needed if the private sector is to create jobs.

The different aspects of implementation are not being handled effectively. There is no real common vision of growth or agreed programme of action and prioritisation among the key role players, and little effective involvement by provincial or national government.

Our reluctant but inescapable assessment is that there is little prospect of achieving the kind of growth needed in either of these two cities or in many others across SA. There is a missing link in development strategy, namely genuine trust between public and private sectors and a collaborative mind-set.

Bernstein is executive director and Dr Johnston is senior associate at the Centre for Development and Enterprise. This article is based on a new publication by the centre: Growth and Development in SA’s Heartland — silence, exit and voice in the Free State.

dysan1

August 2nd, 2005, 07:17 PM

Eastern Cape reports upper-end market stand off

(Eastern Cape) As in most parts of the country a price driven standoff, fuelled in part by obliviously optimistic seller and determined buyer, has surfaced to slow residential property sales in the Eastern Cape.

Rudi Botha, CEO of mortgage originator PA BetterBond, says the trend is national and in part a hangover from the frenzied selling of the past two years during which sellers thought of a number and buyers carried along on the same wave of euphoria, happily paid the asking price.

But while sky-rocketing prices and sheer affordability has brought the curtain firmly down on many buyers’ ambitions, this message it seems, according to Botha, has still to reach the majority of sellers.

With few exceptions, Botha notes the price resistance, which is in the upper end of the market, is in advanced stages of shifting market dominance from the seller to the buyer and he expects the trend to continue, but remain restricted to the market’s top-end. His reasoning is based on the huge interest still grinding away in the lower to lower-middle markets, which he foresees underpinning the middle market.

This view is confirmed by Marion Engelbrecht, director at Independent Property Consultants (IPC) in Port Elizabeth, and John Cooper, Chas Everitt International franchisee for Jeffreys Bay, who both report a downturn in their respective market’s top price range. In Port Elizabeth’s case this is above the R1,5 million mark, according to Engelbrecht, who also stresses sales are still taking place in this price range, but final selling price is usually at the buyer’s contrivance.

The city’s middle and lower markets remain active, but slightly quieter in keeping with the seasonal downturn, which in IPC’s case, has been marginally better than this time last year.

Both Cooper and Engelbrecht confirm good supply in the number of serious and market savvy buyers throughout the region with a common determination not to pay “over the top” prices. Cooper, whose franchise covers the areas of Jeffrey’s Bay, St Francis Bay and Cape St Francis says, the attitude is endemic throughout the region and largely responsible for a stock build up.

He advises sellers not to under estimate the depth of resistance to overpriced homes, warning them that a ten percent too high asking price could mean a six-month wait to sell their home. “Some realisation among owners wanting to sell urgently is taking place and these homes are moving quickly, but the key is to list at the right price, not playing about with it later, because buyers, unlike the past, are interpreting downward price adjustments as that of a desperate seller and making silly offers.

Cooper has strong advice for agents urging them to be brutally frank in briefing sellers on the true market worth of their homes. “Too often we’re dictated by sellers to the point of valuing their property at the price they want to hear, rather than hurt their feelings.”

He also scoffs at the trend of blaming sellers for overpricing. “It’s absolute nonsense, sellers are far too market educated to overprice their homes, the fault lies with agents failing firstly to prove through a comparative market analysis the property’s worth and secondly listing a property they know is overpriced.”

Engelbrecht puts the current market entry for townhouses in Port Elizabeth at R400 000 and R600 000 for single dwelling in the city’s middle class suburbs such as Newton Park and Cotswolds.

Both agents report no deceleration in the number of new developments under construction. But Cooper airs some concern that new units coming on stream in St Francis Bay on land purchased recently may lack the competitive pricing of units also being launched but built on land purchased at much lower prices before the boom.

Pule

August 9th, 2005, 11:36 AM

Polokwane leads the way

Mike Aldridge

Polokwane Municipality was established in December 2000, having been constituted from five previously separate municipalities. That fact alone is an indication of the scale of the challenges the new council has to face.

One of the major problems that the new Municipality inherited from the past was between 160-170 rural villages that lacked many essential services such as running water, electricity and proper roads.

The Council’s first challenge was to find the resources that would enable it to establish those basic services. Relates Polokwane Mayor Thabo Makunyane, “The priority was running water, so over the past four years we have budgeted over R232m for water. I think we have succeeded in bringing most of the villages up to RDP standards.”

Adequate roads are also needed to link the villages to the outside world. The Municipality has concentrated on upgrading and maintaining gravel access roads, and this is complemented by the provincial programme to tar some of the major roads.
Economic development
The major challenges for Polokwane are unemployment and local economic development. “These are areas where we have various programmes,” says Makunyane. “The first of these is attracting investment. To a large extent we have succeeded – in the past five years there has been a lot of investment coming into Polokwane.

“Then there is our support for SMMEs. We have created an entrepreneur development project called Itsoseng Centre. There are so many people working in their back yards, and at Itsoseng they are given training in how to run a business. At present, we have over 60 small businesses operating from that centre. In some of our smaller contracts, we give them preference in the hope that as they grow, they will create more jobs.”

Local Government has been given the critical task of encouraging public participation in development. Polokwane Municipality has established a unique unit that works with community development projects. The unit first establishes a project steering committee to represent the community, and then engages the community on an ongoing basis to ensure that people participate in the project, and that it meets local needs.

Another developmental area is the transformation of the Municipality itself. Makunyane recounts that the Municipality faces the challenge of transforming itself into an organisation that works with people rather than for them.

“We are leading the pack in that respect,” he says. “Many municipalities don’t even have a public participation unit – we employ people on a full time basis to work with councillors on the ground.”

Business confidence
Following this methodology has achieved remarkable results for the municipality. It has attracted significant investments to the region, which Makunyane interprets as an indication of the growing confidence the business sector feels in the Municipality. Polokwane has attracted over R200m in private sector investments over the past five years, which translates into significant job creation spin-offs.

Polokwane also enjoys the support of its major stakeholders, the citizens of its municipal region. This can be seen in the fact that while other municipalities struggle with collections, Polokwane’s citizens maintain their payments of municipal rates and taxes.

“We have managed to maintain our collection rate in the upper 90 percentile in the last financial period,” asserts Makunyane. “People in the city and in the township are actually seeing what their money is doing.

“The quality of services we have maintained, and the collection rate, have to do with the confidence people have in the quality of service they receive. They see continuous improvement every year.”

Customer service
For Polokwane, customer service lies at the core of the Municipal Institution. All front line municipal staff have to undergo training on Batho Pele; National Government’s policy of putting people first.

The council is working hard to assure the region’s future. It has a priority to establish Polokwane as a trading hub for the countries to the north – Zimbabwe and Botswana – because many foreign nationals come to shop in the city. It is well situated in the heart of the Province, equidistant from centres such as Messina and Pretoria.

“All the roads in the Province pass through Polokwane,” observes Makunyane proudly, “so that linkage has been identified in the provincial growth and development strategy because it is very accessible via road, rail and air.

“We also have to attract more investment in shopping facilities. We are having discussions about the expansion of the existing mall into a regional mall, and another group is interested in establishing a second mall.

Sporting hub
“The other area with potential is in Polokwane becoming a sporting hub. We have the best sporting facilities in the Province. For instance, the Peter Mokaba stadium is a prospective host of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We are also building an indoor stadium in Seshego. The Ngoako Ramathlodi indoor sports arena, which would be similar to the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg.”

Development of such sporting facilities will be a boon for local athletes, but they will also enable Polokwane to attract more visitors, and to leverage this influx for other commercial purposes. Makunyane explains that as greater numbers of people come into Polokwane, the aim is to enrich their experience so that they want to come back again. “We want to encourage the development of restaurants and other lifestyle facilities, and also other recreation facilities,” he adds.

Mokaba stadium is a prospective host of the 2010 Soccer World Cup

There are many opportunities for encouraging tourism in Polokwane, besides the sport tourism that its prime sporting facilities can bring. Cultural amenities include an environmental training centre at a nearby game reserve. There is also an adjacent archeological site where the Municipality is developing tourist facilities.

“We hope that in the future we will be able to house the ‘golden rhino’ that was discovered in Mapungubwe in the 1920s,” recounts Makunyane. “Every December there is a big Mapungubwe Festival that also comes to Polokwane.”

The festival draws participants from Limpopo’s very diverse population with its varied cultures such as Sotho, Venda, Shangaan and Afrikaner. Everything from music to food and art is on tap, and the emphasis is on bringing people together to get involved in the festivities.

Infrastructure
Today the City’s transport infrastructure is up to scratch, and this provides a number of advantages. As social facilities such as shops, schools and churches within the city precinct are easily accessible, so the city will not only be able to cater for more residents, but it will also attract more investment.

That investment is already beginning to flow into the region. Limpopo has become a significant player in the platinum mining sector, and although the mines are not situated in Polokwane, the City does play host to a platinum smelter. The logistics suppliers for the smelter and the mines are locating their operations in Polokwane, bringing both jobs and investment to the area.

The new-look Polokwane has become a vibrant cultural and economic hub for its region. The Municipality is succeeding in drawing people into development projects where they can learn to support themselves, in the context of a growing economy that is bringing new prosperity to the district.

“I feel very optimistic about the future,” says Makunyane warmly. “We are working together with business, local communities and with other spheres of Government, and together we are building a winning City.”

SA BOY

August 9th, 2005, 11:41 AM

Pietermaritzburg has 3 buidlings which are 20F+ I think PE & Bloem also do. Are there any other tall buildings outside of the major metropolitan areas?
Greg
I only have 2 listed on emporis as I couldend find any more but I would love to get pics of them iof anyone goes to maritzburg any time. I know there are a few over 12f which should be on emporis.

As for other cities, there are 2 in Umtata that are over 20F as well as 1 big one in Bishu thats about 24F.

Pule

August 9th, 2005, 12:26 PM

The Emfuleni Estate, nestled on the lush shores of the Vaal River, less than an hour from Johannesburg International Airport, will promote a unique waterfront lifestyle open to those that want the rare opportunity to live alongside the Vaal River and enjoy excellent water frontage and river views. The waterfront estate will be developed in such a manner that it will set new benchmarks in the industry, which could create significant “address value”

In the past few decades many cities have "rediscovered" their waterfronts with the re-development transforming them from embarrassing eyesores into prestigious commercial, retail and residential developments with great character and "trendy" appeal. Stretching all along the riverfront, ensuring access for all residents, this open space will be linked with the proposed health spa, wellness centre and marina, forming a continuous open space system that will, in effect, function as an urban promenade. This development will set new benchmarks for the property industry in Emfuleni, leading the way to create a “waterfront on the riverfront at Emfuleni”.

The development proposals have been divided into five zones

Zone 1, Single Residential Area - Situated on the western side of the property, bordering a wetland area and the open space system that links the property from the east to the west along the Vaal River. This area is 12,000 ha in extent, accommodating 130 single residential stands ranging in size from 600 m2 to 800 m2 with an architectural theme introduced to bind and harmonise the development.

Zone 2, Planned Unit Development Area - The cabana style apartments will be developed on the river frontage. An area of 1,6 ha has been provided for, accommodating 60 units ranging in size from 120m2 to 250m2.
Zone 3, Health Spa - The health spa will comprise 35 rooms, stretching over 6,500m2, situated on the eastern side of the property bordering the spine park, with uninterrupted views of the river.

Zone 4, Marina and Boathouse - A marina and waterfront development consisting of approximately 3,000m2 of retail space together with a larger space for walkways and jetties will function as a waterfront on the river and will be primarily aimed at accommodating the needs of the homeowners within the Emfuleni area as well as residents on the estate. The total area will amount to 7,400m2.

Zone 5, Office Park - The office park, situated on the eastern boundary of the property and adjoining the casino, will consist of 5 double story blocks of 400m2 total floor area each, with 200m2 of office space per floor.

A high degree of aesthetic integrity and harmony, both with the surrounding environment and with other built elements within the estate will be maintained, whilst still permitting the expression of a degree of individuality and personality, without which the estate would appear sterile and contrived.

Emfuleni Riverside Development comprises

Phase 1A
36 plots
Phase 1B
39 plots
Phase 1C
55 plots
Phase 2 60 units

Zone 1 Single Residential Area - 130 units
Zone 2 Planned Unit Development Area - 60 units
Zone 3 Health Spa - 35 rooms
Zone 4 Marina and Boathouse - 3000m2
Zone 5 Office Park - 2000m2

Pule

August 9th, 2005, 12:40 PM

Sad News

The proposed limits for new developments have been cut so closely arround Bloemfontein that many experts predict a grim future for property developments in this central South African city.

New developments will only be allowed inside this development boundary, despite many millions that have already been invested in land and new infrastructue that fall outside the demarcated area. Many developers who got the go-ahead for new developments outside the new limits just last year, are now struggling to get the proposed developments approved by the town-council.

The Plan
The apparent plan with the new town development framework is to restrict residential property developments to the west of the city in areas such as Rayton, Spitskop, Bainsvlei and Groenvlei, and force the people of Bloemfontein to buy inside the existing city to try and force a city-centre revival, or to move and develop to the east.

The shunning and abandonment of the city-centre had been a concern to most residents of the city years ago, when relatively small improvements and investments in parking, policing and management could have prevented this trend. But numerous calls for action to the Mangaung municipality and town-counsil were ignored.

When buildings that used to house profitable businesses were demoished and turned into rough earth plots, and a new city-centre arose to the west, in the Westdene and Brandwag suburbs, the Mangaung town-council seems to have been sleeping. Only now the town-council awakes and comes to the party with a disasterous plan to restrict the natural development of the city.

A revival of the city-centre is very doubtful no matter what measures are implemented, seeing as though the whole situation has changed in the meantime.

Critising The Plan
Any responsible Bloemfontein resident would be in favour of social equity and a people-approach where allocation of land for residential property development is concerned. But such an approach has to take other relevant factors such as market forces into account.

If market forces are not taken into account, how can the Mangaung town-council expect developers to be willing buyers for property that is not in demand?

Any fool can see that there is a housing shortage in Bloemfontein. Thousands of squatters (or informal settlers) are still in need of housing, but there is a shortage of housing in other areas as well, as high property prices prove. Does the council intend, in the new town development framework, to steal from Peter to feed Paul?

Another question that needs asking; where in the east does the council expect Bloemfontein to develop? The development boundary is drawn so close around the Bloemfontein Airport, industrial areas, and agricultural plots (that have been high crime areas for ages because of the proximity of a largely unemployed squatter population), where do they want developers to gamble their millions?

Will the Mangaung town-council fund the infrustructure and development of erven in those areas?

Consequences Of Development Restrictions
If the proposed town development framework gets accepted and implemented, there will hardly be anything for the Bloemfontein town planners to plan!

Property developers will turn elsewhere, to cities that want to grow, and spend their development money there. Much needed employment opportunities will disappear, retail spending will decrease and every resident of Bloemfontein will lose.

Before These Development Restrictions
Langenhoven Park, a popular young suburb to the west of Bloemfontein, has been the last area where anyone could buy vacant plots for residential property in many years. And that said, those plots have been sold out, built on and populated for many years already!

A notice in the Bloemfontein Civic Centre proclaims to any would-be erf buyer that the city has no erf available. In fact, that notice has been shouting that disturbing message for so long, I am surprised that the council hasn't commissioned a permanent mural to that effect!

Bloemfontein is still expanding, and property prices in the city has already sky-rocketed in the past three years. This development policy of the Mangaung town-council will result in ever higher property prices, because it will increase the competition for the limited number of existing properties in Bloemfontein.

Many of the larger plots in the city has already been subdivided or used for sectional title duet developments.

Will the infrastucture in these areas be able to accommodate a doubling in the number of properties? Apparently not, as the electrical grid in the Universitas area recently had to be upgraded to compensate for the hightened electricity demand of such developments and the proliferation of student houses and communes.

Bloemfontein Town-Council Choking Development
The proposed restrictions to development contained in the new town development framework for Mangaung cannot be to the benefit of the Bloemfontein community. We can only pray that the Mangaung city-counsil reconsiders.

Wa lala wa sala! Mangaung and the whole of the Motheo District is in danger of being left behind - again.

GregPz

August 9th, 2005, 03:12 PM

Greg
I only have 2 listed on emporis as I couldend find any more but I would love to get pics of them iof anyone goes to maritzburg any time. I know there are a few over 12f which should be on emporis.

As for other cities, there are 2 in Umtata that are over 20F as well as 1 big one in Bishu thats about 24F.

Yeah I forgot about Umtata and didn't know about the one in Bisho.

I'm in Pmb quite often so I'll take some pics. In the meantime here's some I found on the web (no highrises). Does show some of the beautiful Victorian architecture there though.

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/4529/pmb14sz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7241/pmb32rl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5348/pmb42kr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/4630/pmb52yy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/2213/pmb63lb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/7006/pmb78ga.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6420/pmb28cw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6665/pmb83wf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

SA BOY

August 9th, 2005, 03:23 PM

Greg
Thanx mate appreciate any help in getting info for Emporis. Whats that large shopping centre? is that the one that was always planned for the old brick factory site opposite the Royal show

GregPz

August 9th, 2005, 04:07 PM

Yip, that's the one. It's doing really well and there's already expansion plans. www.midlandsmall.co.za

dysan1

August 9th, 2005, 09:16 PM

its been around for a few years now giles. adding an edgars and some other things i think...about 10000m2

datilguy

August 10th, 2005, 01:48 AM

2 in Umtata over 20 floors and 1 in Bisho over 24 floors!?! WOW! I never would have thought that! We HAVE to see them! Damn shame news for Bloemfontein.......like Free-State cities need MORE drawbacks.

thryve

August 10th, 2005, 03:52 AM

YAY Pmb! Glad to see some pics! I hate how only big cities get all the attention. It seems no matter where in the world you are, if you don't live in a big city, there's a "theres nothing exciting about your life" perception and even the most urban and neat little towns and cities get ignored because they aren't a million people large. I just get frustrated by it. Wish I knew how to word it bettre.

Pieter_Van_Classen

August 29th, 2005, 02:49 PM

Here are a few Port Elizabeth pics.

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/6974/18269413fh.th.jpg (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=18269413fh.jpg)

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/7538/18269516ro.th.jpg (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=18269516ro.jpg)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8307/p1110924peroads1im.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/3473/pehwy4hk.th.jpg (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pehwy4hk.jpg)

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/5411/18269715vh.th.jpg (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=18269715vh.jpg)

This is the Freedom Monument

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4417/winner0ll.th.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/my.php?image=winner0ll.jpg)

This is East London

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/8536/elnight5re.th.jpg (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=elnight5re.jpg)

AAS

August 29th, 2005, 11:01 PM

WOW Pietermaritzburg looks amazing, incredibly european, and that new shopping centre looks huge and very modern, much better than most american shopping centres!

dysan1

August 29th, 2005, 11:14 PM

the mall aint actually that big, its only 40 000m2, but they are expanding to about 52000m2...so half the size of Sandton, Gateway, Canal Walk.

PMB is a great place in terms of architecture and has some great parks, but besides the scenery its not that exciting. they all tend to take the 45min drive to Durbs over the wknd to party

HirakataShi

August 30th, 2005, 01:02 AM

Polokwane feels like a large village. Everyone is so courteous, and there are churches all over the place (definately one of the more religious cities in ZA). People dress quite modestly and most of the stores are mom-and-pop shops.

SA BOY

August 30th, 2005, 12:35 PM

anyone got maritzburg building pics for me?? When i left SA the midlands mall was only being considered. there was another one just past that on the right hand side of the N3 as you get to town hill

dysan1

August 30th, 2005, 08:23 PM

cascades! its still there! struggled when midlands mall opened, lost alot of customers and tenents, but it has now picked up again and is full once more. its trying to be more upmarket and convience than midlands mall

dysan1

September 11th, 2005, 05:14 PM

Black Housing Boom in PMB
08 September 2005

Almost 45% Of All Homes Traded In Pietermaritzburg Since The Beginning Of The Year Have Been Bought By Black Buyers To Underline A Rapidly Transforming Residential Landscape.

The Natal Witness Reported That All Seven Estate Agencies Canvassed Were Able To Confirm A Growing Black Buying Market That Is Driven By Pietermaritzburg's Economic Boom And An Influx Of Civil Servants In The Wake Of Its Capital City Status.

The Proportion Of Black Buyers Vary From Agency To Agency, Some Reporting Lows Of 20% And 25% (Pam Golding Properties And Homenet Hilton Respectively) And A High Of 70% By Fortmann Mndeni.

Significantly, The Agencies Serving The Entire Market Reported A Black Buyers' Ratio Of Between 40% And 56%.

Natal Property Said 40% Of Its Trade Was To Black Buyers, Remax Midlands (42%), Maxprop (50%) And Homenet Ed Patrick (56%).

It Would Also Seem That Black Buyers Over The Past Eight Months Have Invested Throughout The City, To Render Stereotypical Racial Differentiations Increasingly Obsolete.

Agencies Reported Sales To Black Buyers In All The City's Suburbs, Suggesting A Smooth Racial Integration With Investment Decisions Being Underpinned By Income And Lifestyle.

David Patrick, A Partner In Homenet Ed Patrick, Said The Change In Demographic Buying Trends Has Happened Harmoniously Over A Period Of Time.

"The Change Has Crept Up On Us, And We Were Quite Surprised Ourselves At The High Ratio," He Said.

Patrick Pointed Out That The Agency's Involvement In Developments At Signall Hill And Richmond Crest Has Influenced The Numbers.

"Ninety Percent Of The Sales At Richmond Crest Were To Emerging Buyers, Many Of Them New Entrants To The Market," He Said.

It Would Seem That Most Black Buyers Do Come To Terms With The Cultural Differences In Their New Neighbourhoods, With Only A Minority Selling Up.

"New Residents Often Are Not Prepared For The Changes Awaiting Them, From Enrolling Children In A New, Possibly More Expensive School, To A New Shopping Routine In An Unfamiliar Environment," Said Andy Anderson On Behalf Of Maxprop.

"Only In Isolated Cases Do Buyers Actually Sell Up In Their Adopted Areas To Move Back To A More Culturally Ambient Suburb," Said Anderson.

The Ascendancy Of The Black Middle Class In Pietermaritzburg Is A Pattern Reflected Elsewhere In The Country, According To Unisa's Bureau Of Market Research, Which Said That Almost 40% Of The 20% Highest Income Earning Category Of Sa Households Are Black.

The Notion Of Homeownership As A Wealth Generator Is Well Entrenched Among Previously Disadvantaged Communities, And Historically Segregated Suburbs Are Not Excluded From Buying Activity.

For This Reason, Remax Midlands Has Opened A Third Branch In Old Greytown Road In Raisethorpe, Headed By Broker/Manager Shanjay Maharaj.

According To Maharaj, The First Cycle Of Ownership For Black Buyers Who Entered The Market Soon After Democracy Is Now Complete.

"Typically, This Progression Would Entail Progressive Movement Through Suburbs Such As Northdale [Entry Level], Then Alandale To Hayfields And Finally To Upmarket Suburbs Such As Montrose Or Mountain Rise," He Said.

Moreover, Agencies Do Not Market Properties To Prospective Buyers On Any Other Basis Than The Intrinsic Value Of A House.

"Obviously A Range Of Factors Will Influence What Constitutes Value, But The Fact Is The Industry Looks At The Market In Terms Of Income, Affordability And Aspirational Mobility," Said Pam Golding Properties Principal Barbara Becker.

"What Counts Is Not The Colour Of A Prospective Buyer, But The Saleability Of A Property."

SA BOY

September 12th, 2005, 01:23 PM

howe much of a boom will maritzburg experience? I mean its always had a civil service so to speak of and I dont see much in the way of commercial or new build happening in the CBD, maybe more higher rise resi towers due to the influx of people but does it have a big future?

dysan1

September 12th, 2005, 05:30 PM

Invest in pmb is at record levels! It is recieving property invest in the region of R2 billion. and if the waterfront gets underway that will lead to R2 billion more.

Plus industrial investment in smelters, alluminum plants and forestry related industries are in the region of R5 billion.

Commercially alot of work is taking place in the city for the kzn government and many refurb are underway. All in all it looks VERY bright for PMB!!!!

dysan1

September 12th, 2005, 05:33 PM

dont forget that pmb went bellies up when the legislature left to go to ulundi, so the massive influx of people now is greatly needed. It is one of the fastest growing towns in SA.

GregPz

September 13th, 2005, 03:08 PM

Maritzburg CBD is getting the Freedom square development which will included as multipurpose arena - lot's of glass so may stick out like a sore thumb but we'll see. Here's an article on a new park for the CBD (we need more of these!!)

African-style park proposed for city centre

New York has Central Park. London has Hyde Park. Now Pietermaritzburg looks set to boast its own African-style Msunduzi Park between the almost-completed children's library and the city hall.

Local landscapers have been urged to come up with creative ways to turn the concept into reality.

That is, if Msunduzi strategic executive manager Rob Haswell's vision of a green urban oasis, complete with indigenous trees, fish and birds in the middle of the CBD as an extension of the Freedom Square project, comes to fruition.

Haswell said he is used to seeing raptors harassing pigeons and mynahs around city hall. This got him thinking about the potential for a secure water feature with fish that would attract birdlife to a grassy setting and be an ideal educational venue for story-telling to young pupils.

The project envisages an irregular-shaped watering hole with a shallow and a deep end, preferably with an island in the middle and a waterfall cascade, surrounded by a grassland setting.

"Many African stories revolve around animals at a watering hole so this project would be an extension of the children's library and an ideal forum for story-telling," Haswell said.

But what is to stop the watering hole from being trashed, the fish either stolen or eaten or the whole project ending up as yet another pie-in-the-sky impossibility, critics questioned?

"This is a design, construct and monitor project, which cannot go the way of other fountains," Haswell said.

Haswell added that ecological impact assessment experts and professionals from Umgeni Water have recommended the necessary safeguards.

These include indigenous fish and plants, a palisade fence and gate, and regular maintenance of a biological pump and filter.

GregPz

September 13th, 2005, 03:13 PM

Found this article while scanning the Witness newspaper. It's a year old but makes for interesting reading.

Mayor wants world heritage status for city

MSUNDUZI Mayor Hloni Zondi has announced his intention to apply for central Pietermaritzburg to be declared a World Heritage Site (WHS).

Speaking at a welcome reception for Indian Vice President Bairon Singh Shekhwat, Zondi said both the Pietermaritzburg railway station and the city hall are sites of international cultural significance.

He invited tenders from people who wish to help him execute this application.

KwaZulu-Natal's representative on the World Heritage Committee, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife head of conservation and planning Roger Porter, said WHS applications are handled by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and that an initial application to place Pietermaritzburg on the list of World Heritage Sites must first be made.

This would then be sent to the national Environment Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, for endorsement, before being sent off to the World Heritage Centre in Paris for approval.

"This is a long, tedious process and it could take a long time, but if our application is successful, we will be placed among the ranks of the Taj Mahal and other heritage sites," said Porter.

There are two types of heritage sites - natural and cultural.

A consideration of Pietermaritzburg's cultural heritage would take into consideration the Victorian architecture of both the station and the city hall.

"The architecture on these buildings will come up against the best Victorian architecture in the world, and it has to be the best of the lot in order to be declared a World Heritage Site," said Porter.

Should Pietermaritzburg become a WHS, it would share the limelight with other South African sites like the uKhahlamba/Drakensberg, St Lucia and Robben Island.

Strategic executive manager of Economic Development and Growth, Rob Haswell said Pietermaritzburg is the only city in the world that has such close cultural links with historical icons Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Mandela.

Furthermore, Pietermaritzburg played an exceptional role in South Africa's struggle for freedom and democracy.

"We are aware that this process will take time, but I think that we have an undeniable case. Pietermaritzburg will eventually be a World Heritage Site," said Haswell.

dysan1

September 13th, 2005, 05:20 PM

Its a city with GREAT potential. all those buildings there are AMAZING!!!! If only it cleaned up its image and got more of a buzz!

Pule

September 17th, 2005, 09:50 AM

New Casino for Bloemfontein

I think this Casino was officially opened last thursday.

The casino complex, which will cost R217,5m (US$33.19 million) to develop, is a joint venture between Sun International and its empowerment partner Mangaung Sun.

The complex would comprise an 80-room hotel, 150-seat conference centre, a sports bar, restaurant, children's entertainment area and a 1400m' casino floor with 230 machines and 10 tables.

Visit http://www.suninternational.com/about/default.aspx?Mainframe=bloemupdate.aspx&menuframe=mainmenu.aspx%3fcmsMenu%3d1&picframe=aboutbar.aspx&topframe=maintop.aspx for more news

http://www.suninternational.com/ContentImages/WindPress-big.jpg

datilguy

September 17th, 2005, 04:47 PM

dysan1

September 26th, 2005, 05:30 PM

R150 million Expansion to Tiffendale Ski Resort

A proposed R150 million development of Tiffindell resort is under way and the resort will be closed while work takes place.

Phase 1 of the proposed R150m development means the resort will only be open between December 20 and January 3 and over the Easter weekend, but "the whole new operation will be ready for the snow season next year", Tiffindell's development manager Jenny Bremner said yesterday.

As part of the development two 12-bed chalets were built earlier this year and proved so popular with guests and investors that the 12 to be built in this phase have already been sold.

"Many of them were bought outright and some have sold to syndicates where there are still spaces for investors," Bremner said from Johannesburg.

So far 120 investors have taken advantage of the development.

Investors are being offered six- or 12-bed chalets built at the resort with title deeds to the land.

However, the main thrust of the resort's development will be the expansion of the skiing area from the present 150m slope to more than 10km of ski area at the end of the fourth and final phase.

"The decade of research and experience we have at Tiffindell is being followed by the R150 million expansion of the resort which will ultimately provide 10km of ski runs, more chair lifts, and mountain restaurants.

"The resort will have 1,500 beds on site, with place for 4,000 skiers per day," resort director Ivan van Eck said, adding that in the final phase the resort would have a bubble cable car to take skiers to Ben McDhui peak for a 1,5km-long descent down a choice of about eight pistes.

By the end of the development Van Eck hoped there would be between 75 and 85 chalets at the resort.

Work on phase one, which will be ready by May, will include doubling the ski area with a lift to the top, an extended restaurant area with a new lounge, improved accommodation and facilities and a landing strip 5km from the resort for charter flights, Van Eck added.

Snowmaking will be improved and shops built at the resort.

The company is also selling plots at the resort as well as the chalets.

The chalets are said to provide a return of between 20% and 25% on their R2,1m or R2,5m investment, Bremner said.

The resort had become more popular over the past two years and the development would elevate it to the level of a world class ski resort which would allow the further expansion.

dysan1

September 26th, 2005, 05:33 PM

sounds like it is going to be a fantastic place! bring on shops and restaurants! Think they will need to have a more integrated hotel infrastructure to attract greater numbers of people, not everyone wants to stay in a 6-12 bed chalet!

Pule

September 30th, 2005, 11:01 AM

Well at least SOMETHING is going on in Bloem. Is it actually in Bloemfontein......or is it in Mangaung? It would be great if it was in Mangaung.....much potential. Also I heard rumours that a casino was going up in Shannon, is it this one ^?

BTW Pule, nice to see u again buddy, where u been :)

Its hecticat workmy man and working a minimu of 12hrs a day. I alsohave toworkover the weekend and the skyscrapercity is disabled where I'm working. Otherwise everytime I get a chance I willpopin,like today.

Pule

October 19th, 2005, 12:35 PM

Pam Golding Properties -

The Free State area has been highlighted by real estate group, Pam Golding Properties, as a growth area both in terms of the property market as well as increased market share.

The Free State area has been highlighted by real estate group, Pam Golding Properties, as a growth area both in terms of the property market as well as increased market share. With significant investment in Bloemfontein as a strategic, regional centre, PGP has other existing offices in Bethlehem,

Clarens, Welkom, Henneman, Virginia, Sasolburg, Parys and Denysville, as well as strong farm agent force in the region under Afgri Pam Golding Commercial Farms. The group's strong presence in the region is further entrenched with a number of recent management appointments in some centres, in order to consolidate market leadership in these areas.

Comments Dr Andrew Golding, CE of the PGP group: "Property values in these areas continue to increase due to the demand, and there is an ongoing surge of interest in the leisure and lifestyle second home market in areas such as Clarens, Fouriesburg, Parys and Denysville. Clarens anticipates the launch of a residential golf estate, which will further entrench the appeal of this extremely scenic mountain retreat."

A popular tourist destination close to major cities - some three to four hours from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Durban, Clarens has only approximately 800 residents, most of whose properties have excellent views.

PGP area principals Anne Maree and Odette Parris report that house prices for two to three bedroom homes vary from R650 000 to R1.7 million. Their main market is from Johannesburg buyers, mainly for investment and holiday homes, homes to retire to, or even third homes.

"Vacant land is in high demand, and has seen exceptional growth in value in recent years. For example, stands which just three years ago sold for R45 000 are now selling for R320 000. House prices have also increased significantly with a good quality three bedroom face brick home which sold for R340 000 three years ago now selling for R680 000. Houses with views over the Maluti Mountains sell rapidly, and holiday homes - particularly sandstone, are always in demand but not readily available, as are homes which can be renovated and small cottage type lock up and go properties," says Parris.

PGP Clarens is currently marketing homes at Gino Park, a six unit sectional title development in the Swartland area, where upmarket three bedroom/two bathroom homes with underfloor heating and single garage are selling for just over R1 million. At the Clarens Mountain Estate, PGP are selling 90 stands adjacent to the golf club, ranging from 1200 to 2000sqm priced between R399 000 and R790 000.

In Bloemfontein, PGP area manager Estie Olivier says properties sell across a broad spectrum of prices and areas. "Buyers want value for money, and the main demand for homes is not necessarily for any specific area, but rather across a specific price range eg R600 000 to R850 000 in the south, and R850 000 to R1 million in the north - the latter mainly from out of town buyers. The buy to let market remains strong, and there's a great demand from retirees looking for secure, affordable units. At present, the summer 'buzz' is on the way where more buyers will traditionally enter the market. This is further boosted by the fact that Bloemfontein is perceived to be relatively safe when compared with other cities, with a lower crime rate," she says.

The city's new casino in the south is expected to further increase the demand for homes, while a new shopping centre in Langenhoven Park - a popular area among younger buyers in particular, especially for townhouses, may also impact positively on the residential property market.

The price range of properties available varies considerably from area to area, and good value can still be achieved with neat, well maintained three to four bedroom family homes with swimming pool and entertainment area available in aeras like Universitas and Fichardt Park, priced between R850 000 to R930 000.

In Willows, two bedroom flats and units in complexes, popular among the buy to let market (catering for student accommodation) range from R250 000 to R600 000. At Pentagon Park in the north, three to four bedroom luxury units sell from R850 000 to R1 million, in Universitas in the west, older spacious homes - some with modernised kitchens and bathrooms, with large gardens can be bought from around R780 000 to R1.2 million, while at Fichardt Park in the south, there's a huge demand for freestanding units in the R680 000 to R860 000 price range.

Olivier says in Heuwelsig, where strong annual capital appreciation of homes - averaging at 26 percent - has been achieved since 2001, buyers are currently not prepared to pay in excess of R1.5 million. In some instances, return on investment has been exceptional - a home in Fichardt Park which sold for R355 000 in 2002, recently sold for R860 000.

In economically buoyant Bethlehem, PGP area principal (Mrs) Willi Pienaar says properties overall are experiencing a shortage of supply, particularly in the lower price range. Residential developments are in demand, and selling out rapidly. "In recent years insufficient new homes have been built, resulting in a situation where we are still trying to catch up with the demand. However, in terms of the very top end of the market, buyers are somewhat resistant to unrealistically high priced houses.

"At Loch Athlone Marine Estates, a private security residential estate situated right on Loch Athlone, and incorporating a caravan park, the famous Ship Restaurant, entertainment and games centre and yachting and water sports, the first phase has been sold out and the second phase of all the waterfront stands taken up. Phase three, comprising the marine stands, and phase four of inland stands are also under way, with a few houses already built. A total of 124 stands are being made available at Loch Athlone Marine Estates, with 50 percent being sold as stands, and the balance with completed homes. Prices of the completed homes range from R600 000 to R1.5 million, while the vacant stands range from R150 000 to R360 000.

Homeowners have nine architectural design styles from which to choose," says Pienaar.

"In the Fouriesburg area, the property boom is well under way with at least three new developments in Fouriesburg itself, and another five or six new developments in progress for the area between Fouriesburg and Clarens. Stands in one of the new developments in Fouriesburg - overlooking the Meringskloof holiday resort and Maluti Mountains - have escalated dramatically in value, from selling at R35 000 a year ago, to current prices of R140 000, for example. The Rosendal area is also buoyant with strong sales of vacant stands, and there is a marked trend towards Gauteng buyers seeking a weekend getaway from the cities. Another new residential development is planned for this area. The Paul Roux area is also experiencing strong interest and awareness, with the Sandstone Festival held there each year, and with 17 properties sold in a recent 30-day period alone. Developers are also showing keen interest in this area," says Pienaar.

"A further 16 developments are waiting for approval in the Bethlehem, Fouriesburg and Clarens area. We anticipate that this area, what we call Sandstone Country, will become one of the most sought after regions in South Africa, with affordable prices and breathtaking views - and real European winters."

She says a moratorium has been placed on a large portion of land from Clarens/Golden Gate up to the Ash River and an imaginary line running approximately 10km from Fouriesburg. A government commissioned report which is currently being completed will provide clarity in terms of highlighting areas where new development projects will be allowed, or not, taking into consideration environmental impact studies and the eco-systems of the eastern Free State.

Paulo2004

October 20th, 2005, 04:06 PM

http://www.cozanews.co.za/shared/pic/Vanderbijlpark/user-pics/Vaalgate_johan-smith.jpg

http://www.wheretostay.co.za/goosebay/goosebay1.jpg

http://www.bookinafrica.com/images-product/hotels-southern-sun-riverside-gardens-8655-MAIN.jpg

http://www.bookinafrica.com/images-product/hotels-southern-sun-riverside-sun-8656-MAIN.jpg

http://www.cheap-hotels-in.net/hotel-images/014942a.jpg

http://www.photographersdirect.com/wmimages/pd255381.jpg

http://www.photographersdirect.com/wmimages/pd255386.jpg

datilguy

October 21st, 2005, 07:43 AM

I thought Clarens was more round the 4,000 mark.

thryve

October 22nd, 2005, 02:18 AM

http://www.cozanews.co.za/shared/pic/Vanderbijlpark/user-pics/Vaalgate_johan-smith.jpg ]

Is that a parking garage with retail, I see? If so, this plan really was pre-planned smartly ;)

Pule

October 23rd, 2005, 01:10 PM

Paulo, I owe you Vanderbijlpark photos my man.

Paulo2004

November 3rd, 2005, 07:26 PM

Paulo, I owe you Vanderbijlpark photos my man.

Yeah. I'm still waiting. :)

GregPz

November 20th, 2005, 04:51 PM

Spent the day in Pietermaritzburg and took some pics of some of the city's hi-rises. Hope you can use these on Emporis Giles.

Park Avenue (Residential)
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/6936/parkave3am.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/5835/parkave20ws.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Natalia Building (Government Offices)
http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/3328/natalia6uc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2033/natalia28cv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

(Mavis?) Alexander House (Commercial)
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5836/alexhouse8tx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/3129/alexhouse27qy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nedbank Plaza (Residential)
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9721/nedbankplaza0wu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

ABSA Building (Commercial)
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/5936/absa5hx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Municipal Offices (don't know name of building)
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4334/govn0pa.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Extensions to the Provincial Library in progress
http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/9718/library3tr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And finally the city skyline at dusk...
http://img282.imageshack.us/img282/7624/natalia35uf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

mike2005

November 20th, 2005, 05:14 PM

GregPz

November 20th, 2005, 06:06 PM

Greg what was the downtown like a street level? was it safe and clean or otherwise? I have always wondered when driving past on my way down to durban but have never had the time to stop off and find out!

The city centre south of the city hall is generally pretty clean and has some fantastic Victorian architecture. On the other side of the city hall (towards the Natalia building & library) there's the taxi rank and this area is quite dirty and might not be too safe. There are plans (which I think have been approved) to move the taxi rank and create a central plaza with an indoor arena. This area has huge potential and some nice modern buildings.

East and west of the CBD are nice residential/commercial areas which are generally clean and safe with lovely parks and gardens. North (the part you see driving past of the freeway) and south though are a bit of a mess.

Give the city a chance though - it has areas which are really pretty and unlike anything found in other SA cities.

Harkeb

November 22nd, 2005, 08:23 AM

Sticky this one too!

dysan1

November 22nd, 2005, 07:00 PM

I'm a big believer in the future of Pmb! I think that it has so much to offer, but has been sadly neglected for so long that its in dire need of tender loving care!

The waterfront and cbd rejuvenation projects, will do wonders for the city, and will encourage more people to stop and visit when they're enroute to and from durban

Pule

November 25th, 2005, 11:32 AM

Midlands Mall, Pietemaritzburg

http://www.wbho.co.za/gallery/albums/retail/Midlands_Mall.jpg

datilguy

November 25th, 2005, 07:01 PM

Very cool!

thryve

November 25th, 2005, 11:18 PM

thanks for the Pietermartizburg pics, GregPz!!!

SA BOY

November 26th, 2005, 06:39 AM

greg you da man, please pm me with your full name so I can credit you for the pics on emporis. Any idea where the nedbank plaza is ie address?

GregPz

November 26th, 2005, 11:01 AM

You're welcome! Nedbank Plaza is in Durban Rd (soon to be called Alan Paton Avenue). It's just across the road from the university.

SA BOY

November 27th, 2005, 04:41 AM

thats mate, funny someone has added in the addresses for the new buildings I added for PMB? anyways please PM me with your name for the pictures

GregPz

November 30th, 2005, 03:41 PM

The ABSA buidling is in Longmarket St and I think Park Ave is in Durban Rd. Not sure of street names for the others. You can credit the pics as GregPz or leave a blank space, I'm not fussed. Went to Pmb again the other day and noticed several buildings which may qulify for Emporis (is the cut off height 12F?). Some of the buildings in hte CBD were being renovated which was nice to see. The city has a useless council though - I've had to deal with them on several occassions.

datilguy

December 6th, 2005, 07:41 PM

NEW R110-million EXPANSION FOR WATERFALLS MALL IN RUSTENBURG

--------------------------------------------------------------------

More than R110-million worth of expansions are set for the Waterfalls Mall in Rustenburg. The two phase project, is already under construction and should be entirely completed by January 2006. The expansion of the Mall, already the premier shopping destination for metropolitan Rustenburg, will add more than 50,000 square metres to the shopping centre.

The vast expansion comes to Rustenburgs Mall, as a result of the surprising residential growth that has come to the area. With a regional growth of 4.7% per year, the largely expanding city is calling for new office space, industrial development, and is in rapid need for new development in the retail sector.

The expansion will bring 30 new shops, while expanding the floor space of 9 currently operating mall stores by over 24 %. The development also includes a sub-terranean parking garage, capable of holding 250 cars.

Phase 1, which includes an Edgars super-centre, was completed in March of this year. 5 new stores were incorporated within this phase including-

Due South
FX
Sneekers
Home Comforts
Pep

FNB, ABSA, Foschini, and Total Sports all required more space. Phase 1 added about 19,000 square metres.

Phase 2 is currntly under construction, and is pinned for completion and opening in December.

The upgrading and enlargment of the Main Court, the refurbishment of the Main Entrance facade in glass, and the construction and incorporation of a brand-new food court are all features of Phase 2.

New retailers brought to the mall in this phase are-

Cape Town Fish Market
Incredible Connexion
Sheet Street
@Home
Cape Union Mart
and a couple of South African Independant Clothing stores.....names have not been released.

Wimpy and Milky Lane both required a floor expansion of over 10%.

Including all the new retail, and the expansions of the Main Court etc., Phase 2 is over 31,000 square metres.

Rustenburg Council and private investors want to develop the mall area, and plans for hotels and new retailers are in the works for the next 5 years.

"We want to bring amenities to our city, we want our residents to stay here and shop. Not commute to West Rand or Johannesburg. Right now we have a perfect oppurtunity to save our residents a long drive, and bring jobs to the area. We just have to utilise our growth." -P. M. Deney

datilguy

December 6th, 2005, 07:44 PM

datilguy

December 6th, 2005, 07:52 PM

A R156-million COMPLEX FOR THE CAPE

----------------------------------------------

A new R156-million Casino complex is now under-way in Worcester.
The casino, which will be managed by Sun International and its BEE Partners, is the largest private investment sector project, ever in the Breede River Valley. Currently under construction, the Casino hopes to open by Sept. 2006.

Developments include-

A 250 slot-machine and Vegas Table casino
A Conference Centre, accomadating up to 200 delegates.
2 restaraunts, and a Sports Bar with live entertainment.
7 Retail shops
and Childrens facilities.

The Casino will be in Cape Dutch Style, a uniquely South African form of architecture, that will lend its sense of history and place to a modern casino complex. The dicision of style is also in keeping with the general and rather strict building codes of the City of Worcester.

Pending success of the Casino and Conference Centre, plans for a 5 story hotel are being considered.

Clarabel

December 8th, 2005, 07:29 PM

Other than this, I dont think much else is happening in metro Rustenburg as far as large, commercial projects. I know the housing market is getting stronger, but unfortunately, I am willing to bet most of the new residential construction is sprawly subdivisions. What is Rustenburgs CBD like? I gues Rustenburg isn't following the trend of other South African cities...ie. rejuvenating the downtown area? Even Randfontein is trying to do that.

Last time I was there (Nov 2004) there were no plans to make a change to the CBD, unfortunate as it may seem they appear to be concentrating on the suburbs and doing more to the "malls". Remember the town is there for the mines and that is about it.

Clarabel

December 8th, 2005, 08:08 PM

Paulo2004

December 14th, 2005, 04:48 PM

Midlands Mall, Pietemaritzburg

http://www.wbho.co.za/gallery/albums/retail/Midlands_Mall.jpg

Nice complex.

Pule

December 21st, 2005, 11:11 AM

Casino in Bethlem, Free State

Peermont begins building Free State casino
20 Dec 2005

Inet Bridge -

Peermont Global has begun construction of the Frontier Inn & Casino in Bethlehem in the Free State

Listed South African resorts group Peermont Global has begun construction of the Frontier Inn & Casino in Bethlehem in the Free State.
Construction started at the end of November and the project, with an estimated capital cost of R87 million, is expected to open in December 2006.

The resort will comprise 120 gaming machines, eight tables, an 80-seater entertainment bar, an 80-seater restaurant, a 22-key three-star hotel - capable of expansion in accordance with demand - an amusement centre, a professionally staffed childcare facility and a convenience and confectionery shop, the company has said..

The gaming floor will consist of a main casino and salon privé with smoking and non-smoking areas throughout.

Peermont Global bought effective control of Inciticorp, holder of the casino licence, and will also be the developer and manager of the casino and the other facilities forming part of the resort.

Peermont's BEE will have 30% ownership of the resort.

The Frontier Inn & Casino will create approximately 480 jobs during the development phase, and a further 113 jobs are expected to be created, largely for residents of the surrounding communities, once the resort is operational.

Peermont Global CEO Ernie Joubert said the project provided Peermont Global with an opportunity to contribute to economic and tourism development and BEE in the Bethlehem area.

"In designing the Frontier Inn & Casino, we took our inspiration from Bethlehem's characteristic architecture when it was still a Frontier Town. The theme of the resort is that of a late 19th century stage coach or mail coach Inn and Tavern with typical sandstone and plaster trim, wide porches and terracotta clay roof tiles, accentuated with chimneys."

The Free State is experiencing increasing tourism interest, with many local and international travellers choosing to break journeys with a stop over in Free State towns such as Clarens and Bethlehem. This development will give further momentum to the current tourism drive in the Bethlehem and Clarens area, Peermont said.

Pule

January 8th, 2006, 01:03 PM

By Mayibongwe Maqhina
A black Economic Empowerment consortium is investing R150 million in a shopping complex for Butterworth and its neighbouring villages.

The Daily Dispatch learnt on Thursday that the Mnquma Municipality had already entered into a development agreement with the Nogoduka Ngumbela Consortium to build the upmarket shopping mall at the site which currently houses the town's stadium.

The planned development will have national retailers as tenants and will be linked to an improved taxi and bus rank, bus ticket office, municipal and government offices, hawker stands, toilets and parking bays.

Construction is expected to start in April and carry on for 18 months.

"We are looking at launching it before the end of the month,* acting municipal manager Sipho Mengezeleli revealed yesterday.

The mall, which forms part of the town's urban renewal plan, is expected to give the ailing Butterworth a facelift.

Acting mayor Ndyebo Skelenge said the shopping mall would create about 1000 jobs.

Skelenge said the land earmarked for the shopping complex had been leased to the developers.

"We will never sell that land. We will lease it so that the municipality can survive by the rentals accrued from the lease," he said.

Both Nogoduka Ngumbela Consortium chairperson Livingstone Nogoduka and his partner Mthetheleli Ngumbela were born in Butterworth..

"Butterworth is underdeveloped and poverty is sky-high and shops in the inner town are congested," Nogoduka said.

"There will be a complete change and there will be more shops in the form of national retailers, more employment and a change in the flow of people from Butterworth to East London to do shopping for minor things like stationery," he said.

Nogoduka said they would relocate the stadium at their own expense.

Mengezeleli said the stadium would be relocated to land near the golf course.

Daily Dispatch

Pule

January 24th, 2006, 11:43 AM

New industrial development in Greenbushes
20 Jan 2006

Inet Bridge -

A new industrial development has been launched in Port Elizabeth at a time when the city is experiencing a serious lack of industrial property

By Roux van Zyl
A new industrial development has been launched in Port Elizabeth at a time when the city is experiencing a serious lack of industrial property.

Estate agents have been warning since late last year that a shortage of industrial land and warehousing space could stall the city's commercial property boom.

In previous reports they claimed that most vacant retail and industrial space had been taken up and that the municipality was not making enough industrial land available.

The 87-hectare development is adjacent to the Coastal Bricks factory in Greenbushes and will comprise 89 industrial plots once the final phase is released in July this year.

"People always thought Greenbushes was too far out, but the strong residential growth in the western suburbs has brought the area closer to Port Elizabeth," said Jacques Bellingan, who is developing the property.

This is a trend that Bellingan anticipated when he opened Coastal Bricks in the area 14 years ago. He said yesterday that more developers would turn to this area due to the lack of suitable land in other parts in the city.

"We feel that this area is going to be the city's next industrial hub, especially for building suppliers, who want to cash in on the area's many housing developments.

"Many people don't want to be in existing industrial areas like Markman and Deal Party due to security issues. It is still relatively safe here," he said.

Among the benefits of this site, Bellingan said, was that it was only a few kilometres from the N2 via Cape Road and that it was close to an informal settlement of about 2 000 houses that made access to labour easy.

Demand for the properties had been strong and potential buyers were not only interested in setting up warehouses, but also small industries of 400m², he said.

Marios van Dongen of Bowman Olivier Commercial Properties said: "Because of the major shortage of land, businesses are forced to go that way (Greenbushes). However, it will take some time for the area to develop."

He said most people still preferred Deal Party as a business location as it was close to the harbour, rail and highways, but "there is no space available". Other popular industrial areas included Korsten and Sidwell, Van Dongen said.

The Coega IDZ is another piece of prime industrial land, but is limited in scope for local businesses.

Coega Development Corporation spokesman Vuyelwa Qinga-Vika said the IDZ had been conceived and developed to focus on foreign direct investment (FDI), manufacturing and services projects.

"But companies that we are negotiating with or who have shown an interest are not all bringing FDI projects.

"Each case that knocks on our doors is treated on its own merits, bearing in mind that the strategic intent for Coega in the broader macro-economic strategy of the country is in attracting FDI and that remains the overriding mandate for Coega," she said.

Eastern Province Herald

xuite

May 1st, 2006, 07:21 PM

dysan1

May 1st, 2006, 07:39 PM

so i take it ur from there?

xuite

May 1st, 2006, 08:07 PM

Yeah,5 years ago.It was so nice to visit South Africa again.Had a great time!! :wink2:

Pule

May 8th, 2006, 12:54 PM

Vaal Mall

I went home this past weekend and just managed to take this shots of the newly developed Vaal Mall. It was opened about 2 weeks ago, but it is not completed.

http://www.coolimagehosting.com/uploads/9b12cf0c56.jpg

http://www.coolimagehosting.com/uploads/88f0b25ff9.jpg

I saw lots of Office development in Vanderbijlpark, they've also just opened a new shopping centre close to The Emerald Casino and Safari Resort. 2 golf courses are now near completion.

Pule

May 8th, 2006, 01:10 PM

Super Stadium in Attredgeville, Orlando stadium, George Thabe stadium in Sharpville and plenty of other stadium are gonna be revemped and the new ones are gonna be built in previously disadvantaged areas.

I got this shota of Attredgeville when I went to Sundowns game the past week, it is still under construction.

http://www.coolimagehosting.com/uploads/4b32592788.jpg

http://www.coolimagehosting.com/uploads/5906d15632.jpg

http://www.coolimagehosting.com/uploads/35a3bbf10c.jpg

Paulo2004

May 14th, 2006, 01:19 AM

Where exactly is Vaal Mall Pule?

Paulo2004

May 14th, 2006, 01:36 AM

http://www.sasolburg.net/images/foto2_sas.jpg

http://www.sasolburg.net/images/foto1_sas.jpg

http://www.sasolburg.net/images/foto5_sas.jpg

http://www.sasolburg.net/images/foto3_sas.jpg

Paulo2004

May 14th, 2006, 01:38 AM

http://www.southafrica.info/cm_pics/ess_info/690-0-0-0_217031.jpg

http://www.southafrica.info/cm_pics/ess_info/690-0-0-0_217032.jpg

http://www.southafrica.info/cm_pics/ess_info/690-0-0-0_217033.jpg

Pule

May 16th, 2006, 09:07 AM

Where exactly is Vaal Mall Pule?

Hi Paulo, Corner Barrage road and the the road, I forgot its name, from Vereeniging to Vanderbijlpark.

Eish my man there's plenty of developments that side. My car is back and the minute I got the Vaal again, I promise to take as much as I can. Vereeining is dead my man.

Paulo2004

May 17th, 2006, 04:32 AM

Hi Paulo, Corner Barrage road and the the road, I forgot its name, from Vereeniging to Vanderbijlpark.

Eish my man there's plenty of developments that side. My car is back and the minute I got the Vaal again, I promise to take as much as I can. Vereeining is dead my man.

What about Vanderbijlpark? No new developments?

Durbsboi

May 17th, 2006, 08:19 AM

Hi Paulo, see you pretty interested in the vaal triangle, well the vall is actualy the area in & around the vaal dam, I go there every year, my gran lives in vereneging so have to make the anual pilgrimage. Vereneging it self has nothing much happening but the outskirts of the town which is Three Rivers, Vanderbijlpark, & so on are developing quite well, esp the area's on the dam & rivers embankment, there is a huge waterfront coming up on the vaal river embankment by Three rivers, & vereneging's famous 5 star hotel the Reviera Hotel still stands in all its glory & still really is a gem to stay in. Three rivers is also developing wuite well, they have just renovated their mall "Three Rivers Mall" which is quite big & has all the big name stores & restaurants.

I Sasolberg there is the Emerald Casino & game park which is thriving, stayed their last year, its magnificent & that indoor wet world is soo cool. Got some pics of the place, will look for them to post. Their is also quite a few residential complex's coming up in
Sasolberg, some family of mine bought some quite upmarket units in Sasolberg.

Hey Pule greats pics bru, where exactly is this Vaal mall? I'll pay it a visit next time I'm there.

Pule

May 25th, 2006, 10:00 AM

Durbsboi, the Emerald Casino and Safari resort is based in Vanderbijlpark...I must say that I don't actually know plenty of the road names in that area, there's huge office development on the way from Vereeniging to Vanderbijlpark, close to the Vaal Mall. Next to the Emerald Casino, here's a new Shopping centre that have just beign completed and the Golf estate there have been completed. There's another townhouse developments by the river banks and in the CBD there's a strip of office and car sellers developments. A lot is happening there my bro.

Durbsboi

May 25th, 2006, 11:30 AM

Durbsboi, the Emerald Casino and Safari resort is based in Vanderbijlpark.
True, sorry I got confused, I passed Sasolberg on the way there, thats y.

xuite

June 16th, 2006, 04:55 AM

More,bigger Bloemfontein pics???
Please anyone.... :grouphug:

Mo Rush

June 16th, 2006, 05:13 AM

More,bigger Bloemfontein pics???
Please anyone.... :grouphug:
http://static.flickr.com/45/166358129_523419a25e_b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/49/130913084_a18f6111f8_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/20/73491776_88363820d1_o.jpg

xuite

June 16th, 2006, 05:23 AM

Mo Rush

Thank you so much!!!! Great pics....the first one....waterfront??
:okay: :okay: :okay: :okay: :okay: :okay: :okay: :okay:

dysan1

June 16th, 2006, 11:03 AM

what they building in the Bloem pic?

Harkeb

June 19th, 2006, 01:58 AM

Broad-based Property Boom In Pmb - 2006/06/18

Pietermaritzburg's property market has been playing catch-up with the rest of the country for a number of years but now, while many other regional markets are cooling, it is forging ahead strongly.

Homenet Ed Patrick says: "It's all to do with a happy combination of factors - notably the fact that our market came off a low base and the transfer of the provincial capital and staff from Ulundi.

"Low interest rates have of course also played a role and the city has been enjoying the fruits of the growth being experienced by the economy as a whole, with the resulting spin-off in demand for more residential, commercial and industrial space."

In the residential sector, most of the "action" is in the R500 000 to R600 000 range, ...significant part played by government employees in the demand patterns.

"There appears to be no shortage of buying power in this bracket and bonds are seemingly freely available. Demand is also expected to rise thanks to the new transfer duty dispensation that will mean huge cash savings for buyers.

"There is however a shortage of stock generally, accompanied by a shortage of land for new development, to the extent that if a well-priced flat comes on to the markets, it's usually sold within 24 hours,"

Indeed, Patrick says, the city's property boom is very broad-based, with growing demand coming through for freehold homes as well as apartments, clusters and secure sectional title developments and increasingly, units in retirement villages because of the pleasant climate.

"This is healthy and augurs well for the continued strength of the market here."

Paulo2004

June 19th, 2006, 03:39 PM

Mo Rush

June 19th, 2006, 03:52 PM

Thanks! Some pics will make my day! I lived in Vanderbijlpark for 14 years (studied at Vaal High and later at the Vaal Triangle Technicon), so it's practically my hometown.
wow i would never have guessed that

Pule

June 28th, 2006, 02:36 PM

Nelspruit, PE, Bloemfontein and Rusternburg, can we guys use our connections to get more info in regards to the preperation for the 2010 World Cup.

Pule

June 29th, 2006, 01:16 PM

Golf Estate Puts Ficksburg On Map - 2006/06/27

A new golf and polo estate deep within the eastern Free State is providing possibly the most affordable lifestyle estate living in the country.

Ena du Toit of Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty, Ficksburg, says: "The multi million rand Stafford's Hill Golf and Polo Estate, due to launch later this year, will provide some of the most affordable lifestyle estate property in South Africa, boasting approximately 220 dwellings priced from as little as R300 000 per stand.

"The estate will include an established golf course and polo field, a modern club house and numerous other amenities. This development will be linked with a steam train project which will attract many tourists to this area."

"Throughout the country, lifestyle estates have become a sought after investment option due to the security they provide on top of the amenities they offer - on ones doorstep."

Du Toit describes Ficksburg as an undiscovered gem of the Free State where attractions include the nearby ski resort in Lesotho and the very popular destinations Clarens and Golden Gate which are only 80 kms away and rumoured to be as popular to Gautengers as Clifton is to Capetonians. The local Cherry Festival, also held annually, hosts a marathon as well as cycling and bowling events.

"In winter you have the breathtaking views of the Maluti mountains in Lesotho covered in snow, while in summer the area is lush and green, unlike many other parts of the Free State. Ficksburg offers the peace and tranquility of a town with great amenities."

"You will find some commercial chain stores in Ficksburg but the majority of conveniences consist of smaller speciality stores that line the streets, catering for a wide array of needs."

"Many of the residents in the area work in town where business from surrounding towns has consolidated. The Eastern Free State Setsoto Municipality also holds head offices here which provide employment opportunities for many residents"

"Homes in the area are still relatively well priced. An entry level home can be bought for about R300 000, though these usually need to be renovated. You will pay between R600 000 – R700 000 for a 3-4 bedroomed home with mod cons. The area is well established and stands are generally large and homes are spacious."

Du Toit says that in town luxurious homes sell at around R1.2 million for a 4-5 bedroom dwelling with swimming pool.

"The majority of our visitors hail from Gauteng and KZN, many have weekend homes or farms here that they visit regularly, whilst others stay in one of the many B&Bs or game farms in the area."

For further information contact robyn@lange.co.za.or visit www.sothebysrealty.co.za

xuite

June 29th, 2006, 04:02 PM

One of the fastest growing areas in South Africa: Rustenburg-Brits-Hartbeespoort.

Here are some pics of Brits (North West Province).

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g255/johnrosstaiwan/Picture046.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g255/johnrosstaiwan/Picture050.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g255/johnrosstaiwan/Picture049.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g255/johnrosstaiwan/Picture051.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g255/johnrosstaiwan/Picture048-1.jpg

Harkeb

June 30th, 2006, 06:05 AM

from Greg in the skyline rating section

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1120/pmbcbd6hu.jpg
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/2564/dsc076845cf.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/881/alexhouse28ms.jpg

Durbsboi

June 30th, 2006, 08:23 AM

Xuite you from Britz? I went there when I was on holiday in Hartbeespoort about 2years ago, Pecanwood was getting boring so we decided to take a drive to Britz.
I know someone that workd in the Bridgestone factory there, & as always I have 1 or 2 relatives in the area.

Nice pics of Maritzberg Harkerb,

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/amgosai/Maritzbergtwintowers.jpg
^^LOL, I had to do this! :rofl: Maritzbergs twin towers :lol: OH SHIT LOOK!
A Helicopter is gonna crash into it!:hilarious

xuite

June 30th, 2006, 03:14 PM

Durbsboi, I'm not from Brits.Use to stay in Rustenburg for about 18 months(2000-2002).My niece stayed there (she's 22,drop dead gorgeous and single BTW :yes: ) ,went to visit and took the pics in January 2006.

Quote from Wikipedia.org : "Rustenburg is also reported to be the fastest growing city in Africa"

SA BOY

June 30th, 2006, 04:03 PM

now that looks like a decent building in maritzbarag

Paulo2004

July 28th, 2006, 03:42 AM

http://static.flickr.com/38/110077791_bd93fd86a5_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/44/110077804_81889b5b17_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/49/110077841_76ec61aeab_o.jpg

Durbsboi

July 28th, 2006, 08:21 AM

^^I stayed there, cool place, that indoor water world is wicked!

Caisson Boy

August 1st, 2006, 02:42 PM

I was born in Brits in 1977. But apparently the place is an AWB mecca.... Thank goodness I got away by 1978.

Caisson Boy

August 1st, 2006, 02:48 PM

Who knew that there were 12+ floor buildings in the Western Cape outside of Cape Town? There is a 12 floor one in Paarl and then there is this - The Diaz Strand Hotel in Mossel Bay, which is 13 floors. I remember seeing it under construction about 3 or 4 years ago and even have some pics of that somewhere...

http://www.diazbeach.co.za/big%20images/diazhotelnight.jpg

Caisson Boy

August 1st, 2006, 02:59 PM

Midlands Mall, Pietemaritzburg

http://www.wbho.co.za/gallery/albums/retail/Midlands_Mall.jpg

Malls are killing our city and town centres. No more, please. Don't let's be so fucking lazy to walk around a bit to do our shopping. C'mon, we live in a great country with great weather. Bring the shops back to the streets, toot sweet ploise!

GregPz

August 1st, 2006, 05:16 PM

I agree, Malls are ugly blobs on the landscape. Regarding the Midlands Mall in Pmb it's currently undergoing a big expansion but some of the shop that moved have reopened in the CBD which is good news.

Durbsboi

August 2nd, 2006, 11:18 AM

Totally agree with ur'll, towns are becoming barren because of the malls!

dysan1

August 6th, 2006, 11:07 PM

Something in East London, but the locals are complaining....

Beachfront hotel will ruin flat owners' views

04 Aug 2006 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
Plans for a multi-million rand hotel and convention centre on the East London beachfront have angered residents of flats who fear losing their sea view

By Mayibongwe Maqhina
Plans for a multi-million rand hotel and convention centre on the East London beachfront - rumoured to be up to 15 storeys high - have angered residents of flats who fear losing their sea view.

One thought it "ridiculous" to allow a hotel double the height of the nearby Kennaway.

The proposed development by NV Properties, a group that manages Premier Hotels, is on vacant land just behind the Regent Hotel.

This week labourers were busy digging on the site of what will be Marine Park.

NV Properties managing director Samuel Nassimov confirmed that his company was probing the soil to assess ground conditions ahead of phases two, three and four of the development. Once completed it would comprise a hotel and convention centre and a cascade of apartments.

It could not be established yesterday whether the development is the continuation of a R10million November 1997 deal signed between the Industrial Development Corporation and Nassimov.

At the time the deal was hailed as signalling the go-ahead for Phase One of the R133m Regent Hotel, as well as apartments and a conference centre.

Elizabeth Court apartment owner Jan Smit was not opposed to development taking place but, he said a 12-15-storey building would have a disastrous affect on his sea view.

"How can you just put such a building on the beachfront. The (nearby) Kennaway has eight storeys and this one will be double," Smit said.

Smit agreed with residents of nearby Inverleith Terrace that the loss of a sea view would devalue his apartment. Flats in Elizabeth Court represented a considerable investment and were bought especially for the view.

Another flat owner Johan Aereboe said he bought his flat two years ago because "it was an investment on prime property".

At the time of purchase he said the estate agent had assured him any development on the vacant land would be no higher than the Regent Hotel.

A building higher than 10 storeys was "totally ridiculous".

Another flat owner Derik Dewing, who has two units, was equally angry about the notion of losing his view and the subsequent financial implications.

All the flat owners said they hoped they would be consulted before development took place.

Buffalo City Development Agency chief executive Gaster Sharpley declined comment on the matter and referred questions to Nassimov.

Daily Dispatch

JAB323

August 7th, 2006, 03:03 AM

Totally agree with ur'll, towns are becoming barren because of the malls!

I personally am not a big fan of malls.

Durbsboi

August 7th, 2006, 09:50 AM

well, unfortunatly the majority dont think like you. Esp the black middle class, they all venturing to the malls not sure why, you still pay more there, & please dont say its safer there, the other week 3 shopping malls got hit with armed robbers.

SA BOY

August 7th, 2006, 01:26 PM

ag shame the slummies people dont like big buildings.
MAYBE THATS WHY THE PLACE IS A PIT AND STILL IN THE 60S.

mikey67

August 17th, 2006, 06:54 PM

From The Daily Dispatch 17/08/06...hopefully there is action and not just talk.

Five-star hotel plans for EL beachfront

City agency aims to transform the area from drab to fab, starting with a Signal Hill development

SIGNAL Hill could become the playground of the rich if the Buffalo City Development Agency gets its way.

The development of an iconic five-star hotel – surrounded with terraced apartments and overlooking the harbour – is one of the outcomes of a development framework plan for East London’s beachfront that was commissioned by the agency.

BCDA chief executive Gaster Sharpley said that such a project would act as a catalyst to draw private investors to the city.

“The project will be private sector driven and will become iconic because of its design,” he said.

“We aim to create an environment for people to live and play in. At the moment East London does not have a five-star hotel.”

According to the initial proposal the hotel and apartments will be linked to an entertainment complex built on the site of the container terminal.

“We want a continuous beachfront development that links Orient Beach with the harbour. This development is imperative for attracting investors and tourists to the city,” he said.

“I’m of the view that we should develop functional spaces to attract tourists here.”

However, the project hinges on the availability of the land.

Sharpley said he was still negotiating with Transnet to release Signal Hill for development.

“We are also negotiating with the National Ports Authority to support the continuous beachfront development,” Sharpley said.

“ A part of the project is also subject to the removal of the container terminal to the West Bank.”

NPA spokesperson Terry Taylor confirmed that they supported the initiative.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea and can be a catalyst for beachfront development including a marina as a tourist attraction,” said Taylor.

“ We are working with the BCDA to make it a reality.”

Two companies, Tshani Consulting and Osmond Lange architects and planners, have been appointed as consultants to prepare the beachfront spatial framework.

The project that costs about R900000 is expected to be finished by March 2007.

Apart from the Signal Hill development, the project will undertake a strategic analysis and needs assessment of the Quigney, the Esplanade, Marina Glen, the Lower Central Business District and Signal Hill precincts.

These needs will then be translated into detailed design proposals and projects.

These will include looking at improving public transport facilities, upgrading trading facilities and creating public open spaces.

Community facilities and housing opportunities, landscaping and street lighting and signage are also in the pipeline along with the all important safety and security and catalytic projects.

One such project is the development of a pedestrian walkway with stalls for informal traders along the Esplanade.
http://www.dispatch.co.za/2006/08/17/Easterncape/ahotel.html

romanSA

August 22nd, 2006, 03:52 PM

Madiba bay hots up
August 22, 2006

Port Elizabeth is poised for transformation. The popular family resort is to get an exciting new waterfront, new hotels and restaurants, entertainment facilities and shopping malls - all along the seafront on 40ha of prime land.

The new facilities will be built as soon the manganese ore dumps and petrol tank farm on the seafront have been removed to the new Ngqura port at the Coega industrial zone, 30km away.

But it will take time to turn Madiba Bay - so named after the nation's most famous citizen - into a megacity. In the meantime, it has everything that makes for the perfect break.

It's about time PE started preening itself. This is the gateway to Mandela land. An increasing number of international visitors are using PE as a base to see Mveso, birthplace of South Africa's former president, and his early stamping grounds at Qunu. Both places are within reach of PE. In fact, self-drive tours "in the steps of Nelson Mandela" are becoming the in attraction.

Then, too, PE is at "the other end" of the famous Garden Route, with visitors either starting or completing their tours there, or continuing to a nearby game farm.

With the Addo Elephant Park close by, as well as an array of fine game lodges, many visitors are exploring the southern end of South Africa as they realise that it is almost impossible to see the entire country on a two-week holiday. In fact, it is difficult to fit in all the attractions to the Eastern Cape on one trip. After all, why come all the way to SA and not do each province properly?

PE has never made much of its attractions and is often overlooked in favour of Cape Town or Durban. But it certainly isn't simply an industrial coastal city. It has moved into a class of its own as thousands of visitors - and investors - discover its potential as a holiday hotspot of the future.

So what's there to do in PE now?

The best known attraction is the Oceanarium where dolphins keep the crowds entertained. Greenies may not agree, but watching them go through their paces is a delight.

There a snake park too, one of the oldest in the country, for visitors intrigued by reptiles, and even a horse monument built to commemorate the horses that died during the Anglo Boer War.

Those who enjoy their history should take a look at Fort Frederick, built in 1799 to protect the mouth of the river against French invasion. They say the Frenchies wanted to colonise the eastern regions of the Cape but as things turned out they never got round to coming. It was left to the 1820 settlers to try and tame the rugged landscape of the Eastern Cape.

What of nightlife? The days when PE was little more than a sleepy hollow have come and gone. There's a lot to do after dark: some great restaurants and nightclubs - and there will be even more, once investors have developed the land overlooking the sea.

Holidaymakers who can pry themselves off PE's long golden beaches may want to visit nearby Jeffreys Bay, a world famous surfers' paradise. Every youngster wants to have a go and it's great fun watching them.

Another must is Baviaanskloof, declared a Unesco World Heritage site two years ago.

Baviaanskloof - literally translated to mean Baboons' Gorge - is a wilderness home to countless baboons that love the craggy mountains. There is plenty of other wildlife too, and an incredible range of birds, many endemic to the area.

It's a great place to hike, to swim in mountain pools and to photograph waterfalls and mountain ranges. There are also a number of quaint villages such as Hankey and Patensie where folk can stop for tea or lunch.

Finally, don't forget Settlers Park, 54ha of cultivated gardens in the valley of the Baakens River.

Pierre Voges, chief executive of the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), is excited about the changing face of PE.

He says that while the National Ports Authority is going ahead with plans to move the ore dumps, it has wisely decided to retain the fishing port and the fruit packing industry as they will add character to the new developments.

"The transformation will be completed by about 2010 or 2011. The time frame is coincidental. It has nothing to do with the World Cup soccer."

He says, too, that construction of the city's new 2010 World Cup stadium is now well ahead of schedule.

It probably started with the Coega development when the powers that be took a hard look at their city and decided it was ready for a makeover.

The new Ngqura port at Coega has opened prime land that begs for development - and tourism will benefit.

Gillian Saunders, head of Tourism Hospitably and Leisure at Grant Thornton, says PE has turned the corner in terms of a desirable place to live and visit, both residentially and from a tourism perspective. As the home province of Madiba, it has assumed considerable importance and the Eastern Cape now knows it.

"PE tops the list of secondary sites in SA and will become a megacity if it carries out the MBDA mandate to revitalise the city centre," she said.

She has just one reservation: the highway blocking the coastline from the city should be moved.

"The highway is ugly and moving it will leverage economic growth by opening up tourism and business opportunities that will result from an easy and attractive access to the harbour and ocean," she said. "Once the transformation has been completed, PE will be in line with other vibey African cities."

The developments will take time but in the meantime, it has much to offer visitors

http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3403213

Pule

September 5th, 2006, 03:09 PM

Facelift coming for historic Parliament St

By Derrick Spies

PARLIAMENT Street, one of Port Elizabeth‘s most historical streets and known for its nightlife, could be getting a facelift as early as May next year if things go according to plan.

Mandela Bay Development Agency chief executive Pierre Voges said R7- million had been earmarked for the beautification of Parliament Street as one of the next projects to be tackled by the agency, whose chief mandate is to attract investors back to the central business district.

“The first step will be to call for proposals from designers and urban planners, from which the best design will be chosen,” he said.

The bulk of the work would involve the beautification of the street through brickwork, tree planting and placement of benches and other street furniture.

He said the project would focus on the upper half of the street, between Rink and Lawrence streets, and did not include the 1820 Settler cottages.

“Once we have chosen the final design, we will start the standard tender processes, which will call for a quote, based on the design.”

Voges said the funding for the project would more than likely come from “leftover” funds which had not been used by other municipal departments.

“I have spoken to the treasury and will be looking at securing the funding closer to the municipality‘s financial year-end, when it will be clearer what funds have not been spent.

“We are not a rich organisation with unlimited funding. We pick up the crumbs and try to do the most with it.”

He said that although the investment would focus on municipal infrastructure, the MBDA was hoping that it would encourage property and business owners to invest in their buildings as well – “even if it is just a much-needed coat of paint to brighten up the appearance of the building”, he said.

Voges said the degeneration of CBDs was a worldwide trend that appeared to be cyclic.

“There is a trend where people move out of the city centre and look for other places of entertainment, such as Greenacres and Walmer Park in Port Elizabeth, but over time they come back.”

“The problem in Central‘s case is that it has been a very long period of decline of some 15 to 20 years, which we are planning on reversing,” he said

Hill Improvement District chief executive John Preller said businesses in the area were very much in favour of the beatification projects being planned.

“Businesses and individual property owners need to be encouraged to follow the example and invest in their properties,” he said.

Preller said he could still recall a Parliament Street renowned for its top-class restaurants such as Lychee Garden, Tel Aviv and El Cid, known to have the best steak and prawns in town.

“There is already an indication that the vibe is returning to Central, with top-class establishments, such as the Spotted Cow in Parliament Street, luring people back to the area.”

“It‘s like the faint heartbeat of an infant waiting to be born, but if it is nurtured and raised correctly, it will grow into a fantastic entertainment area that only Central can offer,” he said.

Pule

September 5th, 2006, 03:10 PM

Vaal Waterfront A Good Alternative - 2006/09/02

Weekend properties on the banks of the Vaal River are very popular, and Vanderbijlpark is becoming a destination for buyers who work in and around Johannesburg but who want a more rural lifestyle for their families.

Amanda De Jager, owner of the new Chas Everitt International office says commuting to the Johannesburg city centre takes only about 30 minutes. The office has notched up its first sales even before its official opening.

De Jager says the local market is still very lively with a healthy monthly turnover. "Relatively low entry-level prices attract many investors, mostly from other parts of Gauteng. Flats are still available from R250 000, although they are up from about R120 000 a year ago. Growth of 15 percent is still realistic and rentals for such units vary between R2500 and R2800 per month, which is high enough to cover bond repayments."

Local properties are also benefiting from large-scale refurbishment. Younger buyers, especially, buy older homes at prices of around R400 000 and typically spend around R100 000 on upgrades, says De Jager.

"We are increasingly seeing an overflow of buyers who traditionally would have bought property around the Hartbeespoort Dam. They cite lower prices and less congestion as reasons for buying local waterfront properties."

Prices for small homes start at R300 000 and most properties in the town sell at around the R400 000 mark. Properties right at the top end of the market reach prices of up to R5m and homes in this category are still selling relatively well, De Jager says.

The new Chas Everitt International office is located at 104 Rossini Boulevard in SW2.

For more information contact (016) 950-1100 or 082 303 4820.

Pule

September 5th, 2006, 03:12 PM

R200m Hotel On Cards For Harties - 2006/09/03

After various unsuccessful attempts over the past decade to lure hotel developers and operators to the shores of Hartbeespoort Dam, a four-star luxury hotel is now a certainty for the popular leisure destination.

Leading South African developer Atterbury Property, who owns large shopping centres such as Clearwater Mall (Roodepoort), Garden Route Mall (George) and Woodlands Boulevard (Pretoria), has recently bought land with the rights to build a four star hotel in the existing Estate d'Afrique on the south east side of the dam.

The site is perched on top of a hill and has panoramic views over the dam, Crocodile River and Magaliesberg Mountains. Atterbury Chief Operating Officer James Ehlers says the 250-room Le Chateau hotel will be developed with the Three Cities Hotel Group and Kondotel Lifestyles, the original developer of Estate d'Afrique.

The R200 m project will include a spa as well as conference and recreational facilities. Ehlers says they will be selling the individual hotel rooms as sectional title investments. Prices have not yet been determined. Construction on the luxury hotel will begin mid-2007 and should be completed 12 months later.

Ehlers says Hartbeespoort Dam's central location with easy access from Pretoria, Johannesburg and Lanseria Airport makes it the ideal destination for both leisure and business tourists with Le Chateau expected to become a popular conference venue.

Atterbury will also be involved in a residential development at Estate d'Afrique, a themed village called Beau Rivage that consists of 101 erven on the banks of the Crocodile River. Stands ranging between 800 and 1 000 sq m will be launched end-2006.

Alta Smit of Pam Golding Properties' Hartbeespoort Dam office says a graded hotel would no doubt further boost an already booming property market and entrench Hartbeespoort Dam's position as Gauteng's premier leisure destination.

Smit says there has already been a marked up tick in buyer interest over the past few months, with the recent upgrade of major roads in the area playing an important role. Though there has been talk of various hotel projects in the area over the past few years nothing came of any of these proposed projects until now, says Smit. She believes Hartbeespoort Dam has developed its tourism potential to the extent where a luxury hotel such as that planned by Atterbury is sustainable.

Latest figures from the Knowledge Factory's SAPTG confirm that Hartbeespoort Dam house prices are still steaming ahead with prices in golf estate Pecanwood up 41% in the 12 months to end-June 2006, in Westlake prices rose 156% and in Kosmos 100% over the same period.- Joan Muller

datilguy

September 6th, 2006, 07:28 AM

Hey everyone! Missed ya ;)

Some interesting news about Knysna-

Planners in South African City of Knysna Draft Spatial Development Framework to Curb Urban Sprawl

In line with provincial guidelines for ''densification'' and ''urban infill'' ahead of development outside the urban edge, Knysna planners have drafted ''a tough new Spatial Development Framework (SDF) to curb urban sprawl'' near their Indian Ocean city, some 260 miles east of Cape Town, reports Cape Times writer Jo-Ann Bekker, noting that developers hit the draft as bad for area jobs and the economy.

The draft disregards ''Knysna's rapid growth,'' said developer Chris Mulder, whose company wants to build a 600-house residential/commercial complex on a Western Head plantation and a 184-unit housing/business project on wetlands near a golf course. Without expansion, the economic downturn will begin next June, he warned, predicting 15,000 people ''out of work in two to three months.''

But speaking on behalf of landowners who are launching a Western Head conservancy, resident Susan Campbell applauded planners for protecting Knysna's ecological interests, service capacity and less affluent residents.

The SDF draft, the writer observes, outlines core conservation areas such as national parks and nature preserves and maps ecological corridors and secondary conservation areas, placing them under strict construction controls. It generally limits residential development to the eastern banks of rivers and keeps resort projects on the western banks and at Western Head.

According to planners, Knysna can meet its dire need for some 6,000 housing units by building 5,816 affordable and middle-income homes on 290 municipal hectares (725 acres), with most services already available, and by allowing a number of high-income homes on 500 hectares (1,250 acres) in the northwestern Eastford area. -- Cape Times 8/21/2006

Resource(s): www.capetimes.co.za/

Harkeb

September 7th, 2006, 05:52 AM

Hey dude! What's up? What happened to you? :)

Pule

September 7th, 2006, 01:12 PM

Russian billions set to boost top Coega project

By Patrick Cull Political Editor

THE flagship Coega project received a major boost yesterday with the signing of an agreement that could lead to the construction of a manganese smelter in the industrial development zone and the upgrading of the rail link between Coega and the Northern Cape.

And in a separate development it was revealed that Alcan would make a decision at the end of this month on its plans to build a R14-billion aluminium smelter at Coega.

Russian company Renova Investments and the Coega Development Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday for a R7-billion investment, part of which will be spent on the construction of a ferro-manganese smelter.

CDC chief executive officer Pepi Silinga said after the signing in Cape Town – witnessed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Thabo Mbeki – that he was delighted with the agreement.

It was a “significant step forward” and an investment of “considerable importance”.

Silinga was equally happy with the memorandum that Renova Investments and United Manganese of Kalahari signed with Transnet which could lead to the long-sought- after goal of upgrading the railway line between the Northern Cape and Coega.

A memorandum was also signed with Eskom. A final decision could be taken as early as the end of March next year.

Renova is conducting a feasibility study on the construction of the ferro-manganese smelter while United Manganese of Kalahari is to be sited at Coega with manganese sourced from a mine that is currently the subject of a feasibility investigation by UMK.

The manganese will be processed in the IDZ or exported as bulk ore through the Port of Ngqura. Spoornet will rail the manganese from the mooted mine at Sishen in the Northern Cape to Coega.

Transnet chief executive officer Maria Ramos, who signed the agreement yesterday, said it “signals our commitment to facilitate economic growth by investing in additional port and rail capacity in strategic sectors and corridors”.

Meanwhile, Alcan chief executive Richard Evans has said in Canada that the company has been talking to the South African government and Eskom for 18 months, and that a decision will be taken by the end of this month.

Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa has confirmed this, while his deputy, Rob Davies, told Parliament recently that government was “busy with an intense final negotiation” on the electricity supply agreement.

Pule

September 8th, 2006, 02:23 PM

R511m development plan for Bay region

By Max Matavire Metro Editor

THE Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is to embark on a R511-million rehabilitation project aimed at upgrading informal and formal settlements and relocating people living on flood plains to habitable areas – starting with Veeplaas and Soweto-on-Sea.

The pilot project, dubbed “Zanemvula” (Bring the rain), is an initiative of the national and provincial governments and the municipality. It will be phased in over five years, with R73,9-million having been allocated by the provincial government for this financial year. Work is to start immediately.

An agreement was supposed to be signed by Mayor Nondumiso Maphazi and Housing MEC Sam Kwelita yesterday to officially launch the project, allowing the release of the first amount of money by the provincial housing department to the municipality, but had to be postponed as Kwelita was in Cape Town.

Municipal spokesman Kupido Baron said the agreement could be signed today.

Baron said the project‘s vision was of “an integrated and sustainable community living in environments that provide access to economic opportunities, a variety of affordable and secure housing and tenure options, reliable and affordable basic services, educational, entertainment and cultural activities, as well as to health, welfare and police services”.

A full council meeting unanimously agreed yesterday that the project be implemented with “speed”.

After the meeting, acting project manager Schalk Potgieter said during the first phase about 2 277 sites would be serviced and about 600 houses built.

Potgieter said land had been identified at Chatty Extensions 3 and 4 for the relocation. “The first phase involves the servicing of sites, construction of units, rectifying and upgrading houses, relocating people and the identification of areas with skewed densities,” said Potgieter.

Temporary relocation areas would be developed to serve as transitional holding areas for the immediate relocation of families living on flood plains.

The municipality‘s housing and land business unit yesterday presented the project draft business plan to the council.

“The area of the Zanemvula Project comprises the informal and formal settlements in the Soweto-on-Sea and Veeplaas areas. It also includes an informal settlement on a portion of land next to the Vista campus of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

“The project area will ultimately incorporate the green- field development areas that will form part of the informal settlement upgrading and human settlement development,” said the report tabled at the meeting.

About 6 130 households would be relocated from the flood plains and informal settlements as part of the de-densification and upgrading process, and amenities and services such as schools, parks, tarred roads, sewerage, water and storm-water drainage would be provided to create a sustainable community.

The name Zanemvula was coined by Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu during a visit to the area in February.

Pule

September 12th, 2006, 12:17 PM

SA Retail Properties Ltd is set to make its first investment in Limpopo – the
R86 million Hubyeni Shopping Centre opening next April in Elim, a town 13km south
east of Makhado (formerly Louis Trichardt).

Managing director Peter Sparks says a Superspar of 3 000m², owned and managed
by Philip Snyman (of Thoyando Spar fame) on a 10-year lease, will anchor the
12 684m² centre which will provide an initial yield of not less than 9,5%.

“Tenant demand is extremely positive, with a 93% commitment to space seven
months before opening. More than 70% of tenants already signed are national
chains including Spar, Tops, Jetmart, Pep, FNB, Standard Bank, JD Group, Ellerines,
SA Post Office etc.”

“The centre will serve a thriving and growing community which currently lacks
formal retail facilities. A detailed demographic analysis was carried out last year
from which the findings strongly supported a centre to satisfy an area with an
estimated total annual spend of more than R200 million.”

Sparks says the centre will enhance SA Retail earnings and this will further improve
through anticipated growth in the property. Hubyeni has favourable rental growth
prospects over a five-year horizon.

He says the centre is the first of 8 turnkey shopping centres anchored by Spar which
SA Retail may acquire, subject to approvals, for R700 million over the next four
years from Kerr Developments of Pretoria.

It is proposed to fund the acquisition through the issue of SA Retail units next April.

Jakes1

September 12th, 2006, 01:28 PM

Pretoria: what a surprise! Pretoria seems to be booming guys. A lot of development, I will name a few that I saw the other day.

1. Hatfield's new R280million, 693 flat complex in Burnett street. The design rocks. Further down burnett two new 7storey buildings were completed last year, plus another 5storey. The area is also getting security cameras, and the Mall and the Square were recently upgraded.

2. Hillcrest: The whole old neighbourhood is gone. Currently 3cranes busy in the area, about 10 new 4 - 6 storey offices and appartment blocks in the area around duncan street, plus a new mall.

3. Brooklyn, massive new office development accross Brooklyn Mall, 4 Storey apartments going up accross the road, 5storey nearing completion next to circle, investec offices extending (two new office floors on top of existing building.

4. Clydesdale/Sunnyside: New 6storey apartment block approved

5. Sunnyside/Trevenna: Massive next phase of DTI campus to start soon. Old school building will become centrepiece - restaurant. new police campus completed nearby in Arcadia - massive 5storey block.

6. Near visagie street: Next to Louis Pasteur hospital a new wing is being erected. About 6 - 7 storeys, by the look of it. Plus near burger's park a couple of 6(maybe higher) apartment blocks are going up.

The brooklyn, hatfield, hillcrest, sunnyside areas are apparently going to experience some more densification in the future. No massive constructions, but you see cranes everywhere! I mean, these are clearly not skyscrapers, but pretoria does seem to be on the move. i dont like these 4-6storey thingies, but at least it is a move forward for the city. Also heard that many flats in sunnyside are being refurbished, plus a few might be demolished for redevelopment, but this might only be a rumour.

Harkeb

September 13th, 2006, 01:56 AM

^^ great news. photos in the Pretoria Gallery thread please

Pule

September 14th, 2006, 08:20 AM

Tzaneen Lifestyle In Demand - 2006/09/13

Email Article
The second largest town in Limpopo Province, Tzaneen is the economic and trading hub of the area, providing accommodation, jobs and commodities to the more than 700 000 people who live in and around it. It's also currently one of the province's most sought-after residential destinations.

So says Pieter Human, principal of the local franchise of the Realty 1 International Property Group. According to Human, while demand for normal residential property is concentrated at entry buyer and investor level at the moment, there is also steady movement in the smallholding sector, particularly for properties smaller than 21 hectares. This is largely by people keen to swap city living and traffic noise for a more relaxed country lifestyle, he says, and by others who want weekend retreats.

Many new smallholding owners retain their city jobs, quite happy to commute further to work and back each day. Others, however, are throwing in their work towels, determined to capitalise on the area's subtropical climate and ideal agricultural conditions which have ensured its place as one the country's most prolific crop producers.

Its agricultural prowess aside, Tzaneen also offers a thriving local economy, bolstered by the relatively low interest rate which is fuelling people's buying power, says Human. This, in turn, is bringing newcomers into the area to take up jobs or start new businesses, and thereby creating additional demand for products and services.

Currently Human, who raked up a number of awards at the recent Realty 1 IPG National Awards Ceremony in Gauteng, says demand for townhouses is at an all-time high. But this demand slows dramatically when pricing goes beyond R660k, he says, adding that there is a huge gap in the market for homes priced from R400k to R550k. "Apart from the imminent launch of a new 100 unit residential development, which we will be marketing, there is very little stock in this price range, where first-time buyers and buy-to-let investors predominate."

The development, unnamed as yet, will offload a selection of bachelor, one- and two bedroom units on to the market, ranging in price from R250k to around R400k. But while compact in size, the architects have incorporated a strong design element into the development, which will set it apart from most other affordable complexes, Human says. As a result, he is expecting units to sell very quickly on launching.

Demand is also high for vacant land in and around Tzaneen, he adds, which is encouraging existing home owners to subdivide their properties. Because of the current dearth of land, selling prices are hitting record highs of around R220k for a 500sq m stand (the minimum size permitted by the local authority) and R300k for a 1300sq m plot.

From an investment perspective, Human says newly-purchased properties will, in all likelihood, have to be subsidised for the first couple of years. "Buyers are probably not going to be able to offset their entire bond repayments against the rentals they receive, because while the average purchase price of a two bedroom unit in Tzaneen is around R440k, rentals for the same unit are sticking at R2 800. This means there is going to be an initial shortfall of around R1 200 per month, excluding levies," he says.

He emphasises, however, that property remains one of the country's best medium to long term capital investments, which should now form the basis of any serious investor's thinking. While R1m plus sales have slowed, Human's recent sale of a R1,54m home shows that even prime homes remain in demand, albeit on a smaller scale than in previous years.

joburg

September 14th, 2006, 09:36 AM

wb dearest datilguy. :)

http://www.architectafrica.com/pics/cover/vaalmaal1.jpg

VAAL MALL EVOKES RIVER THEME : Vaal Mall opened on 27 April 2006 and has been instrumental in retaining spend in the Vaal Triangle area that was previously directed elsewhere. The design of the 50 000m2 regional shopping centre was guided by a brief to use natural elements from the area. MDS Architecture rose to the challenge, drawing on its vast experience in retail developments to evoke the sense of the flowing Vaal River in an industrial heartland.

The shopping centre has sinuous passages, vaulted ceilings, striking lighting effects and finishes that draw inspiration from the swirls of the nearby Vaal River. Pat Henry of MDS Architecture says that Vaal Mall aptly showcases the practice’s reputation for leadership in retail design.

Launched in April 2006, the fully let Vaal Mall provides a convenient shopping choice for consumers in the Vaal Triangle and adds a dash of colour and excitement to the surrounding landscape.

The single level retail centre is anchored by Pick ’n Pay at one end and Game at the other, with Woolworths and Edgars in between. The 135 fashion and retail stores are complemented by a food court offering both fast food and restaurant areas as well as and three free standing restaurants fronting onto the busy Barrage Road. Parking is provided for over 3000 cars. Whereas shoppers in the area were travelling long distances to do their shopping, they now have an exciting shopping destination on their doorstep with a myriad choice of retail outlets

Pule

September 14th, 2006, 11:00 AM

More of Vaal Mall

http://www.mdsarch.co.za/2006/projects/images/retail/vaal_mall_03.jpg
http://www.mdsarch.co.za/2006/projects/images/retail/vaal_mall_04.jpg
http://www.mdsarch.co.za/2006/projects/images/retail/vaal_mall_08.jpg
http://www.mdsarch.co.za/2006/projects/images/retail/vaal_mall_10.jpg
http://www.mdsarch.co.za/2006/projects/images/retail/vaal_mall_02.jpg

Caisson Boy

September 14th, 2006, 12:45 PM

You've seen one mall, you've seen them all. You've been to one, you've been to them all.

They are killing our town and city centres.

GregPz

September 14th, 2006, 01:18 PM

I totally agree - although the first pic of the Vaal Mall does look nice. I'd like to see private companies taking over certain city streets and running them like malls instead of building new shopping centres.

joburg

September 14th, 2006, 02:12 PM

You've seen one mall, you've seen them all. You've been to one, you've been to them all.

Oh but Caison Boy, this one has a river theme. WOW. ;)

Caisson Boy

September 14th, 2006, 02:23 PM

Oh but Caison Boy, this one has a river theme. WOW. ;)

I don't care if it has a "shit cascading over diamonds" theme! It is still a mall. Bad, bad news.

AntonAmeneiro

September 14th, 2006, 02:35 PM

I think Vaal mall looks really nice... I love the architecture... Caisson_Boy, why are you so against shopping malls? :) I'm not a big fan of malls, since I'm more into street shopping, but oh well, malls are alright.

joburg

September 14th, 2006, 10:59 PM

I don't care if it has a "shit cascading over diamonds" theme! It is still a mall. Bad, bad news.

I'm being sardonic. ;) I despise it just as much as you do.

xuite

September 15th, 2006, 04:19 PM

joburg,in which city in the Vaal is this mall(Vaal Mall) situated?

Pule

October 3rd, 2006, 10:18 AM

Knysna Now "for Millionaires" - 2006/10/03

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The demand in recent years for luxury holiday homes in Knysna has transformed this traditionally sleepy seaside resort on the Garden Route into a cosmopolitan jet-setter's playground.

And while new developments in the area have claimed most of the headlines, the demand for existing local property has also increased exponentially in recent years, fuelling a strong rise in values, says Geoff Hunt of leading local agency Homenet Trio.

Consequently, a very average three-bedroom home in the town will now cost anything from R1,5m to R2,5m.

"And the effect on the local community of the huge development phase of the past few years has been immense. It has created a vibrant micro-economy but on the other hand, the growing pains associated with such rampant growth have been felt by many, including local government.

"They have also affected the town's workforce, with most locals now unfortunately being unable to enter the property market because of the high cost," he says.

An entry-level property such as a two-bedroom flat in Knysna now sells for around R800 000, which would mean a bond repayment of about R8500 a month.
"And not many locals earn the R30 000 a month necessary to qualify for this type of bond, so there is a great need now to develop and build affordable housing for local families."

Otherwise, says Hunt, Knysna is likely to lose a large percentage of its general workforce to other towns.

"Happily, though, another benefit of the escalated development momentum is becoming increasingly evident as environmentalists and property developers learn to work together to ensure sustainability and limit environmental damage."

Pule

October 3rd, 2006, 10:22 AM

joburg,in which city in the Vaal is this mall(Vaal Mall) situated?

It is not in the City but in the same Province as Joburg and Pretoria. It is located in Vanderbijlpark about an hour from Johannesburg. Its an average town that have started to revitalize itself. It is located next to Vaal river and the property in that region is of high standard.

Pule

October 4th, 2006, 12:32 PM

CITY OF OPPORTUNITY: Bloemfontein, seen from the air. The Mangaung Local Municipality plans to accelerate development of the city and surrounding areas by creating infrastructure and easing such formalities as zoning requirements.

IN ITS integrated development plan, the Mangaung Local Municipality identified the need for an inclusive and broad-based economy, with a development vision of a sustainable and investor-friendly environment.

The strategic thrust behind its economic development strategy involves employment creation, economic diversification, an environment conducive to growth and the development of Mangaung into a regional economic centre.

Key sectors flagged for investment include retail and trade, transport, tourism and hospitality, information and communications technology (ICT), distribution and warehousing, manufacturing and agro-processing, as well as property development.

Projects such as the N8 Corridor development were intended to act as catalysts in the Mangaung Economic Development Strategy, highlighting rich markets and opportunities for the private sector, but investment has been slow.

Absa’s manager for the public sector, Vincent Mothunyane, explained that although many projects are at advanced stages, red tape needs to be loosened to accelerate development.

“Some projects have stalled because of the regulations surrounding the approval of land rezoning, for example. There is a lot of lobbying for investment by various institutions, but I feel red tape should take a back seat to delivery.

“Integrated community housing projects like Mandela Park and Eden View have been slowed by rezoning troubles and this has deterred some investors. By actively bringing plans to show investors and providing more incentives, the much-needed capital injection can get development on track,” he said.

Mothunyane said Absa, Mangaung Local Municipality’s bankers, helps with finance for projects as well as skills. However, a lack of buy-in from stakeholders has seen many facilities lie fallow.

“Northern Bloemfontein cannot really be developed further, so the east is the place to go. The major growth opportunities lie in property development, tourism and commerce, because there is lots of space available. The local municipality has input from major players and there are plans under way, but they need to be taken more seriously and offer business a greater role. More business sense should be allied to the natural resources and central location of Mangaung,” said Mothunyane.

He added that capital alone could not create development.

“The municipality must create the infrastructure that is to be developed, but the new council has yet to gain a proper foothold, and it will require a more integrated approach. In terms of banking for the municipality, our role will not change but we are keen to offer a broader range of expertise to get development on track. We have a development division waiting in the wings to offer guidance and support — a comprehensive basket of business skills.”

For example, Absa is involved in training SMMEs in conjunction with the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein. A broad business curriculum provides skills not just for Mangaung, but for the whole Free State, he added.

Mangaung’s SMME Service Centre became a local branch of the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), and its business adviser, Godfrey Khumalo, agrees that there are major challenges in rolling out economic development programmes in the region.

“We have a mandate to empower SMMEs in our region, 80% of which are informal. We develop, source, package and deliver needs-based products and solutions to enhance the competitiveness of these enterprises. Our role involves assisting them with product development, quality improvement and training, as well as offering them trading points that are accessible for locals.

“We need to raise awareness and create interest in entrepreneurial activities. In partnership with the University of the Free State and the Mangaung Local Municipality, we have compiled a database of BEE compliance-seeking partners for our SMMEs and the agri-sector. By teaching industrial innovation and staging promotional events, we play an advocacy role through acting as a sounding board for local business,” said Khumalo.

Although developments have mushroomed around the airport and along the N8 Corridor, Khumalo feels SMME awareness of such projects is still poor. “We are trying to be relevant to the local situation, but our new strategy is to make local entrepreneurs more aware of opportunities. We need more marketing to quicken the process.”

Various nodes along the N8 Corridor have been selected for development, including Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu, but many facilities owned by the Free State Development Corporation remain underused. According to Khumalo, Chinese investment and factory development has dominated in Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu, but new black enterprises are emerging in retailing and manufacturing.

“Seda is also involved in developing emerging farmers in the region. Unfortunately, before the merging of the three municipalities into Mangaung, development was tremendously skewed. Thaba Nchu had been part of Bophuthatswana and tribal legacies created obstacles to development. I feel that the municipality’s new strategy will address these discrepancies, provided that the influx of residents from the rural areas to Bloemfontein can be stemmed.”

Mangaung’s executive mayor, Gertrude Mothupi, said rural and agricultural development was being fostered by training farms.

“The Lengau Agri-Centre has been established through partnerships with the University of the Free State and the National African Farmers’ Union. The aim is to encourage practical learning and mentoring, giving commercial farmers the opportunity to help emerging farmers in commercialising their operations.”

Khumalo said there was tremendously diverse potential to be tapped in the region.

“Realising the development objectives, from the inner city all the way to Lesotho along the N8, can be achieved and maintained after 2010 if all stakeholders act together in an integrated approach. The environment must be conducive politically, socially and economically to lure the investment Mangaung needs to succeed.”

Pule

October 9th, 2006, 02:27 PM

Fs Estate Sells R43m In 3 Days - 2006/10/09

Email Article
The Wesselheim Secure Lifestyle Estate launched recently in Bethlehem with R43m worth of sales in the three days following the launch. Almost 50% of the development's target has already been reached, and players believe this is confirmation of the growing demand for this style of living.

The multi-million-rand development overlooking Loch Athlone forms the latest link in the Pinnacle Point chain that has seen the group transact more than R1bn in sales in the past two years and bring to the market investment properties in Mossel Bay, Clarens, Port Elizabeth, Romansbaai and Pietermaritzburg.

Being developed on farmland previously under Highveld grass and eucalyptus groves, the 45ha Wesselheim estate includes 222 free-standing stands and five medium-density townhouse developments. Land sales range from R250 000, on ground gently undulating down to Loch Athlone from a flat hilltop area dominating the central portion of the site.

Wesselheim is aimed mainly at current homeowners wanting to relocate and local farmers requiring the security of estate living near town. Pinnacle Point Holdings' CEO Ashley Stone anticipates the properties will be buyers' primary homes, meeting the growing demand for secure estate living in Bethlehem. The guardhouse will be manned around the clock for maximum security and the secure lifestyle estate includes a clubhouse with two tennis courts, squash courts, bowling greens and a fitness centre. The surrounds provide cycling and jogging tracks interspersed with exercise areas, while Loch Athlone provides opportunities for speed-boating, yachting, water-skiing and fishing. Ownership includes membership of the nearby Clarens Golf and Trout Estate.

Construction of bulk services is to begin early next year, and will take a year to complete. Buyers have two years after transfer to start construction and another year in which to finish.

Pinnacle Point Holdings' portfolio includes the flagship Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort at Mossel Bay-based, Clarens Golf and Trout Estate, the Romansbaai Beach and Fynbos Estate, the Wedgewood Village Retirement Golf and Country Estate (PE) and the Elephant Hill's Residential Estate (PMB).

GregPz

October 10th, 2006, 09:27 AM

A fairly unusual view of Pietermaritzburg's skyline

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4112/pmb1og0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

GregPz

October 20th, 2006, 04:01 PM

Was in Maritzburg this morning and saw a building under construction in the lower church street area of the CBD - was up to about 6 or 7 floors, presumably apartments. Also there's a big construction site opposite the municipality building. Don't know what it is but looks pretty big. Will try dig up some info.

Pule

October 26th, 2006, 07:34 AM

Gentle living in Mpumalanga

THE Mpumalanga development market consists primarily of houses located on large stands, with an average area of about 1ha or larger. The demand for property in the province is determined largely by its ecological status and by its attractions, activities and the security on offer.

One of these developments is the 53ha Sabi River Eco Estate, just beyond Hazyview in the heart of the Sabi River Valley. The estate offers eco-estate living, as only 52% of the estate is developed into homes while more than 45% consists of wooded areas, water systems and natural bush.

Craig McFadyen of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, Nelspruit, says that the developer will be replanting 4000 indigenous endemic trees and plants, while the new owners will be asked to plant six indigenous endemic trees or shrubs on their stands.

The Sabi River Eco Estate is 2km from Hazyview Village and lies close to the Sabi River Sun Gold Resort. It is also only 12km from the Kruger National Park’s Phabeni Gate, 30km from the Sabi Sands and 60km from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.

“Sabi River Eco Estate consists of 255 stands from 900m² to 1700m² in size, and an average stand is about 1240m². Prices range from R350000 to R750000, which would be unheard of in any other part of SA, with less land being released for lifestyle estate-type developments, coupled with the huge demand for secure living,” says McFadyen. The average price for a property in Hazyview has grown 59% since 2002.

Rental pool options allow owners to make a return from their property investment if they do not want to live in them. McFadyen says calculations have shown that with a base of 40% occupancy at R1200/night for a three-bedroom home, owners can generate an additional income of about R175000 annually. “Obviously, homes will appreciate in value once the development is completed,” he says.

In Mpumalanga, and specifically in the White River area, there is a move towards residential developments of a different kind, known as gentleman’s estates. Fine & Country White River are currently marketing a few of these estates. One of the developments is Recoletta Estate, said to be one of the most prestigious of its kind in White River.

The estate has a 24-hour security at the entrance and consists of about 15 select 1ha stands, all of which have been sold. A completed home is currently available through Fine & Country White River for R5m.

“Recoletta Estate has excellent views and is only a stone’s throw from Uplands College to which affluent lowveld families send their children. The homes have a true Italian countryside appeal, with sand-washed homes and Juliet balconies,” says Cheryl Reum of Fine & Country White River.

Another development that Fine & Country White River is marketing is Waterberry Country Estate. The 50ha estate is in an upmarket area between White River and Nelspruit.

Reum says that the developers identified a niche in the market for a development that could offer an affordable, secure, country lifestyle, yet does away with the problems associated with maintaining a large piece of land.

With an electric fence surrounding the estate, a manned gatehouse and 24-hour security, Waterberry Country Estate consists of 1ha stands for residential use and the developers have set aside 10ha as common parkland for residents. “This area consists of a large dam, stocked with bass and bream, extensive reed beds, and a large wetland, all of which makes this a birder’s paradise. We are currently marketing a stand in phase three of Waterberry Country Estate for R695 000," says Reum.

Pule

October 26th, 2006, 11:07 AM

Waterberg Property Heats Up - 2006/10/26

Email Article
The property market in the Waterberg area of the Limpopo Province is performing at a rate of knots. Foreign investors simply cannot get enough of the area's authentic bushveld appeal and local investors are enjoying healthy returns on their property investments.

Based in Vaalwater, the only town actually within the Waterberg Range, the newly launched Fine & Country Waterberg Farms and Lodges operates throughout the Waterberg Municipal area.

Nick Van Coppenhagen, licensee for the new branch, went on to explain some of the desirable factors for the Waterberg: "The area is malaria-free, has a mild, favourable climate, a cosmopolitan community and vast range of activities that can be enjoyed. The Waterberg is also proximate to Johannesburg, yet just far away enough for city slickers to relax, has the lowest crime statistics in the country and is the most productive game breeding area in South Africa."

To achieve success in the bushveld real estate industry, it takes sound and intimate knowledge of fauna, flora and all the other aspects that go with the successful marketing and selling of game farms, farms and lodges.

Looking at the property market's current performance, van Coppenhagen says that the market growth has been phenomenal. "Prices of certain desirable properties have doubled and in some cases trebled."

Van Coppenhagen went on to say that the domestic market last year was strong; however, most of their sales this year have been to foreign buyers. "Therefore we found it necessary once we started our own operation to have international exposure, in the U.K. in particular.

GregPz

October 27th, 2006, 09:35 AM

The new legislature building in Pietermaritzburg has been approved. Total cost is R280 million so it should be pretty impressive. It's going to be built on a portion of the Townhill Psychiatric Hospital land - makes sense to put all the crazy people together :)

xuite

October 28th, 2006, 11:06 AM

It is not in the City but in the same Province as Joburg and Pretoria. It is located in Vanderbijlpark about an hour from Johannesburg. Its an average town that have started to revitalize itself. It is located next to Vaal river and the property in that region is of high standard.

Thanks Pule,I use to stay in Vanderbijl (1999-2001).Use to work there since 1996,but drove everyday from Potch.I think Vanderbijl is a nice place.

SA BOY

October 28th, 2006, 11:14 AM

GregPz

October 28th, 2006, 11:19 AM

Most of the new development in Pmb has been focused around this area. There also isn't really any land in the CBD they could use and most of the offices are being used by government departments anyway.

SA BOY

October 29th, 2006, 07:09 AM

so is this another example of a government complex like Uliundi that is detached for all its support buildings?
Does this mean the Natalia buildings will become vacent or is one the parliment and the other provincial admin? surely they should be close together?

SA BOY

October 29th, 2006, 07:10 AM

also read that its gonna take 5 and half years to finnish, seems like an awful long time for only a 280mil project

GregPz

October 29th, 2006, 09:41 AM

No this has nothing to do with the Natalia building. This is just the legislature which is currently in a historic building near the city hall. All the admin is totally separate. The site is only about a 2-3 minute drive from Natalia.

SA BOY

October 29th, 2006, 11:07 AM

excellent, seems Maritzbara is having a mini boom, any news yet on those 2 big sites you mentioned above

dysan1

October 29th, 2006, 12:05 PM

yeh saw the extension to the midlands mall last sunday, was real nice inside. and pmb is getting so top stores now! was surprsied to see a stand alone carducci store in pmb.

all this rejuvenation in the cbd is very good for the city. hopefully their will be modern glass structures juxtaposed with the fantastic victorian

Pule

October 30th, 2006, 10:21 AM

Mines Boost Lowveld Property Market - 2006/10/30

New mining development in Mpumulanga is providing a major stimulus for the residential property markets in and around Lydenburg, Burgersfort, Steelpoort and Ohrigstad.

A significant influx of property buyers was recently reported in response to the development of some 15 new mines on a north-easterly axis about 30km outside Lydenburg, which are set to considerably boost platinum production by of Anglo American and the giant Xstrata Group.

Dirk Burger of Homenet Lydenburg says the expanded mining activity together with the ongoing growth of the agricultural and tourist sector are all combining to strongly underpin local property demand across the board.

"We find that everything from freehold property to sectional title developments and to an increasing extent, security villages, is in demand."

The rental market is booming to accommodate the influx of mineworkers and associated employees as well as the broad spread of service industries and manufacturing industries that are following in the wake of the mining growth.

"This in turn has led to expansion of infrastructure in the area with roads, shopping centres, schools and commercial centres all being upgraded."

A new 25 000sq m shopping mall is coming on-stream in 2007/8 just outside Lydenburg and numerous smaller shopping centres are springing up in the various towns in the region. "It has even been suggested that Steelpoort could become larger than Lydenburg which itself is expanding strongly."

On the property front in these centers, most of the action is to be found in the R700k to R800k price bracket but there is also strong demand at the lower end of the market.

"Meanwhile, developers have signalled their arrival on the market with numerous new schemes and investors have sensed the potential returns to be made in the area by purchasing buy-to-let properties.

SA BOY

November 7th, 2006, 10:30 AM

Seems Newcastle is having a mini boom with the casino and all

"Since the announcement that we were moving ahead with the construction of a permanent casino complex in Newcastle, residential property values have quadrupled," Reddy said.

The decision by steel giant Iscor to revamp its plant at Newcastle as well as a R500-million upgrade by Carbochem has also enhanced the town's mini boom.

"There are also moves for a R6-billion recommission of the Kilbarchan power plant outside Newcastle," he said

GregPz

November 7th, 2006, 12:11 PM

No way property prices had quarupled because of a casino!!!! Anyway nice to see other development in Newcastle. Things seem to have been pretty stagnant in those northen kzn towns. I remember reading a few years ago that Newcastle has the highest proportion of Chinese people in SA - wonder if that's still the case?

SA BOY

November 8th, 2006, 06:39 AM

from what I can remember of the place , its a shit hole and was always dirty , not in litter but like in soot from the steel works

Harkeb

November 9th, 2006, 05:25 AM

Pule

November 17th, 2006, 06:29 PM

No stock and a waiting list of more than 100 homebuyers - that's not a flashback to 2003 or 2004 but the current situation for a leading agency in Mtubatuba, the flourishing hub of ecotourism in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

"The current housing situation in Mtubatuba is critical and with large-scale commercial developments now in the pipeline, it will be just about impossible to meet the additional demand from new residents," says Gawie Spies, principal of Homenet Chevwood.

While his list of those waiting to buy property in the town has now topped 100, he notes, sellers are upping their asking prices due to the increased demand - and anything that is reasonably priced is being snapped up within a day or two.

Spies says that a mid-level home in the town will sell for between R590 000 and R680 000, with the more expensive homes selling for between R800 00 and R1,5m. "This leaves lower income and many middle-income buyers queuing up - because there are just no properties available within their price range.

"We need stock in the R200 000 to R400 000 bracket but this is not coming on to the market, even though there is plenty of vacant land belonging to the Department of Public Works (DPW) that is literally lying dormant due to a lack of interest in releasing it for sale or zoning it for development."

Mtubatuba lies just 55km north of Richards Bay and between the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve and the St Lucia world heritage site. It is thus ideally located as a base from which to explore the whole Elephant Coast region and is gaining international renown as an ecotourism destination.

Consequently, commercial property in the town is on the up. Homenet Chevwood is currently involved in a large, upmarket shopping centre development and there is also talk of a hospital development.

"Which is fantastic news for residents who have been travelling to Empangeni or Richards Bay to avoid the overcrowded local shopping centres," says Spies. "However these new ventures will create an even bigger demand for residential property and the municipality needs to address this problem now."

He says there is also an urgent need for a high school development in Mtubatuba. "There are two primary schools and one pre-primary school in the town. But senior pupils have to travel 50km by bus to the nearest high school, so this situation needs to be addressed as soon as possible. The market is wide open for a private high school development to serve our growing population."

Paulo2004

November 25th, 2006, 01:33 AM

Where exactly is Vaal Mall, in Vanderbijlpark?

Pule

November 27th, 2006, 10:52 AM

Where exactly is Vaal Mall, in Vanderbijlpark?

Yebi, it is @ corner of Barrage road, the one that goes to Sasolburg, and the one fromn Vereeniging.

Pule

December 1st, 2006, 02:39 PM

Vanderbijlpark

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2905/p1010478tj3.jpg
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Pule

December 2nd, 2006, 03:18 AM

Knysna council backs new hotel at Brenton

By Francois Rank Garden Route Bureau Chief

KNYSNA‘s municipal council yesterday approved plans to build a controversial multi-million-rand hotel on the Brenton-On-Sea hotel site.

The go-ahead comes without any environmental impact assessment being carried out, a move which has come under fire from environmentalists in the area.

The original Brenton Hotel burnt to the ground three years ago when a fire started in the kitchen on a Sunday afternoon. In October last year, the land was sold to developers Ocean Estates International.

An application to develop the land was turned down earlier this year because of issues surrounding services capacity, environmental impacts and aesthetics. The municipality has also received objections from environmental organisations and members of the public.

However, the latest application, which developers claim is more environmentally friendly, was approved yesterday at the final council meeting for 2006 after a presentation by the developer and architect and a brief meeting of council members.

Knysna chief town planner Ed Hill said because the application to develop had been made in 2005 before legislation which governs EIA practices was put into place, it had not been necessary to have one done.

“The area falls under the Outeniqua sensitive coastal area regulations which don‘t require the same extent of EIA,” said Hill.

However, Western Heads Conservancy chairman Susan Campbell said she believed environmental regulations would have to be complied with regardless of whether the application was brought under old or new environmental legislation.

“Under the old regulations, the upgrading of a resort was a listed activity and under the new regulations the proposed activities within 100m of the high water mark require compliance with environmental regulations. My concern is that they are not sticking to the development footprint of the old hotel. We believe it should not be exceeded. From an environmental point of view, we have great reservations regarding the excavation of sensitive coastal dunes.”

Speaking to council yesterday, development architect Francois Pienaar said: “We are dealing here with a site which has a long history and a great environmental sensitivity. It is a prime site and part of the Outeniqua sensitive coastal area. This new design for the hotel is a green building.”

Pienaar said the roof of the hotel would be landscaped with the natural fynbos which grows in the area. The hotel would also collect rainwater.

The development would create around 400 jobs, Pienaar said.

Hill said yesterday‘s decision would be circulated amongst those who had objected to the hotel.

“They can submit their appeal to the premier, but if the appeal is dismissed then the developers can submit building plans for approval.”

Pienaar said it was hoped construction would start within the next four months.

“Hopefully we will have a hotel up and running by 2008,” he said.

Ocean Estates International is a multinational company which deals in property in Spain, France Turkey and South Africa.

The company deals mainly in luxury apartments and villas. Among its major South African developments are Ocean Quay in Harbour Island near False Bay and Ocean Reef Zinkwazi in KwaZulu Natal.

frank@johnnicec.co.za

Pule

December 3rd, 2006, 07:21 AM

Emerald Casino and Safari Resort, Vanderbijlpark

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4497/p1010491ov9.jpg
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Pule

December 29th, 2006, 10:02 AM

Alberton Market Growing Steadily - 2006/12/22

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Alberton boasts a number of factors that make for a desirable residential area, such as excellent municipal support, good quality amenities and minimal traffic congestion. Prices in Alberton have increased dramatically over the last three years.

In general, the cheapest entry level homes in Alberton are priced at R600k, while in Brakenhurst where the combined number of homes is around 7500, mid-level homes sell for between R900k to R950k. This is according to all CENTURY 21 Prime Properties franchisees.

CENTURY 21 Prime Properties has just joined the CENTURY 21 team. The new office will operate in the greater Alberton and 'New South' areas and is headed up by joint partners Jacques Louw, Henry Lee and Ben Erasmus.

Lee notes that in Brakenhurst, homes can sell for up to R1,5m and homes in Brakendowns sell for up to R1m. Top-end homes in up-market areas such as Meyersdal usually sell for between R2m and R3m, but homes in the area have been known to sell for prices of up to R4,5m and R5m. The majority of interest and buying activity in Alberton however reportedly takes place in the R900k to R1,2m price bracket.

Looking at specific areas, Louw comments that Meyersdal has definitely taken off in the past few years and remains a highly sought after residential area. Alberante is also a very sought after area and in fact has become a very modern place to live. Homes here are older and more established, but they are located on bigger stands as large as 2000sq m to 2500sq m. There are many well renovated homes in Alberante with prices ranging between R2m and R5m.

Interestingly enough, there are two new developed suburbs in the Alberton area including South Downs and Meyersig. Although these are lower priced suburbs, where homes sell for between R600k and R750k, they are snapped up quickly by buyers when they do come onto the market.

In terms of demand, Louw notes a definite demand from buyers for homes in lifestyle estates. In Meyersdal there is an eco and lifestyle estate which was launched to the public and sold out in a matter of days. Lee comments that the cheapest property available in this estate is a 2500m2 piece of vacant land for R1,5m.

"The estate has been environmentally well planned with wildlife recently introduced including Wildebeest. The homes also do not sit on top of one another and buyers clamour to own a piece of property here. It is worth noting that there is almost no vacant land available for sale in Alberton, other than land for sale in this estate."

Alberton boasts a number of factors that make for a desirable residential area, such as excellent municipal support, good quality amenities and minimal traffic congestion. These franchisees say that the municipality in Alberton is very strict in comparison to other areas, and it is very uncommon to find that a traffic light, for example, is out of order in the area.

The rates and taxes in Alberton are also fairly low in comparison to the northern suburbs, which is a draw card for some buyers. There have been a number of upgrades to the area including a massive revamp to The Glen shopping centre in Glenvista, and the recent opening of the New Redruth Village Shopping Centre in Alberton, which is an exceptionally up-market shopping facility. There is also a range of good schools and hospitals, including the highly rated Marais Viljoen High School. Another draw card for the area is the thriving industrial area in Alrode, which has attracted a number of high profile companies.

Lee points to an emerging trend in the Alberton property market: "There appears to be a downward trend of buying older properties, demolishing them and then rebuilding new newer townhouses or cluster complexes. This may well be due to the high prices that sellers are asking for their properties, anywhere between R1,5m and R1,7m, but demolishing land in order to rebuild is happening at a slower rate than before."

Commenting on the greater Alberton property market, Louw says that there has been a healthy influx of buyers and the market has grown rapidly. "There has also been a tremendous growth in the amount of operating estate agents. Nevertheless, I think with the recent upswing in the interest rate, this will filter through to the estate agents and quite a few of them will leave the industry."

Although demand has shown a decline, both Lee and Erasmus believe there are still properties in the area that are selling at record prices. "In the months to come, properties in Alberton will experience further growth, albeit at a slower rate. We expect this will be maintained until the end of 2007, at which time the market will turn positively in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup."

For more information contact 083 353 6811 or send an email. Click here to visit the website.

Pule

December 29th, 2006, 10:13 AM

Knysna

http://www.guidemecapetown.co.za/House%20boat%20Knysna.JPG

Pule

January 2nd, 2007, 01:59 PM

The Ridge in Witbank

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Pule

January 3rd, 2007, 01:49 PM

Posted to the web on: 03 January 2007
Billions of beeps usher in new year
Lesley Stones

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-Mail article Print-Friendly

Information Technology Editor

SOUTH Africans have become a nation of electronic greeters, with more than 1,5-billion cellphone text messages sent over the recent holiday season. MTN alone handled 1,17-billion SMS messages over Christmas and New Year, almost double the number it carried last year.

But fast fingers and thumbs have not completely replaced the more personal touch of a phone call, with MTN reporting a 46% rise in voice calls from last year to an astonishing 1,87-billion calls during Christmas and New Year.

MTN said its network had been able to handle that massive rise in traffic because of a significant investment to boost its capacity for the festive season.

Customers are also getting more techno savvy, said Bernice Samuels, its GM for corporate affairs, with a 400% leap in the number of MMS, or multimedia, messages sent.

The network delivered 8,8- million messages containing pictures, video and sound.

“Our big story is the phenomenal growth of MMS traffic,” Samuels said. “The uptake of personalised, fun technologies indicates to us that customers are vying for our lifestyle- and value-driven products and services. We were certainly glad to help our customers share special moments with friends and loved ones over the holidays.”

The figures from MTN trounced Vodacom, even though Vodacom has by far the most customers in the country. Its 20,2-million subscribers give it a 59% share of the cellphone market. Vodacom SA’s network carried more than 350-million SMS messages, divided almost equally with 153-million sent over Christ-mas and 152-million delivered as the calendar rolled over. That was up from 260-million festive greetings sent the previous year.

Vodacom also reported a “staggering increase” in multimedia messages, with 1,3-million sent over Christmas, up from 780000 a year ago, and 1,4-million sent over the new year, up from 450000.

“This is an indication of subscribers being more in tune with technology and making greater use of its benefits,” said chief communications officer Dot Field. No network congestion was reported, she added.

Cell C also said it had been able to carry more voice and data traffic this time around by upgrading its network just in time for the peak festive season. Its 2,9-million subscribers sent 19-million text messages on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the Day of Goodwill, and followed up with 16-million more messages as 2006 turned into 2007. That translates into each customer sending 12 messages. Even so, Cell C handled just a tenth of the number of messages sent out over Vodacom’s network.

A year ago, Cell C carried 12,3-million SMS messages as the year ended, and for the dawn of 2005 it had handled 8,9-million. Despite the heavy traffic, said Cell C’s media liaison officer Vinnie Santu, the network managed a successful call completion rate of 99,1%.

Other countries also reported amazing growth in seasonal greetings by SMS. Danes and Norwegians broke their previous records with the Danes sending 16-million over the new year period, up 31% from a year ago. Norwegian networks carried 37,5-million text messages on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, says Sapa.

Things were less successful in Bulgaria, where mobile networks temporarily collapsed because of high traffic shortly after midnight on January 1.

While global figures have not yet been calculated, the number of SMS greetings sent over the new year is tipped to top 200-billion. Airwide Solutions, a mobile messaging player, predicted a massive increase in the emerging markets of eastern Europe, north Africa and Asia.

Airwide expected the UK to top 200-million New Year messages, and predicted that Poland and China would match that. The US, where SMS is less successful because local phone calls are free, is expected to report 125-million New Year messages. However, Filipinos, who send 400-million SMS messages on a normal day, should be the leaders.

Pule

April 8th, 2007, 10:18 AM

Bethlehem's Rising Star - 2007/04/04

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The picturesque town of Bethlehem in the eastern Free State has been earmarked for what's believed to be one of the biggest mixed-use developments ever undertaken in the Free State.

Property developers are increasingly shifting their attention away from well-developed metropolitan areas to small rural towns. Bethlehem in the eastern Free State is one of the up and coming investment destinations. The picturesque town has been earmarked for what's believed to be one of the biggest mixed-use developments ever undertaken in the Free State.

JSE-listed property fund Orion Real Estate earlier this month obtained approval for a R1bn waterfront development on a 47ha site at Gobles Folly, near Peermont Global's new Frontier Inn Casino.

The project - to be developed with joint venture empowerment partner Isaac "Blacky" Seoe - will comprise a regional shopping centre of 40 000sq m, luxury high-density residential units, a retirement village, a three or four star hotel, restaurants and other leisure and entertainment facilities.

Aldo Alberts, CEO of Orion's development division, says approval for the project follows the recent lifting of a development moratorium by Dihlabeng Municipality, which incorporates the towns of Bethlehem, Clarens, Fouriesburg, Paul Roux and Rosendal.

Other developers are also placing their bets on Bethlehem. Cape Town-based property group Pinnacle Point Holdings, in which Lazarus Zim's Afribalm Resources holds a 26% stake, recently launched an upmarket residential development in Bethlehem on former farmland overlooking Loch Athlone.

The project - Wesselheim Secure Lifestyle Estate - will comprise 222 freestanding plots, five medium density townhouse developments and a clubhouse with two tennis courts, squash courts, bowling greens and a fitness centre. Residents will also have access to facilities for water sports and fishing.

Pinnacle is known for its golf course developments, such as Pinnacle Point Beach & Golf Resort (near Mossel Bay), Clarens Golf & Trout Estate (eastern Free State) and Wedgewood Village Retirement Golf & Country Estate (Port Elizabeth). However, Dave McGregor, sales and marketing director for the Pinnacle group, says it's shifting focus to residential lifestyle estates in Free State towns such as Bethlehem, Welkom and Bloemfontein.

He says such locations have been bypassed by developers during the recent housing boom and now offer better growth prospects than cities. McGregor says rural towns generally have a huge shortage of new housing stock. Supply pressure is further fuelled by the ongoing migration of city dwellers to smaller towns and a growing demand for weekend leisure properties.

Latest housing data from the Knowledge Factory's SA Property Transfer Guide (SAPTG) shows that property investors who have already bought into Bethlehem saw values increase by a massive 58% last year.

Interestingly, Deeds Office data shows that average house prices in Bethlehem have now overtaken those of nearby weekend hot spot Clarens: average house prices in Bethlehem have surged to R600 000 compared to R580 000 for Clarens.

Dullstroom, in Mpumalanga's trout triangle and another popular getaway for well-heeled Gautengers, is still slightly ahead of Bethlehem in terms of average house prices at R628 500.

Data recently released by home loan originator MortgageSA confirms that housing markets in SA's rural towns are booming. MortgageSA CEO Saul Geffen says there's been a particularly strong surge in demand for mortgages in mining regions in recent months. He believes that comes on the back of rising commodity prices and increased mining and exploration activities.

Geffen says spikes in demand have been most noticeable in regions such as the Northern Cape, the Free State goldfields and in towns around the edge of the Bushveld igneous complex. – Joan Muller

Mo Rush

April 8th, 2007, 02:07 PM

nice pics.

GregPz

April 18th, 2007, 01:07 PM

There's a new R230 million shopping centre to be built next to the casino in Newcastle. Will be the bigest in northern KZN and include cinema's. Good news for Newcastle.

Pule

April 29th, 2007, 03:03 PM

Sunday Times, page 7 at the bottom "Kezner sets sights on Namaqualand". It seems like big plan.

Upington

May 16th, 2007, 03:22 AM

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Upington

May 16th, 2007, 03:31 AM

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Pule

May 16th, 2007, 07:43 AM

Which place is this?

SA BOY

May 16th, 2007, 10:13 AM

harmanus I think

Caisson Boy

May 29th, 2007, 10:46 AM

Amazing how green everything is in summer, considering it is in a semi-desert area.

Anglican Church of St. Barnabas
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8435/dscn0989fa2.jpg (http://img509.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn0989fa2.jpg)

Anglican Church of St. Barnabas
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Tourism Information Office (Old Gaol)
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Private Home
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Auberge in the Main Road (Meintjies Street)
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Dutch Reformed Vicarage
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5182/dscn0976sv4.jpg (http://img244.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn0976sv4.jpg)

Dutch Reformed Church Hall (Claassen Hall)
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Karel Theron Primary School
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Pule

May 30th, 2007, 06:50 AM

Gauteng Construction Burgeoning - 2007/05/29

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Gauteng's construction and peripheral industries are set to experience an 'explosion' never seen before in South Africa in the coming years, according to Standard Bank chief economist Goolam Ballim.

He said on Tuesday that approximately R1.2 trillion was expected to flow through these sectors and their extended supply chains - a sharp contrast to the R700m that was spent during the past three years.

He bases this on the performance of the Gauteng Business Barometer (GBB), a unique index that measures Gauteng's economic activity on a monthly basis, which revealed an especially robust construction industry in April, with activity levels remaining nearly 20% higher than in the same month last year.

"It also places into perspective the contribution of the 2010 Soccer World Cup of between R50bn and R60bn to South Africa's gross domestic product," Ballim said.

The R1.2 trillion represents a composite figure which includes activity in the extended supply chain of the construction industry, in the residential and commercial fields.

"April was probably the weakest barometer we have seen since we launched in June last year," said T-Sec economist Mike Schüssler. "The main reason for this is the negative impact of higher interest rates and inflation. Implementation of the eNaTIS system (the national traffic computer system) also has an impact. The effect is more severe than we thought would be the case, four or five months ago.

"The economic sectors that performed worse month on month and year on year were the mining and trade sectors. The trade sector, which includes retailers, wholesalers and tourism operators were hit by the effects of the eNaTIS system, resulting in 6.2% decrease in motor vehicle sales."

Pule

May 30th, 2007, 06:52 AM

R300m Office Park Build Commences - 2007/05/29

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Construction is about to get under way on the new R300m Greenstone Hill Office Park development in Modderfontein.

The joint venture includes Barrow Properties, Vunani Properties and Sherratt Property Ventures. It comprises 25 000 sq m of campus style offices within Heartland Properties' Greenstone Hill (mixed-use precinct). The area will accommodate various retail, commercial, residential and industrial segments.

The office development is alongside the recently opened 70 000 sq m Greenstone Mall, the 50 000 sq m Stoneridge Lifestyle Centre opening in September 2008 and related commercial precincts, thus providing the full spectrum of amenities in the new node.

Barrow said most of the buildings will offer units for sale or lease from 800 sq m upwards, with one being divided into smaller individual sections from 120 to 280 sq m in size.

Selling prices will be approximately R11 500 sq m (including parking) and leasing will be at R85 sq m (gross). All will be delivered as base build units with a high degree of customisation possible for clients.

Grant Lotter of Moren Williams architects says the buildings are of contemporary design within a parkland setting, complete with water features, walking paths and luxuriant landscaping.

The buildings will comprise of two storeys plus basement with five parking bays per 100 sq m, and featuring 'A' grade finishes in a high security environment.

Graham Sherrat of Sherrat Property Ventures comments that the launch coincides with demand exceeding supply in the commercial property sector, reinforced by a new report on the positive performance of the South African commercial property market.

The research group's global index for property returns shows that South Africa out-performed all global markets analysed, with returns of 30,1% pa over a five year period to 2006. Ireland came second with 24,3%, followed by the USA with 20,2%.

Pieter Mackenzie of Vunani Properties adds:"There is every indication that the strength of the local commercial property market, as reflected in the report, will continue.

"The Heartland precinct is strategically positioned relative to Sandton, Bedfordview, Isando, Midrand and other key areas, including the main Gautrain route to OR Tambo International."

Pule

June 1st, 2007, 03:03 AM

Nelspruit gets new lease of life

THE growth of Nelspruit’s property market has been powered by exports, tourism and infrastructure developments, but chiefly by the arrival of new market entrants. In the past, Nelspruit and the surrounding area merely housed the agricultural community and was not much more than an almost insignificant town on the way to the Kruger Park.

“Today, this area represents a land of opportunity, with a growth three times that of other areas. It is more than just part of one’s journey, it has become one’s destination,” says Clive Gauntlett, director of Engel & Völkers for the Lowveld.

He says that where Nelspruit once typified more of a retirement zone, it is now an area where young people are flocking to to make a living and to find an improved quality of life.

Industry and jobs are adequately sustaining this phenomenon. Gauntlett says that Nelspruit was always more of a gateway town, but with the growth in Mozambique and increased activity in the Kruger Park, its importance has increased.

This former conduit is now a real boom town. People are relocating for the quality of life, beautiful climate and proximity to the Kruger Park. With mobile offices, and the changing nature of business, it becomes easier to enjoy a good lifestyle here.

Carl Jacobs of Homenet Nelspruit says: “Economists are saying that there were 400000 new entrants to the property market last year, with another 200000 to 300000 expected to come in this year, and we seem to be getting our fair share of that growth in our neck of the woods.

Most of the action is in the R550000 to R600000 bracket — well below the national average for house prices of R900000 and offering potential for growth, making Nelspruit an excellent prospect for investors and buyers at this end of the market.

“Developers have identified the gap and are bringing new stock to the market, most of which is of good quality and soundly built, suggesting that Nelspruit will avoid the creation of future slums that appear to be emerging in some of the major centres,” says Jacobs.

Moreover, he says, Nelspruit is a comparatively small centre. Commuting is easy and development land is within reasonable distance of amenities.

Meanwhile, investors have also seen the opportunities, and the buy-to-let demand at the lower end of the market in Nelspruit is robust. It is still possible to make a solid return on a good property investment within a year to 18 months, says Jacobs.

To cope with all the new property transactions in the area, a new Deeds Office is being opened in Nelspruit. The Mpumalanga Deeds Registry plans to open on July 2 this year and will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the local property industry, says Kim Pascoe, owner of the local Chas Everitt International franchise.

“It will mean that local deeds will not have to be registered in the Pretoria office. Documents will no longer have to be forwarded to Pretoria, while the Mpumalanga office is unlikely to handle the same volumes, speeding up the process even further,” says Pascoe.

The local property market is also expected to benefit from the mooted move of government departments from Witbank and from the establishment of a High Court in the city, which will stimulate demand for residential units.

Pascoe says the market is currently lively with plenty of local buyers, especially newly empowered buyers. “The city and surrounds have also retained their magnetism for buyers from all parts of the country and there is marked interest from developers from Pretoria and Johannesburg who want to cash in on the expected demand for new units in the run-up to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.”

Johann Doubell, owner of the local Aida franchise, agrees that the prospect of the World Cup is stimulating new activity in Nelspruit’s property market.

“Investors are gearing up for this premier sporting event, while property developers are sourcing development land to bring new units to the market in time for the expected growth in demand.”

He also expects the rental market to get a fillip out of the building of the new soccer stadium. “Rental units are expected to be in strong demand when building of the stadium starts towards the end of this year.

“Most contractors will have to be sourced from elsewhere and will need short-term accommodation and rentals are thus likely to rise on the back of increased demand,” At the same time, investors who want to get in early now have a window of opportunity, “Doubell says.

Several developments that were planned at the height of the property boom are now nearing completion and are boosting stock levels. “Buyers who get in now are likely to get better bargains than those who wait until closer to 2010,” Doubell says.

Industrial and commercial development, however, has not kept pace with residential development, Doubell says.

“Rentals are rising as demand increases. Rentals for industrial space now start at about R25/m², while commercial space in older buildings starts at about R60/m².

“In newly released stock, rentals are at least double, starting at R120/m². This creates another opportunity for developers.

“However, industrial and commercial development land is in relative short supply, a fact reflected by rising land prices. Land zoned for industrial use is selling from R400/m², while prices for land zoned for commercial use start at about R1500/m².”

Craig McFadyen of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Nelspruit, says of the influx of new development: “As with all growing towns, services such as water and sewerage need to be carefully considered by developers. However, Mbombela, the local municipality, are very helpful in addressing and solving these problems.

“There is now an element of traffic congestion in Nelspruit, something we are certainly not used to, but Mbombela have plans for a major road which will reroute traffic to White River, thereby reducing the level of congestion.”

He says that there will be continued development in the area: “We know that the Nelspruit market will continue to grow, the Deeds office, Department of Education and High Court are relocating here and the estimate is that more than 1000 families will be relocating to Nelspruit over the next 24-36 months. This means that we will still have a shortage of residential stock.

We predict that buyers will still be more selective for a long period though. These new families however, will add to the general economy of Nelspruit.

“The water pipeline to White River is in process of being built now, which should alleviate some of the water issues which developers contend with,” says McFadyen.

Two key developments are The Rest Eco and Nature Estate, a Sanlam development, and Splice, an exclusive mixed-use development in Nelspruit’s business district, says McFadyen. ISABELLA VERNA

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Pule

June 15th, 2007, 04:23 PM

Construction boom spurs Bhisho merger
15 Jun 2007 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
King William's Town and Bhisho could merge within the next three years, following the sleepy corridor's first construction boom in decades

By Roux Van Zyl
King William's Town and Bhisho could merge within the next three years, following the sleepy corridor's first construction boom in decades.

The developments that have popped up almost overnight range from two housing projects worth at least R110 million to a new shopping centre and a R100 million upgrade to Bhisho Airport.

New government buildings are also planned for Bhisho, including a new Office of the Premier at R60 million and the R53 million House of Traditional Leaders scheduled for completion in the next three years.

The range of developments, coupled with more people being employed at the Eastern Cape government headquarters, have caused a housing shortage in the King-Bhisho area, says Etienne van Rensburg from ASAP Properties.

"There are far more buyers than properties available in the King-Bhisho area," said Van Rensburg, who markets a 93-unit development called Uitsig near Breidbach. "This is due to government employees and their increasing buying power,"

This week also saw the launch of a massive 330-unit Lakeside development situated in the Balassi Valley, three kilometres from Bhisho. Keren Stone, from ERA Sun, said the development was primarily focused on civil servants working in Bhisho who were battling to find accommodation. "Our aim is to bring families together again," she said. "The housing problem in Bhisho split up families because children had to stay behind as their parents could only find one-bedroomed flats near their work."

Van Rensburg said the influx of government employees had also attracted new businesses.

One example is the upmarket Stone Towers shopping centre, anchored by Pick 'n Pay, that was opened in March.

Chris Hetem, from the King William's Town Housing Association, said future property growth along the King-Bhisho corridor was likely to be driven by office accommodation as opposed to industrial developments.

"The Eastern Cape economy is doing very well," he said. "The political isolation and uncertainty of the past has disappeared and the government is doing well. The international market has discovered South Africa and I think all these factors are hitting the Eastern Cape at the same time," he said.

As a result, the property growth in Bhisho and King William's Town will merge the towns within the next three years, Van Rensburg said.

Daily Dispatch

Paulo2004

June 17th, 2007, 10:42 PM

Nice photos pule.

Pule

July 13th, 2007, 12:23 PM

Vukile's Limpopo mall to be completed in October
13 Jul 2007 - Inet Bridge -

Intro

Development of the new Moritawa Crossing shopping centre being built in the Jane Furse district of Limpopo is progressing well and the centre should open for business towards the end of October this year as scheduled, property loan stock Vukile said on Thursday.

On completion, Vukile will own an 86.5% stake, worth 61.6 million rand in the centre.

The centre, which will have a gross lettable area of 11 280 m2, will serve a rural community of some 185 000 people who currently have to do their shopping at Groblersdal, 40km away.

The centre is already fully let with SPAR and Jetmart as anchor tenants.

Some 85% of the total area has been let to national tenants.

Vukile expects Moritawa Crossing to produce a net initial yield of 9.5% in the first year.

Pule

July 16th, 2007, 03:35 PM

Published: 16 Jul 07 - 9:13
The Rustenburg municipality is to spend R400 million on a major road infrastructure project ahead of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, BuaNews reports.

The municipality, in conjunction with the North West provincial transport master plan and the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, plan to spend R400 million on road infrastructure as part of their preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

A Western Bypass is planned to link the N4 road with the Sun City resort and an Eastern Bypass will link the N4 with the Rustenburg aerodrome.

Spokesperson for the municipality, Butler Matlapeng, says tenders will go out as soon after the funds from the National Department of Transport and the National Treasury are secured.

It is hoped the roads will be completed by the end of February 2009.

Matlapeng said: “These highways will have a significant role to play in improving traffic flow between Rustenburg and the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, which is an approved match stadium for 2010 FIFA World Cup games.

“Several arterial roads around the stadium have also been planned for construction.”

He said secondary access roads from Helen Joseph street between Pretoria and Rustenburg will cost around R6,5-million.

The Royal Bafokeng Administration has partnered with the provincial Department of Roads, Transport and Community Safety to construct a dual carriage route worth over R100-million which will lead to Sun City.

The first phase of the road, which is between Phokeng and Boshoek will be completed by October this year.

Matlapeng said the municipality was preparing to double its electricity capacity by 2009.

A substation with the capacity of 160 MVa, costing R180-million is to be erected.

“It will take us a period of 18 months to build a transformer for the substation and it will cost us a further R30-million to install the transformer,” he said.

The current supply is sufficient as it is able to feed a big Xstrata smelter outside town. – BuaNews

Pule

August 2nd, 2007, 08:28 AM

Ficksburg, I think this small town is stunning
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SA BOY

August 2nd, 2007, 09:31 AM

Pule

September 2nd, 2007, 12:01 PM

The R400m upgrade planned for SA's only ski resort includes the erection of a fractional ownership hotel.

Tiffindell Ski Resort, South Africa's only ski resort, is about to get a further boost with a R400-million development by its new owner, which will enhance the existing winter facilities and offer an entirely new spectrum of summer activities.

The development will make Tiffindell the ultimate "all-season" resort, catering for both the winter and summer visitor. The 25,000m2 development will include several new runs, a new four-seater chair lift, and the construction of a Fractional Hotel, which will include amenities such as restaurants and cafés, a conference centre, gym and Spa and Wellness Centre.

In addition, the public has been given an opportunity to invest in this premier five-star lifestyle, with fractional options starting at R340,000 for a two-bedroom unit, and up to R590,000 for a four-bedroom unit. This fractional ownership offering amounts to one week in winter and two in summer and opens up this exciting opportunity for many potential buyers – many of whom are already on a waiting list.

"Buyers will be able to obtain mortgage finance on the fractional units, which have been approved by all the major banks," says David Taylor, CEO of Tiffski, the new owners of Tiffindell.

The development of multiple runs, as well as a new ice rink, will enhance winter activities. Access to the runs will be much easier thanks to the new chair lift.

A range of summer recreational activities will also be introduced, such as fly-fishing, horseback riding, BMX and Quad Bike riding, mountain biking, camping, mountain climbing and hiking. Those seeking an adrenalin rush will enjoy the skateboard park, the grass skiing and the flow rider, where visitors can learn how to surf.

Construction is due to begin in January 2008, with expected completion of phases 1 & 2 in winter 2009. A new runway that will accommodate weekly flights will be completed in time for the 2008 snow season. Discussions are underway with local airlines to offer extra flights. The roads between Barkly East, Rhodes and the resort are also being upgraded, so access to the resort will be improved.

The development will give a much needed boost to employment in the Eastern Cape with 1,500 jobs being created during construction and a further 1,500 sustainable jobs thereafter. The upgrade has been given a big thumbs up by the Eastern Cape government as well as tourism. Speaking at the launch held at Montecasino in Gauteng, in a specially created environment of artificial snow, ski slopes, an ice bar and husky dogs, Pam Yako, Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, said that tourism had been identified as a key sector in achieving a 6% growth in the economy. The Tiffindell project could be a contributing factor to the growth in the number of tourists visiting South Africa, which stood at 8.3 million last year. The resort was part of the vision of creating a world class destination that would stimulate the economy, with sustainable growth in the GDP.

"Additionally, the new positioning of the resort will attract many more KZN and Cape visitors," says Taylor. Almost 60% of Tiffindell's visitors have originally come from Gauteng but latest stats show an increase in the number of Cape Town tourists, with this figure set to increase.

Approximately 80,000 to 100,000 South Africans travel overseas for snow skiing every year, and the new Tiffindell development is set to capture a larger share of this market particularly as travelling to America and Europe is becoming more costly, and obtaining visas is becoming more difficult. "By developing a first class resort with a variety of leisure activities, we are offering these travellers a similar experience right on our doorstep. We are expecting our figures to increase by 30% next year, especially with the improved skiing, more snowmaking and better ski lifts on offer," concludes Taylor.

Snow activities this weekend at Montecasino
Tiffindell Ski Resort brings to Joburg the Slope Style and Big Air snowboarding competitions at the Tiffindell Extreme Snow Extravaganza at Montecasino. With R25,000 in prizes up for grabs, R15,000 to the winner, this urban snowboarding event sees the largest purse in South African snowboarding ever.

The Slope Style snowboarding competition takes place on Thursday, 29 August at 18h00 and the Big Air competition on Friday, 30 August and Saturday, 02 September. The Big Air qualifying session takes place at 16h00 on Friday, the finals at 20h00 on Saturday. Entry per competitor per competition is R50 and registration takes place at the venue on Thursday at 15h00 for Slope Style and on Friday at 15h00 for the Big Air. Participants are required to bring their own equipment for these competitions.