http://www.myimagehub.com/userfiles/dysan1/Perls_of_Umhlanga.jpg


http://www.pearls.co.za/images/homepic3.jpg



NAME: Pearls of Umhlanga
LOCATION: Umhlanga, KwaZulu Natal
STATUS: approved and U/C
FLOORS: varying
HEIGHT: TBA
USE: Residential w/ shopping, entertainment

Pearls of Umhlanga is a self-contained lifestyle development surrounded by magnificently landscaped grounds and exquisite views. Residents will have access to a commercial centre including retail, business and wellness facilities. A vibrant, cosmopolitan setting will feature the country's best boutiques, designer labels and the finest restaurants, to satisfy the most extraordinary tastes and complement your lifestyle.

Music, books, DVD rental, gifts, and even groceries will be on your doorstep, to fulfil every conceivable need.

Pearl Reef- 12F
Pearl Reef, which consists of 22 sectional title apartments ranging from 330 square metres, and includes two penthouses of 590 square metres is the closest development to the beach on the entire Umhlanga coastline, and is now under construction.

The heart of Pearl Reef is its views. Its elegant spatial concept is all about luxurious openness and a natural flow from interior to exterior.

Buyers will have a choice of the finest finishes available enabling them to customise their space according to their personal taste.

Security is a prime consideration and entrance will be by access code or agreed permission only. An elevator will service each wing of the building and will only stop at designated apartments to maintain privacy for residents.

Pearl Tides- 4F w/ terrace
These are terraced condominiums ranging from 245 square metres, the apartments are so close to the beach you can watch the changing tides. Units are staggered and carefully designed to maximise the magnificent view of the sea.

Three- or four-bedroomed options centre around breathtaking views with a natural flow from interior to exterior and a luxurious sense of openness. Each apartment has a drive up approach to a double garage, with direct access to your door, and an additional parking bay for visitors.

Pearl Breeze and Pearl Dawn- 25F and 31F (128m and 147m)
Standing tall over the development, these luxurious apartment blocks reflect the first rays of the dawn.

Select a one-, two-, three- or four-bedroomed apartment to suit your needs and enjoy magnificent views.

Pearl Sky- 43F(220m)
This is the tallest tower in the development. It is exciting for Durban and Umhlanga especially, soaring to new heights, with beautiful sapphire blue glass.

Pearl Walk
The Pearl Walk is this development's fashionable retail and recreation area. Each boutique, restaurant, café and speciality store will create an adventure in quality and exceptional service. Pearls of Umhlanga's residents and visitors can look forward to a superior retail experience to complement their extraordinary lives.

Negotiations are underway to secure leases from the country's finest stores and restaurants.

mike
Any news on these heights?

working on it :)

But i think the 220m maybe too high, and the others too low, but will get definate heights on the smaller two, Pearl Sky is not confirmed, so maybe altered, the others have had their plans passed, so will see what the height is.

220m sounds awfully good though ;) haha ... so we'll keep it until I hear otherwise

should be able to let u know on heights within days, except on Pearl Sky, for that one is still needing approval from council.

Pearl Breeze is up to 2nd floor, the 2 parking levels are also complete.

Pearl Reef is nearly complete and is 13F not 12F! They added another level to the penthouse. Must take a pic of it...i'm terribly sorry!

Whats tying up the approval of Pearl Sky?.............damn Nimbys.......I want to get this thing off the ground!

its being tied up because the other buildings have already taken up all the bulk allowance for the land!!! To get Pearl Sky, they need to get the council to allow them a greater bulk on the land, that has to go thru Environmental assessments and community participation! its very complicated. its NOT just up to any nimbys.

excellent so you can get the heights of the 3 smaller towers. When this consultation process starts we should learn what the proposed height is

Umhlanga is great!!, I would say it's the Gold Coast of S. Africa...:okay:

love it too! but dont think that it will get many more super high rises, that will be reserved for the durban beachfront and the point areas. getting the pearls approved has proven how difficult it will be to have more 20+F buildings in the area...but there is one more planned, but it is a redevelopment of an existing 14F building, it will be gutted and raised to 22F...should be launched soon. it is south of the lighthouse, towards durban

What is it going to look like?

have no idea what it will look like sorry :(

Big article in today's Sunday Tribune giving both sides of the debate on the 43 floor monster. I suspect, though, that it's going to go ahead, regardless of objections. That was the subtle tone of the city manager's position, in my opinion.

roman can post the article think it'll be a intresting read

has anyone managed to get the heights from all this public consultstion ?

Sorry, hsark, but the article is not available on-line.

SA BOY, no heights were mentioned in the article.

I was, however, surprised at how near completion one of the Pearls is (the picture showed that even the exterior paint has been applied).

must be the small 12F one that was refurbished. Seems strange that all through this process the heights havnet come out. Its always the first thing released in OZ when a public consultation iss tarted

we need some pics of the site, come on guys please

i have plenty pics, but cant upload yet, lost my camera cable.

Pearl Reef is nearly complete. They are doing the final exterior touches and will move on to the interior soon.

It is actually 13F.

Have no reason why there are no heights, i've been trying but they dont want to let it out...dont know why, since all the towers have been approved and are underway except for Pearl Sky, Pearl Walk (the retail) and Pearl Spa. These need ammendments to the planning scheme and floor coverage, for with these developments they will double the allowed floor useage for the site!

I've also seen pics of the new pier to built off umhlanga infront of the Pearls...its a beauty!!!! The lighting formation replicates the skeleton of a fish when u look at it from a distance! very iconic!

so you can confirm that the 2 smaller of the 3 big towers in U/C

yes to pearl breeze...pearl dawn starts in March 2006

we are dying for the heights of these, will supprise a few people im sure esspecially the NIMBYS

the spires will add alot of height even though the actual buildings arent that tall. The spires are a min of 20m!

Ok so you have waited for EVER for an update on this one.

Pearl Reef, as u can see, is nearly complete...the cranes are both working on Pearl Tides (north and south blocks). Piling is nearing completion for Pearl Breeze and she shall start to rise in Feb i presume. Enjoy :)



View of site from M4 Interchange

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/Pearlssitedec.jpg


Work on Pearl Tides

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/Pearltides2.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/Pearltides.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/Tidesdev.jpg

Pearl Reef

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/PearlReef.jpg

Umhlanga’s three treasures

The Pearls of Umhlanga development site in KwaZulu-Natal is a hive of construction activity as Pearl Reef, Pearl Tides and Pearl Breeze take shape, writes MICHELLE SWART

LOCATED on one of the last available prime beachfront sites in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Pearls of Umhlanga intends to be a lavish residential development that will transform the area’s coastline of KwaZulu-Natal and set new standards in luxury.

Designed by Dubai-based Creative Kingdom Incorporated, who created the Palms Island Jebel Ali, Dubai and Monte Casino in Johannesburg, the project proposes five apartment complexes, a health spa and commercial boulevard.

Bordered by McCausland and Lagoon Drives, the developers VVE Property Group headed by film producer Anant Singh, Wakefields Devco and Global Property Investments propose to build the project in phases over three years.

“Overall sales have been beyond expectations,” says Keith Wakefield, CEO of Wakefields Estate Agents, the sole selling agents for the development.

“Since our first launch in December last year we have experienced buoyant sales and as much as 85% of what we have brought to the market has been sold. To meet ongoing demand we are launching the balance of Pearl Dawn this weekend.”

There are a variety of one- to four-bedroom units available, priced from R1,8m for the one-bedroom units and R3,2m for the two-bedroom units. So far 17 units have been sold in Pearl Dawn.

To keep things in perspective, plans have been approved for three of the phases — Pearl Reef, Pearl Breeze and Pearl Tides (north and south) — while plan approval is awaited for Pearl Dawn.

“When appropriate an application for an amendment to the town planning scheme will be lodged and building plan approval will be applied for, for the final phase,” said Wakefield. The final phase proposes the commercial boulevard, health spa and Pearl Sky.

Throughout the entire development there is a choice of tasteful colourways, stylish taps and fittings, imported sanitary ware, appliances and wall and floor finishes. Contemporary interior design options have been professionally co-ordinated by a leading South African interior design architect, Keith Africa, to enable buyers to enhance their home according to individual style.

Pearl Reef, a complex of 23 apartments of 330m², with sea views from almost every window, is nearing completion. The apartments are expected to be ready for occupation in the first quarter of next year.

With a choice of the finest finishes available and an emphasis on privacy and security, there are only three Pearl Reef apartments left, priced at R6,85m.

The ground works for Pearl Breeze are well underway, which started in September this year, and there are visible signs of progress. There are still a number of one-bedroom units available in Pearl Breeze priced from R1,8m.

Pearl Tides is the closest complex to the beach, divided into a north and south section for the purposes of construction. Pearl Tides north is sold out and construction is well under way with a start being made on the second floor.

At Pearl Tides south the earthworks are complete, the ground has been piled and the first stages of building have started. Out of a total of 20 units there are still 12 available, of which there is a three- bedroom unit remaining, while the others are all two-bedroom units. These units are priced from R4,8m.

Of the five luxury penthouses being offered, two have been sold. With excellent sea views, they are built on three levels and offer exceptional living with three large bedrooms en-suite, a gym — or fourth bedroom — and a spa bath among other luxuries.

A compelling aspect of the development is the exclusive services being offered. These include a concierge, security, a wellness centre with gym, sauna, pool, spa baths, massage and a range of beauty and health treatments. All the apartments have the option of being “intelligent”, providing homeowners with the ability to automate air-conditioning, open and close curtains to a set time and set alarms from a cellphone anywhere in the world. Adequate parking has also been provided with 1400 underground parking bays, of which 900 will be for residents and the remaining 400 for public parking.

For the developers, the Pearls of Umhlanga will compare favourably with the world’s best and will no doubt peak investor interest.

Any idea when they gonna start with the high rises?
I am thinking of getting a flat there

They have started on Pearl Breeze, the 24F one. It should start to be visible from March...i dont think they are worth the money that is being charged for them...R1.95m for a one bed at R35000/m2!!! not for me!

There is really great development called Impilo being built behind the pearls, in the village, which is recreating the new town centre vibe and design....that place wil be cool, and alot more reasonable...1 bed for R950k

hey dysan keep the pics coming on this bugger by far the most intresting project for me in sa ;) ps i know what the nimbys feel like cape royal and portside are blocking my view of the waterfront *hint i live in upper greenpoint

Mike, Im still looking for another property in Durbs. Any thoughts bearing in mind im not a new town centre fan
Cheers SAB

mate if u not a fan then f off! nah...whatever...u like estaty things? cos i hate that! I told u that i would let u know more about the morningside dev's when i know.

There is a dev called Impilo that has been launched in the umlhanga village...will start a thread for it now...might be ur thing...then again its high street dev...so it prob wont be

Ill look now at this new thing. Im not a fan cos of oversupply in a short space of time. remember I dont buy to live, this is a business decition for me so I need to look at maximum returns over a certain period of time with a rental yield of at least 6-8%.
You may be a fan cos you live there.

maybe i should just stick to the flat @ Palm , that hotel there, is half hotel & half apartments, they look quite nice!

palm will be nice...you'll be opposite me :) i'm in palmgate

@giles: i hear what ur saying, but i'm so against boomed estates!

not boomed estates or I would have bought ages ago in Zimbali, just good centraly located off plan blocks independant of 25 simmilar developments within half a k of it.
As for boomed estates Im a big fan of say Mt Edgecombe. My mum lives there and its great. For her it offers a piece of mind and security as well as the tranquility of living on na golfd estate

Zimbali is awsome! I love golf estates!!! If I lived in natal it would defo be zimbali. But I can see why some people dont like them. The good thing about durbs is that there are so many lifestyle options to choose from.

yeh we do have a rather wide variety of lifestyle choices here...makes choosing where to live rather daunting!

This towers have a real stunning desing. Are in SouthAfrica any other developments with this size?? :?

the Pearls development has some of the tallest buildings planned for South Africa.

Pearl Sky at 44F plus spire is the tallest proposed building in the country and will be between 160m-180m.

Other notable high rises are San Raphael at 35F (135m), The Spinnaker 27F, Moyeni 28F and the new Marriot Tower on Umhlanga Ridge at about 24F plus dome and spire. All these developments are in Durban.

around the rest of south africa, the level of high rise dev is minimal, but there are a few going up near Cape Town in Strand, namely Ocean View 18F and Hibbernian Towers 22F.

The Michelangelo was recently completed in Sandton, Johannesburg at 35F and the only other new high rise proposed for Gauteng is the 30F Lakeview Towers in Centurion outside of Pretoria.

However none of the developments around South Africa come anywhere near the scale and size of the Pearls. These buildings will range from 5F to 44F, and as can be seen, will be very prominent in the city.

how can we find the heights for Pearl Reef and Pearl Breeze...the 2 100% confirmed buildings??? Anyone with a connection cos no one in the team developing wants to let me know!

At 24F plus 4F dome plus spire....this building will be rather high!

I absolutley love this project!!!

from the looks of things, breeze will be complete end of 2007 and dawn by end 2008/early 2009. And therefore sky only by 2010

how can we find the heights for Pearl Reef and Pearl Breeze...the 2 100% confirmed buildings??? Anyone with a connection cos no one in the team developing wants to let me know!

At 24F plus 4F dome plus spire....this building will be rather high!
Have you tried the Project managers, architect and builder? also the approved buildings should have public access to the information as the approval authority j=has a responsiblity to the public to disclose all approved building heights. I went to the planning department on old fort road when I started working on emporis and got all the approved heights from the old plans which were on micro fish, so im sure they would have the latest ones like suncoast casion hotel etc
the chap in charge is called buddy govender and is hell of a frendly and accomodating chap. govenderb@cesu.durban.gov.za and +27 31 3002189
good luck

will do :)

just another look at the dev. 4 cranes are up, and the Tides component is up to level 3 of 4... pearl breeze is rising and is aiming for completion in august next year

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/peralsdurban.jpg

any chance of some pics

I suppose no news of whether or not the Pearl Sky has been approved and will be going ahead?

^^ I think they still fighting with the other property's behind them about the height issue

Fucking nimbys.......so i suppose the other towers are ok..but the tallest is just too high!

wish we had the heights so we could see what all the fuss is about. maybe mike should join the Nimbys and get some insider info on it all

hehe...yes go undercover for us...;)

the developers havent even applied for town planning amendments for Pearl Sky yet. So no one knows anything about its height. Pearl Dawn is in the final stages of approval. Pearls breeze, tides and reef all have approval and are underway. Pearl Reef is now complete.

if they have approval for the 2 shortest towers , can we get that info which will help us determine the others?

will see what i can do

there is a focus on the Pearls in KZN LIVING, on the Home Channel (channel 55 on dstv) its on all weekend. its on at 1352, 1552, 1752 and later this evening and tomorrow... check it out...has great 3d flyer overs!

damn dont get channel 55 here in Dubai

Its gonna get nasty in Umhlanga
See you in court, say Pearls opposers
Umhlanga Rocks residents opposed to the development of the Pearls of Umhlanga flats have found the courage to fight the eThekwini Municipality after a victory over the city by Abahlali Base Mjondolo (Shack Dwellers' Movement).

The Umhlanga Ratepayers' Action Group, which has been appealing against the development, has had several appeals blocked by the city council.

The Pearls, which is expected to consist of high-rise blocks of flats, a commercial boulevard and a spa health centre, is being developed on prime beachfront land in Lagoon Drive.

The group is concerned that the development will increase the Umhlanga population by 100 percent, cast shadows over the beachfront, devalue properties and set a dangerous precedent for development in the area.





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


'No litigation is certain and all litigation is costly'
At a meeting this week residents decided their best option to stop the development would be to seek a court interdict. The group's attorney, Jack Hawkey, told them such an application was their only hope of success.

"No litigation is certain and all litigation is costly, but there are examples of the court intervening where the municipality has adopted a bully-boy and arrogant approach," he said.

Hawkey gave three examples in which the court had intervened against the municipality.

One of these was the victory by Abahlali Base Mjondolo, which had obtained an interdict preventing police officers from stopping a march to the city hall, he said.

The movement defeated the municipality after acquiring the voluntary services of academics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and attorneys from the Freedom of Expression Institute, and took to the streets with placards and T-shirts proclaiming their need for housing.

In contrast, the much wealthier residents of Umhlanga are planning to throw money at their attempt stop the municipality from passing the plans for the Pearls development. Hawkey said it would cost R100 000 to take on the municipality legally.

Residents at the meeting pledged financial support and circulated forms appealing for assistance. The group is also considering staging a march on the offices of the developers.

Hawkey said they would seek a court order ordering the review of plans previously approved and compelling the developers to obtain an environmental impact assessment.

Ethekwini Municipal Manager Michael Sutcliffe said the city was taking into consideration the matter of the shadows, sanitation, bridges and the overall development.

He said people had the right to build and people could also protest, but he did not think an attempt to stop the Pearls development would succeed in court.

He said the city had dealt with the environmental issues and development in Umhlanga was proceeding well.

On the Pearls' website, the developers claim to have site development plan approval for some of the blocks of flats.

In a statement released on Thursday, the developers said they were building within the stipulated rights of the property and no further studies had been required.

i dont know who is gonna plough their money into the campaign. They do have one very important point, the infrastructure in umhlanga needs a massive overhual to cater for all these developments. new stormwater and pumping facilities are needed. roads need widening. we need a fire rescue team that are capable of handling a building of that size, and shadows on the beach do need to be eliminated or minimised, for they are bad enough as it is.

if they can force those issues to be solved, then that will be great, but i don think they will stop the complex, maybe shorten the main tower tho

most of those are the norm when negotiating with councils for your developments, most have to pay a bulk services contribution or agree to fund something for the councill. I disagree that a project this size will totally kill all the existing infrastructure as you have to take into account all the additional dwelling in town since the services went in.
Shadows are a contentious issue and anyone who has been on main beach at surfers will testify to that cold feeling when the sun sets, but having said thatSurfers dident become world renound by sticking their head in the sand like these nimbys seem to be doing. We want world class services but dont spoil our view

well spoiling the beach will kill umhlanga's tourist appeal. u cant kill ur golden goose. i dont think they are "sticking their heads in the sand", u cant just develop develop develop as u wish...and dont bring the nimby card on me....ok, i still want to live in a place where i can use the beach!

no one complained in the 70s when cabanas, sands, and breakers were built. maybe not 40F but at 20F they still cast a shadow over the beach.
i find the whole anti development thing a joke when its commercially viable and not impacting on heratige land or poluting, etc
its this attitude of we were here first, we trashed the place to build our houses and appartments bvut now someone else wants to do it , we are being hypocritical about it.
belive me the council which will get a massive rates boost, local business which will benifit from increased partionige, the whole community who will benifit from development on a unkept blight pice of land that was an eyesare for years as well as getting bulk services upgreade and roads improved vs a few old people who want to maintain a village feel. If umhlunga is closed for business then business will close umhlunga and go else where, its simple economics

^^so true, u should become a politician! I see no need for the outcry from the ppl, Umhlanga has plenty of beach, infact when I go to the beach in Umhlanga we go to the other beachs infront of the cabana's & the other hotels, which is the most populated spot on beach, & umhlanga wont loose its village feel to it, its just a few apartments buildings not offices blocks.

im not trying to belittle the local residents but what i see is a unique opotunity to complete the Umhlunge beachfront with the last decent development plot and in doing so will bring the spotlight on Umhlunga with probably SA best large scale highrise development.
what I dont like is hypocracy and people who push for gateway, edgecombe park, bigger raods better community facilities but cant see that developments like this pay for those things.
2 high rise towers (taller that existing towers) will not block anyones complete sea view. even the first row of houses above the freeway will still see both up and down the coast and there are no houses directly behind the 2 towers. also the 2 towers are not massive slabs like chartwell centre but slim and elegant.
its a storm in a teacup and afetr wasting money and everyones time, the towers will go ahead because of 2 reasons, 1 its apolitically alligned and 2 its of regional importance so the city will want to show its pro development and open for business.

its not about "a few old people". its simply the fact of the beach shadows and views. i totally agree that it will be awesome for durban and umhlanga, and the city wants it too. but they must not damage the beach environment!

safegaurds can be put in place to protect the beach enviroment but can there honestly be an arguement about the benift out weiging the negatives. the more tI think about it the posibilities are endless if the councill plays this right.
upgrade the lifegaurd stations, improve the boardwalk , help reintroduce erosion resistamnt species, allow for x number of additional public parking bays to ease the problem in umhlungs, get the developer to improve the street scape and landscaping , roads , ligghting etc around the devel;opment and there are many more.
As a developer we dont like the fact that we have to "upgrade services for others" but it part of doing business all over the world,improving the surrounds for the council makes better business for the developer.
there has always been a minority objecting to change all over the world on every issue since time began , its their right but when the benifits for many out way the negatives for a few privelaged people then its deffinatly in the publics intrest

i do think that this project is very important for Umhlanga, Durban, the province and a lesser degree the country. it will transform the image of the area. combine it with the new town centre, the marriot complex and the changes at the point, and by 2010 we will have a brand new city basically

exactly but unfortunatly this new city comes at a price to some people ie more traffic, more people, lost of view corridors , more urbinisation and loss of natural( I classify sugar cane as natural) habitat.
but one must look at the greater good this does.
wasent there a propsal for a readman towers in umhlunga at 23F ? this will also piss off the nimbys

Hey everbody wants buisness, It will obviously do alot of good for Umhlanga. Not to say that the place isnt busy already, I mean that place is a buzz, whether you at the beach or at Gateway Umhlanga is always packed with people, this project will bring alot more people into the area which will only do more good. But the part about the building shadowing the beach does worry people abit, but most of the time it should be shadowing its own beach, that is the one right infront of it, & if you look at the position on the buildings it is positioned quite far away from the sands just like the other buildings in the area, & they dont shadow the beaches at all, fine this is abit taller, but the only way we going to find out is if its built.

was there an out cry when the oysters were built?

^^ yes there was, but not to the same extent, due to there heights being only marginally taller than existing buildings in Umhlanga. Most of the complaints were from people in Chartwell Tower, for they lost almost all their views.

Readman is planned as a redevelopment of an existing tower, and adding additional floors to it, so it will not take up existing views.

They need to sort out the traffic problems getting into umhlanga village from the ridge tho. at anytime of the day, the road running down from umhlanga rocks drive to the village is bumper to bumper, and all this new development will only make it worse. that needs to be sorted.

The other concern of the shadowing, is that council plans to create a new swimming beach infront the Beverly Hills. This will offer resort facilities to the hotel guests from there and the oyster box, and an additional public swimming beach.

wow a new beach, will that involve pumping? also heard a few years ago about a marina and pier that was due to be considerd for the are to theleft of the beverly hill (between BH and Pearls) but always thopught it was very steep from the road.

Marina in Umhlanga? that will be cool to see, all the guys busy blasting the rocks from the beach so they can get proper foundations to lay the deck!

there will not be a marina, but there will be the new pier...there is a render of it in the umhlanga thread i think. The alignment of the walkway to the beach is to be altered, and it will be more gentle sloping. Also, the beach is to widened...coming inland more.

The first tower (Pearl Breeze) is rising! 5F so far (plus 3F underground parking...) Will bring the pics soon

cant wait to see em

huh? they strated building the towers?

uh...YEAH!

Man I need to get a life! Vacca, Tiger & johnny foxes aint everyting hey!

You said it! Took some pics today, will put them up tomorrow!

Cant wait to see them

As promised...an update on the work on the Pearls...and they have started work on the new pier too!

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP1489.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP1472.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP1476.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP1479.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP1480.jpg

Well Done dysan

^^ Ah thanx...donations can be sent to.... :)

u take rubels?

Do you take ZIM $$$??

The old Lira will do... :)

But this dev is actually getting some size now and the 4F buildings look imposing on the boardwalk...heaven help the 30F ones!

cool cluster of 4 cranes. I am assuming 2 on the 25F tower, 1 on podium and 1 on the 4F building in the front?

ummm...there are 2 separate 4F blocks, so one crane on each.

The other two are on the 25F block

http://www.thepearls.co.za/news2.html

seems that the 2nd tower is now activly selling, I wonder when this will break ground

they have been selling the second tower for awhile, think they started end of last year some time from what i read in the paper, its in for approval as we speak.

Mike I know I have asked this before but if there is so much contraversy about these towers , howcome no one knows the heights of the approved buildings or even the proposed ones. If there is a ratepayers action group (NIMBYs0 or whoever , surly the devlopers would be open about the heights instead of conjecture about them?

Seems so strange, in OZ or anywhere for that matter a contentious project in the public intrest (taking the developers side) would be transparet about everything. Even the council would allow public scrutany of the project in apublic forum

Maybe they selling so fast that they decided to buildiit taller & dont want anyone to know about it! :D Conspiracy Theory!

They have released the number of floors, which have increased on the smaller tower to 26F (with tower floors or gym and stuff increases to 29F then add spire), to 32F (with tower floors - 35F).

As far as know they have not released heights, but i have not been able to speak to the developers, merely wakefields, the agents, and they not the sharpest tools on issues like height. not really their concern. will try get in touch with the URAG people, they might know.

URAG people? they related to UNTAG?

Here's an article dated May 11, which mentions floors. One person interviewed for the article mentions 'effective heights'. Maybe she knows just how tall these things will be.

(article source http://www.moneyweb.co.za/property/310252.htm)

Pearls of Umhlanga: 'building at their own risk'…
Gaylyn Wingate-Pearse
Posted: Thu, 11 May 2006 18:00 | © Moneyweb Holdings Limited, 1997-2006


Almost all of the apartments in the first three phases of Pearls of Umhlanga have been snapped up but the residents of Umhlanga are putting up a fight to stop the lavish residential and retail development.

The Pearls is the biggest project in KwaZulu-Natal and is being developed on prime beachfront land in Umhlanga. The development comprises seven large structures, including a 38-storey tower.

The developers include filmmaker, Anant Singh of VVE Property Group, Trevor Botsis of Global Property Investments and Keith Wakefield of Wakefields Devco.

The development is expected to consist of high-rise blocks of apartments and penthouses, shops and restaurants, as well as a spa health centre.

Building plans have been approved for Pearl Reef, Pearl Tides and Pearl Breeze, with residents already occupying the Reef and Tides, says Marlene Cornhill, Wakefields manager, Pearls of Umhlanga.

Umhlanga residents objected to Pearl Breeze, a 21-storey block, and formed URAG (The Umhlanga Ratepayers Action Group) in March 2005.

URAG appealed to the town council committee when building plans for the high-rise building were approved.

Celeste Stretch, a town-planning consultant, said URAG’s appeal was dismissed and the group has taken this decision to the Review Board in Pretoria.

“While we wait for the hearing, the council have allowed the developers to carry on with building but warn them that they are doing so at their own risk,” says Stretch.

The developers have submitted plans for the Pearl Dawn, a 29-storey building, and we have submitted numerous objections to this development and are seeking senior council opinion, she adds.

Both the developers and URAG are awaiting council’s decision on the Pearl Dawn phase.

According to the Pearls website, further developments that still require town planning and building plan approval include Pearl Sky (38-stories), Pearl Walk and Pearl Spa.

“While developers talk about Pearl Sky being 38-stories high, the protrusion above the apartment levels (which accommodates services and gym areas) elevates the height to 41-stories”, says Stretch.

The same applies to Pearl Dawn, which will be an effective 31-stories high, she adds.

“The development up to and including Pearl Dawn will utilise all the floor area and coverage permissible for the site and the developers intend to apply to amend the Town Planning Scheme such that the permitted floor area and coverage will be doubled to enable the construction of Pearl Sky and Pearl Walk”, notes Stretch.

Des Tobin, URAG convener, says Umhlanga residents are angry and appalled at the Pearls development.

“The buildings are incongruous and the architectural design is alien”, says Tobin.

We are not against developments in this area but residents and holidaymakers are attracted to Umhlanga because of its coastal ambience and not for its skyscrapers, he adds.

DES TOBIN, the URAG convenor is a twat. he is constantly against ANYTHING that happens in umhlanga that doesnt go through him. He's against the pearls, the new pier, upgrades in the village, the extension of the village...blah blah blah...annoying waste of a man

what bullshit, these are the people who have stiffeld Durbans growth for 20 years, same sort of people who objected to the point development, the airport etc etc. Fucking NIMBYS deserve to have things built in front of them for being so sellfish

The buildings are actually taller than stated if u include the basement levels. on pearl breeze the groundfloor is actually level 5...dunno if those levels count for ur emporis thing tho giles...

also, work will start on pearl dawn no later than august, for if left later it cld compromise the stability of the foundations on the tides buildings. aproval should be granted this week according to sales staff

what bullshit, these are the people who have stiffeld Durbans growth for 20 years, same sort of people who objected to the point development, the airport etc etc. Fucking NIMBYS deserve to have things built in front of them for being so sellfish
you get these assholes everywhere...note- Greenpoint; those Milnerton duts against the harbour expansion in Cape Town;and the sad souls in PE complaining about events on the beachfront disturbing their peace!

They think if they own a flat they own the area! bunch of dumbass's

well regards this development they do have many valid points about the effects on the beach and how the buildings are 3 times higher than anything else near them... playing the devils advocate now

The Devil's Advocate is correct. :) As someone whose family have owned property on the Umhlanga beach for nearly 15 years, I can say that, while I don't oppose the Pearls (for the most part), some of the opposition to it within my family is because of the height factor mentioned by Dysan.

Umhlanga has long had some towers, but 40+ storeys is a quantum leap above anything seen previously in what was, as recently as 10 years ago, a small town which got busy only at holiday times. (Until the mid-1990s, you could've fired a cannon across Umhlanga mid-day during a non-holiday period and hit 2 old grannies, a stray dog, and a few municipal workers taking a siesta on the village green :) .) When long-time residents see plans for a 40-storey tower, they think of quieter days and get uncomfortable. It's a process repeated everywhere in the world, and Umhlanga is no exception.

That being said, there is another major component to opposition, traffic. Everyone hates it, but in a small, physically-crowded town such as Umhlanga, traffic is particularly bad. Driving from Lagoon Drive to Gateway can take ages, even in non-holiday periods. Each occupied flat in Pearls represents at least 1 more car, particularly during holiday periods.

I'm not sure if it's feasible, but there needs to be some effort to develop a safe, clean shuttle bus service from the village up to Gateway. Umhlanga residents (permanent and holiday-time) tend to be affluent, and almost every one has his own car. A public transport alternative needs to be very attractive in order to lure the well-heeld Gauteng teenage girl away from her BMW an onto a Mynah-esque bus for the 10-15 minute trip up the hill. The people who cause the traffic are the sort of people who would never dream of using public transport, so the experiment might well fall flat on its face. But it's an experiment that might be worth trying during a holiday period, when traffic is at its worst.


Best regards,
Umhlanga

The Devil's Advocate is correct. :) As someone whose family have owned property on the Umhlanga beach for nearly 15 years, I can say that, while I don't oppose the Pearls (for the most part), some of the opposition to it within my family is because of the height factor mentioned by Dysan.

Umhlanga has long had some towers, but 40+ storeys is a quantum leap above anything seen previously in what was, as recently as 10 years ago, a small town which got busy only at holiday times. (Until the mid-1990s, you could've fired a cannon across Umhlanga mid-day during a non-holiday period and hit 2 old grannies, a stray dog, and a few municipal workers taking a siesta on the village green :) .) When long-time residents see plans for a 40-storey tower, they think of quieter days and get uncomfortable. It's a process repeated everywhere in the world, and Umhlanga is no exception.

That being said, there is another major component to opposition, traffic. Everyone hates it, but in a small, physically-crowded town such as Umhlanga, traffic is particularly bad. Driving from Lagoon Drive to Gateway can take ages, even in non-holiday periods. Each occupied flat in Pearls represents at least 1 more car, particularly during holiday periods.

I'm not sure if it's feasible, but there needs to be some effort to develop a safe, clean shuttle bus service from the village up to Gateway. Umhlanga residents (permanent and holiday-time) tend to be affluent, and almost every one has his own car. A public transport alternative needs to be very attractive in order to lure the well-heeld Gauteng teenage girl away from her BMW an onto a Mynah-esque bus for the 10-15 minute trip up the hill. The people who cause the traffic are the sort of people who would never dream of using public transport, so the experiment might well fall flat on its face. But it's an experiment that might be worth trying during a holiday period, when traffic is at its worst.


Best regards,
Umhlanga

how will public transport really be atractive? im sure there could be ways...

how will public transport really be atractive? im sure there could be ways...


Girls in bikinis greeting passengers at the door? :)

To be attractive, I think shuttles need to run every 15 minutes, 9am-9pm during peak holiday periods. They should depart from either the village centre, or run the length of Marine & Lagoon to the village centre, and then up the hill to Gateway and the New Town Centre, making 1 or 2 stops on top of the hill before returning to the village.

Again, I'm not sure that such an option would be attractive enough to tempt a pampered princess out of her BMW and onto a bus for the first time in her life. But, short of barring all future development in Umhlanga village, it's the best plan I can devise to try to alleviate the holiday period traffic congestion. (OK, a monorail would be good, but I'm trying to be realistic :) )


Best regards,
Umhlanga

Sounds like a plan Umhlanga, you want open a tram system? I private/council system transport for Umhlanga? we can make mega moola

Hey guys...sorry for my absence.

Moreland are planning to launch a bus service that covers umhlanga and la lucia ridge and connects them with gateway and the la lucia mall. Plans are to start end of October, i dont know the route and stopping points but thought i should let u know.

also the developers of the pearls are contributing to the widening of the access road from the village to gateway. it is being widened from 3 to 6 lanes.

Welcome back buddy! Missed your presence here!

oh, didnt know you were gone, anyway, welcome back............i guess

^^lol yeh i have been up in Joburg...will give my report back soon...THANX so much for everything TOM!

Whos Tom :?

^^Joburg

Girls in bikinis greeting passengers at the door? :)

To be attractive, I think shuttles need to run every 15 minutes, 9am-9pm during peak holiday periods. They should depart from either the village centre, or run the length of Marine & Lagoon to the village centre, and then up the hill to Gateway and the New Town Centre, making 1 or 2 stops on top of the hill before returning to the village.

Again, I'm not sure that such an option would be attractive enough to tempt a pampered princess out of her BMW and onto a bus for the first time in her life. But, short of barring all future development in Umhlanga village, it's the best plan I can devise to try to alleviate the holiday period traffic congestion. (OK, a monorail would be good, but I'm trying to be realistic :) )


Best regards,
Umhlanga


perhaps...only girls though? :)

^^ Mo we get the lifeguards that slide down there big pole

^^ Mo we get the lifeguards that slide down there big pole
*cough cough* "poles"

ah geez

OK FINALLY some NEWS

I have the height of Pearl Breeze, the baby of the buildings! It is 97.2m + 21m for the spire = 118.2m

Sad news is that Pearl Dawn has run into a difficulty, the plans for it have not been passed in its current form. It is under review and hopefully will be passed by October

Mike you da man, Ill change emporis tomorrow.
What is the sourse?
Also any idea on the planned heights of the others or is it still a state secret?
Well done
another over 100m in Durban

I got this from the town planning dept!

The reason Pearl Dawn had application problems was not because it was 152m, but beacause of the fall of shadows. they have to reshape to have less shadows on the beach.

No height or anything on the biggie Pearl Sky

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/poverall.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/ptides.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/pwalk.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/pbreeze.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/pearll1.jpg

well if the baby is say 120 and middle child is 150 then the big boy would be about 190 ish , still dont think it would break 200 although it woyld be the 2nd tallest in SA if it did.
Any chance of the biggie height even though its not approved yet?
again well done mike

Mike any update pics for us to see?

Will get down there this week. the baby is growing quickly, up to 8/9F

well Durbans list of tallest on emporis is getting impressive -2 approved over 100m and 3 U/C

are there any others in SA over 100m u/c or approved? outside durban that is?

nope, CT has quite a few U/C and approved but are all generally between 15-25F
Durban is the high rise consruction capital of SA

Woohoo!

The project is onto appeal, mainly due to the pat me on the back crowd, led by self-appointed leader of umhlanga Des Tobin. The man is a twat. Here's hoping the appeal wins

Pearls Decision Was Courageous
August 23, 2006 Edition 1


Are the Pearls of Umhlanga in peril? Residents of Umhlanga Rocks would hope so!

We the residents, and especially the Umhlanga Ratepayers' Action Group, have consistently objected to the sheer mass and bulk and height of the Pearls that are being imposed on the beachfront, and to the detrimental shadowing by these skyscrapers.

We criticise their architectural design and physical presence and say they are alien and incongruous to the existing physical environment of the beachfront.

The Umhlanga Ratepayers' Action Group is very impressed with the decision of the head of development, planning and management for eThekwini to reject the building plans submitted for the 29-31-storey Pearl Dawn and to force the developers to address the shadow impacts and lop off a number of storeys.

The developers have appealed to the city manager to rescind this decision, and we assume that when the appeals committee sits, it will be a public meeting that is open to the Umhlanga Ratepayers' Action Group, the press and councillors.

It would be good to think that the Umhlanga beachfront could yet be saved from the fate that befell the Amanzimtoti beachfront. Perhaps, after all, posterity will not have to bemoan the shadows cast by a colonnade of skyscrapers.

here are some new images of the development

http://www.dimensionm.co.za/gallery/gallery_048/pearls_whole.jpg

http://www.dimensionm.co.za/gallery/gallery_048/pearls_beach.jpg

http://www.dimensionm.co.za/gallery/gallery_048/pearls_aerial.jpg

http://www.dimensionm.co.za/gallery/gallery_048/pearls_side.jpg

oh and if you want to see the nimby's in action, visit their website, and speak out against THEM!

www.umrag.com

Stupid nimby's

have any of you been to the resort areas of Spain? They are vile - hideously over-developed wall to wall tower blocks 5 - 6 rows deep - it is cold, souless and awful. Greed has meant that this area has been ruined.
If this development is allowed, I fear that Umhlanga will fall into the same trap

I am not a nimby - all for high-rise/concentrated living.... however in the right place. This development is bad for a number of reasons:

a) Could set a dangerous prescendent... if it is allowed to go through, open floodgates for other developments.
b) Will ruin the character of the 'village' I grew up here, so like the current feel and look of village.
c) Current design of area cannot support the additional pressure placed on infrastructure.
d) will ruin views for a number of homeowners on the ridge (I would be p*ssed off if I owned a house there and this collosis was built infront of me)

I think the design is awesome, however why does it need to be right on the beach? Move it up onto the hill behind Umhlanga Manors, and get developer to contribute to 'people mover' to the beach.

I now stand back and await the hail of abuse.....

I also live in the so called "village". and while i affectionately use that name for the restaurant quarter that i so frequently visit, the stark reality is that Umhlanga can no longer purport to be a village.

I agree with u on the issue of Spain, but i however do not believe the same case will prevail in umhlanga. While this development may be higher than the rest of the present buildings, it will leave far less of a damaging effect on the surroundings and beach (in my opinion) than the Cabanas, Sands or Edge of the Sea do. Those developments are massively wide, and while lower than the pearls, do far more to completely block out the sun than i believe the pearls ever will, for they are thin towers. If those buildings were to have gone thru an EIA they would have failed dismally.

I can happily say that i am all for the changes to the village. for too long it has been locked in a time warp, with outdated amenities, restaurants and stores. The stretching of the village into the old country club land will broaden the scope of the area from a lifestyle aspect and the pearls retail and spa will act as added benefits that will be used well be the area's residents.

I do understand ur concerns with infrastructure however. While the developers of the pearls will increase the road capacity, not much is being said publicly about this and all the development in the new town centre and their effect on the sewage, stormwater and electricity supply. These are key impediments to growth and need to be sorted out by the city.

I have a house om umhlanga ridge, and yes the pearls will marginally take up our view, but we will still be able to see the sea, our view is not gone entirely. If you study case law and recent precidents, one cannot lay claim to the entire unspoilt.

I think the main concern is that the development is asking to use greater bulk than zoning allows. That is something the city needs to decide upon.

I am all for this development for it will not destroy anything in umhlanga, merely uplift a community further. You cannot stop the development in umhlanga, it is prime real estate, and if you want the village atmosphere still, you will need to go to umhloti, westbrook or even further north (skipping out Ballito).

Dysan, while you're correct to note that each of the Pearls towers is slender, the cummulative bulk of all 4 towers will be every bit as wide as the (attractive) Cabanas and (hideous) Sands. I don't oppose the Pearls, but I do think we need to recognize that such a cluster of tall buildings will change the character of Umhlanga village markedly.

I have to say that the Pearls complex looks much better in the renders as seen from the sea than from the land. I had not seen a 'head on' view until I saw the pics you posted 2 days ago, and I really like the complex when viewed from the sea.

I completely agree with you that 'our' (I can't claim to be a full-time resident, just a partial owner via my family) village has woefully outdated amenities and restaurants, though. It's pathetic that the premier, upscale town on the Natal coast has so few really good restaurants, and such a lacklustre nightscene, as compared to Florida Road (to say nothing of the trendier areas of CPT).

Well the village is under going a major change. i dont know how recent ur last trip was, but the landscaping and streetscape has seen a massive overhaul in the village.

The restaurants have improved, as has the selection, but more top end places are definately needed.

You have:

Bangkok Wok - Thai
Luigi's - Italian
Marco's - Italian
Butcher Boys - upscale steakhouse
Olive and Oil - Mediterrianean (constantly full! i can never get a table)
and a mocambique place, pubs/bars, cafes and an awesome sushi bar opening soon.

And Boogies Diner is so cool right now. the decor is fab.

But yeh, we have to see where things go with the pearls.

I have so much more to post on it, but dont have the time now, will do so over the wknd

My last trip was 2 weeks ago. :)

Marco's is good. Luigi's...needs to be more upscale, a bit more like Marco's. The Buther Boys isn't exactly upscale compared to some of the steakhouses in CPT and JNB, but it's a good restaurant nonetheless. Boogies...don't even get me started. The place hadn't opened yet, but I walked by it several times while the put on the finishing touches. It redefines tacky. Just judging by its decor, I don't see how that place could possibly qualify as upscale.

Umhlanga needs to take its cue from Florida Rd., Clifton, V&A, Sandton, Stellenbosch, and Muckenleuck.

The tall building (the one that used to have ther Merc symbol on the side) needs a new facade. The shopping centre at that building's base needs a complete re-make, and upscale stores need to be brought in. I'm talking art galleries, clothing boutiques that would look at home in the Pavillion or Gateway, cafes (Zack's is a start, but not enough), bars, NICE restaurants worthy of mention in Wine magazine...not gaudy places like Boogies. No offense, Boogies has its niche, and I'm sure it fills it well, but it's not the sort of place that will put Umhlanga on the map, or lure international visitors to frequent.

I love Umhlanga, but it's time to make the leap to the next level. If Umhlanga wants to compete with the Cape and Garden Route resorts, it needs more than just thousands of flats, a few hundred hotel rooms, and a nice beach. We'll never be able to compete on natural beauty, so we have an uphill battle, and it's time to make a charge. :)

I agree with the previous post but the new town and all the developments going on will change all that. And after all florida road is only a short drive away.

Can we pls get some pic updates??

different strokes for different folks.

i do agree that umhlanga doesnt have real top end dining places besides in the beverly, but to be fair, people in durban dont really like those stuffy places anyway.

regards stores, i believe that it will be hard to have the stores in gateway and in the village. the village is not aiming for the massive retail aspect.

but yeah more upscale places are needed, but the resident population is not large enough yet to justify the places. i personally believe the upscale places will be in the new town and not the village

The village in Umhlanga is basicaly the "local general dealer" thats its purpose now......i guess, because of the mamoth shopping center on top of the hill. But the place still is nice.

There is approval in umhlanga! Also round 2 was won by the developer, the complaints by URAG were thrown out last week!

Those Umhlanga activists a small minority
August 30, 2006 Edition 1


In response to the letter from the convener of the Umhlanga Ratepayers' Action Group (URAG), I suggest he speaks only for that entity and not on behalf of all the other residents of Umhlanga Rocks about the Pearls of Umhlanga Development.

The group consists of only a few score activists, yet the population of the area is almost 30 000.

What about us, the "silent majority" of residents who do not subscribe to the vociferous anti-progress and backward-looking views espoused by the action group?

The replacement of a rundown hotel, with what many consider to be the most magnificent structure on our 3 000km of coastline, can only be applauded. It would be a sad reflection on our residents if such an icon were allowed to be truncated by the actions of this group, whose objections have now been whittled down to a minute and momentary shadow on the beach when the sun goes down.


NOT IMPRESSED

Umhlanga

Whoohoo!............wheres Giles?

think he is still in SA on holiday

Oh yeh, I forgot!

haha u 3 are down to 2 now

im back

So what did you think of the changes in Durban and whereever else you went Giles?

yeah an update on your opinions in the durban thread would be great to hear!

photo updates of the Pearls, please...not this jargon chit chat!

haha u 3 are down to 2 now

im back


hahaha :scouserd:

here are some new images of the development

http://www.dimensionm.co.za/gallery/gallery_048/pearls_whole.jpg

http://www.dimensionm.co.za/gallery/gallery_048/pearls_beach.jpg

http://www.dimensionm.co.za/gallery/gallery_048/pearls_aerial.jpg

http://www.dimensionm.co.za/gallery/gallery_048/pearls_side.jpg
spires removed and deffinatly a "shortening" of the bulk of the towers

ill tell you all over the next few days on the durban discussion.
as for this site, i was up close and personel as i had lunch at ninos and this is gonna be great, it will create a ripple effect and cause the run down and un-loved periferal real estate to refurb or die.
best thing to happen in durbs for years
rest of umhlunga was NOT so impressive to be honest (overgrown verges and landscaping, broken light poles and crash barriers etc), looks a bit unkept but I suppose once IMPILO is completed and the shopping street is made over it will have a nice charm about it.
Traffic and parking is STILL an issue and there are more than a few takky buildings that need a make over or a Caterpiller D9 through the front door (as you come into town opn the right the sefood resturant below Aloha surfshop-old takky and a shit house)

If you look carefully giles the spires are still on the pictures...and the towers are still the same height

have you had any luck prying the height of the big boy out of anyone? surely the NIMBYS and the public debate of the issue needs to have the heights as a starting point?

Dysan, Im sure you know some of the NIMBY's? can you fish out, cos wakefields aint telling me, & Anant singh knows F all on the hieght ! his just pumping money in here.

They dont have a height on the big one!!! Until they attempt to change the town planning regulations for its inclusion it is but a building on paper. They have no height, nothing!

OH BAD NEWS FOR DEVELOPERS
'Ugly scar on the beachfront skyline'
Tony Carnie
October 06 2006 at 09:59AM

The developers of the controversial R1,6-billion Pearls of Umhlanga luxury apartments have run into a surprise hurdle, and may be forced to scale down the height of their tallest tower blocks by eThekwini Metro officials.

When city planning officials turned down plans for their 30 storey Pearls Dawn phase three times in succession, the developers lodged an appeal with City Manager Mike Sutcliffe in the hope that he could be persuaded to overrule his officials.

But on Thursday night Sutcliffe confirmed that he had rejected the appeal. It is believed that senior city planning officials and the developers held a meeting late on Thursday to resolve the matter.




"The application by the developers was not successful, but in fairness I don't want to get into discussions on the specific reasons for this decision until I have communicated with them formally," he told The Mercury on Wednesday night.

'Interference with sea views and the extra pressure on municipal infrastructure'
"They (the reasons) will become clear later."

However, it is believed that senior planning officials turned down plans for the Pearl Dawn phase for a variety of reasons, including the shadows cast on tourist beaches, interference with sea views and the extra pressure on municipal infrastructure such as roads, sewage, stormwater, electricity and water supply.

The development consortium, which include estate agent Keith Wakefield, movie mogul Anant Singh and property developer Trevor Botsis, apparently now have a choice of either trying to resolve the impasse directly with city officials, or to pursue further legal appeals.

Neither Wakefield, Singh, nor city planning officials could be reached for comment, although a source in the development consortium suggested that the meeting had been "positive" and that the city would issue an official statement later.

Residents under the umbrella of the Umhlanga Residents' Action Group have protested about what they believe will be an "ugly scar on the beachfront skyline".

'No alternative but to reconfigure the development'
The decision has delighted the group's spokesperson Des Tobin, who said he was pleasantly surprised.

In September the group lodged an appeal with the National Review board over the 27 storey Pearl Breeze phase which is under construction. The board turned down this appeal and allowed construction to go ahead.

However, the latest events have also created questions about the future of the two tallest towers, Pearl Dawn (30 storeys) and Pearl Sky (39 storeys). Plans for Pearl Sky have not been submitted to the city yet.

Officials have speculated that the developers might have no alternative but to reconfigure the development, by reducing the height or bulking up and dispersing the scale of the project

oh shame there goes pearls guess its back to the point for the high-rises but it'll be real shame if pearl dawn isnt developed to its full height im 100% pearl sky wont go thru unless this story is poo!

think it means that they are going to have to restructure the configuration. Will be interesting to see how things pan out from now on. Think they will lob 5 or so floors off dawn. thats what wakefields told me.

I can understand the opposition to the Pearls. I've got mixed feelings on it. It's an awesome looking development, I just wish it was being built on the main Durban beachfront. On the beachfront highrise activity should be centred in Durban. The last thing we want is another Benidorm. Ah but I do love the Pearls.

^^ i agree on the Benidorm comment...but i wld expand that comment to most of spain and the med!

Pearls would looking so good on the beachfront...i could imagine it fitting in alot better there and rejuvenating that skyline...well the closest we will get will be the towers at the Film city complex when that finally gets going and out of the legal battle

Sad news. The developers should have just launched this development at the Point, in the highrise corridor. They would have had no such problems there. In fact, they should consider abandoning Pearl Sky in Umhlanga and launching it or a similar building in the Point. Will look impressive next to Spinnaker, San Raphael and the Mast.

the best spot would have been the pavillion site on the beachfront (old military museaum site opposite North beach), followed by the last site in the Point( slight orientation to Umhlunga) giving the skyline a dramatic entrance
There are ways of getting your required floor areas by droping the height of the towers (smaller spire or no spire, remove 250mm per floor over 40F and you get 10meters removed etc etc)

Oh well, Keith & Anant should have had everything planned & approved, with EIA & sorted the Nimby's out before going all out in this project, we were actualy planning on buying a unit in the big one, prob on the 20th floor :(

News here, guys? Why has this gone all quiet?

Cos they didnt pass plans for the high rise!

only the 2 tall towers are on hold. whats happeing with the baby at 27Floors?

its getting rather big....at 13 now...weather is kak at the moment, will get a pic when it is clear

Given the rise in interest rates and soaring building costs of about 30% this year I doubt we'll see the two proposed Pearl towers going up anytime soon. I've read in the press that there is already a glut of apartments in Umhlanga and the market simply won't it for now. I do not think we will see Pearl Sky built for another five years while Pearl Dawn I think will begin in 2009. Once again I am glad that the eThekwini city council had turned down the Pearl Dawn and Pearl Sky towers as they would mar the seascape of Umhlanga.

Do not even think that it could be built at Durban Point as new land won't be released until next year at the earliest. Besides the council is scrutinizing the Mast development as it exceeds the height restriction in the Point and CBD area which is supposed to be 120 metres even though both the Spinnaker and San Raphael, which are under construction, are taller than that. So technically I do not see the Mast going ahead as far as construction is concerned until the height issue is resolved.

height is an emotive thing but speaking as a developer of tall buildings its easy to get around sometimes. In Durban the city ordenance has set the 120m due to sunlight and shadow corridors. Its prevelant in the CBD where canyons are created and it creates a cold dark enviroment. However inb the point there are 2 reasons they are allowed to excees this height, 1 there uis nothing elese around so no canyons will be created as all these highrise plots are in a row, 2 the City supports an extention of the high rise corridor extending from Addington beach /point Rd area into the new development so as to create continuity, get more money for the plots and to propmote high rise -high density developments.
As for Umhulunga there is no height restriction along the that stretch of land and as a result the developers have seen this and proceeded. To now retrospectavly try to cap the heights after the develop has permission to proceed will ultimatly cause the developer to sue the city for damamages and loss of potential profit.If I was in council and the writting was on the wall, id let these go ahead (whilst looking like Im trying to stop it for the NIMBYS) and then try to impose a height or more importantly a bulking factor cap on the area.
There is also the issue of Airrights which we can discuss at alater date

Given the rise in interest rates and soaring building costs of about 30% this year I doubt we'll see the two proposed Pearl towers going up anytime soon. I've read in the press that there is already a glut of apartments in Umhlanga and the market simply won't it for now. I do not think we will see Pearl Sky built for another five years while Pearl Dawn I think will begin in 2009. Once again I am glad that the eThekwini city council had turned down the Pearl Dawn and Pearl Sky towers as they would mar the seascape of Umhlanga.

Do not even think that it could be built at Durban Point as new land won't be released until next year at the earliest. Besides the council is scrutinizing the Mast development as it exceeds the height restriction in the Point and CBD area which is supposed to be 120 metres even though both the Spinnaker and San Raphael, which are under construction, are taller than that. So technically I do not see the Mast going ahead as far as construction is concerned until the height issue is resolved.




Where are you getting your info from mate? Regarding the Mast.

The height restriction applies to the entire eThekwini Metro. That is why Mike Sutcliffe, city manager, recently turned down the application of the Pearl Dawn, 31F while the city had made known it's intention to reject also the Pearl Sky, 39F. This is because of a new rule resulting from shadow studies. While it may be true that the city is imposing the rule after developments are approved but that still does not justify such developments going ahead when in fact ratepayers and other civic organizations have expressed opposition to such developments. With regard to Umhlanga, the ratepayers association is opposed the the Pearls development in it's current form. Not only does it create huge shadows but the heavy use of glass is an eyesore. The development is more appropriate for Dubai, not Durban.

Where are you getting your info from mate? Regarding the Mast.

Go to Emporis and you will see that The Mast is classified as "approved", although I forsee the same thing happening to The Mast as Pearl Dawn. I do not see this development going ahead until at least 2009 if the market picks up by then. My opinion is that the height of 153 metres is totally unacceptable and should be cut down from 40 to 30 floors or to about 120 metres at most. I do not care if it is not part of a "canyon." The Point will soon become a "valley" as it will darkened out by these towers casting shadows. I think just having The Spinnaker and San Raphael on the periphery of the Point is bad enough.

Mosi-oa-tunya, i'm sorry but i just cant agree with you. Your views are starting to become the fanatic, 'I can't deal with change', nimby's all over the world, especially in SA, are expressing.

Tall buildings are the way of modern life. They aren't a nice added bonus a city or country gets to make it look more modern, space is scarce and sometimes the only way to go is up. Granted Durban isn't exactly scarce for space, the density per square metre of these developments is justifiable. As for the height issue, the shadow issue just baffles me.
Let me tell you a story:
My father has been working on a residential development in Morningside for the past 4-5 years, with a proposed height of 20 storeys. It was shockingly dissaproved by the local residents, with the usual cries of 'shadows!', 'infrastructure can't cope!', and 'too many cars to our peaceful town!'. So my father went on a tireless mission to remedy the building to the specs of the nimby's: The building was designed in a stepped shape, so as to minimize the impact of shadows, so much so that a shadow cast itself on One property for less than an hour a day; The access road had extremely low usage numbers, and was to be upgraded never the less, and as for infrastructure, which rational developer would leave infrastructure under-developed?.. Well, even after all these remedies, the nimby's still cried foul to 'shadows!', 'cars!' 'noise!', etc, etc. Then one starts to wonder, is it all these things or are these people afraid of change? It started becoming apparent that these objectors where trying to grab everything they could to stop this 'monstrosity'. An attractive building that casts no shadow on your property, how could this so badly affect you? (funny thing was that quite a few residents who had complained had called my dad to ask to reserve them apartments if it did go through, hmmm)

Coming back to my point, it is a given fact of physics that all tall buildings cast shadows. It is all also a given fact that all first world and rational countries have magnificent, tall skyscrapers that the countries are proud of. Why should SA be any different? The plans, the money, the ideas are all there, there are just scared, selfish individuals who single handedly are holding back the national pride in this country, one of them being you. I just can't understand why

Inertia,

You have only to look at the CBD of Johannesburg and Hillbrow to understand why residents like those in Morningside want to oppose such developments that would lead to the same urban decay.

Go to Emporis and you will see that The Mast is classified as "approved", although I forsee the same thing happening to The Mast as Pearl Dawn. I do not see this development going ahead until at least 2009 if the market picks up by then. My opinion is that the height of 153 metres is totally unacceptable and should be cut down from 40 to 30 floors or to about 120 metres at most. I do not care if it is not part of a "canyon." The Point will soon become a "valley" as it will darkened out by these towers casting shadows. I think just having The Spinnaker and San Raphael on the periphery of the Point is bad enough.


dude i so dont agree with you.

Firstly the buildings are in totally different locations. The Mast is in a high rise corridor, has approval from council and will in no way be casting shadows on a beach as it is more than 500m from the beach.

Secondly it is in a row of high rises that have been specially demarcated by the city council with the explicit intention of mimicing the existing beachfront skyline and extending it to the point.

Thirdly, these towers will in NO WAY effect the point waterfront development. They overlook the Ushaka parking lot at present and do not stretch to the core point area. If you look at the photos i posted in the Spinnaker thread you will see how far away they are from the core of the point with nothing around them. They more than 500m away from the low lying areas and almost 1km from the Timeball square area. Their height doesnt block out the sun in these areas as can be seen also from the pictures i posted on the Spinnaker. The only area affected will be Shaka's Gate and the adjacent parking lot, thats it!

You obviously have not been to the area to see how far removed these buildings actually are. They are on the periphery.

and on your final comment....

High rise buildings do not lead to urban decay!!! Neglect does!! Are you telling me that low rise areas are immune to decay? BULL!

Dude i battle to fathom the reasoning of your complaint

Inertia...

What is happening with that development? and exactly where is it in morningside?

The height restriction applies to the entire eThekwini Metro. That is why Mike Sutcliffe, city manager, recently turned down the application of the Pearl Dawn, 31F while the city had made known it's intention to reject also the Pearl Sky, 39F. This is because of a new rule resulting from shadow studies. While it may be true that the city is imposing the rule after developments are approved but that still does not justify such developments going ahead when in fact ratepayers and other civic organizations have expressed opposition to such developments. With regard to Umhlanga, the ratepayers association is opposed the the Pearls development in it's current form. Not only does it create huge shadows but the heavy use of glass is an eyesore. The development is more appropriate for Dubai, not Durban.

Actually you are wrong , the height restriction does not apply to the entire metro, as noted in my post thgere are ways around this regarding Durban city buildings and umhlunga did not have a height restrictions in p[lace.
The city based on a model of the urban design workshop (which helps formulate Sa councils anbd govenrnment policy on sustainable development and trying to end urban sprawl and ist assosiated trafic/polution /enviromental impact etc) has recomended that SA take a new high rise approach to higher desnsity living. It recomends creating highr density (read high rise) zones primarily aroiund major transport nodes and toi help facilitate this they have recomended a different land tax structiure to encourage developers to do this. The point area is one such area that has been earmarked for this and if the city has to live with a 150m tower compared to billions wasted due to overuse and saturation of the major communication ways of freeways/bridges/road etc, then its a small price to pay.
Now if you wann argue that its not justified cos there was no rule in place , then you need to go back to commercial reality 101 and see that you can retrospectavly change the rules after the event and expect people to follow them. As for the NIMBYS , these were the same people who objected to the edgecome office estate, gateway (hell I remeber when they had a protest about gateway) etc. Umhlunga is not a seaside fishing village aka Hermanus and it wount remain a small town , it must move with the times (in a controled manner) but not for the benifit of the minority who continue to say "we were here first and you cant come play in our sand box"

Inertia,

You have only to look at the CBD of Johannesburg and Hillbrow to understand why residents like those in Morningside want to oppose such developments that would lead to the same urban decay.

so you are saying that at the first sign of a high rise then urban decay sets in??
man you need to go back to school and learn a bit more on the reasons for JHBS decay and more importantly revival. The biggest factor in the JHB decay altopsy is the availablity of cheap open land ideal for sprawl, and its exactly what you are adviccating

mosi the only way is up unless you want urban sprawl all leading cities are going up and if u think high-rise equals decay then what the hell in new york or tokyo even the cape town citybowl area is quite a few tall structures are prices are booming down there but anyway back to pearls anynews guys

Inertia,

You have only to look at the CBD of Johannesburg and Hillbrow to understand why residents like those in Morningside want to oppose such developments that would lead to the same urban decay.

That truly is a daft and strange thing to say. Are you telling me that if the Joburg CBD consisted of 1-4 story developments it would not be the way it is now? The Joburg CBD was once one of the grandest cities in the world, and I can assure you it still is in Africa. The reason that it decayed was not because of 'tall buildings', but the fact that apartheid ended and thousands (re. millions) of poor, unskilled black ppl flocked to the city centre to try and make a living, causing all the skilled white labour to migrate north. I can assure you they would of decayed any urban centre, be it New York or London. Not a lot of racist fearing people would admit it, but this is the reason of the decay, and it's quite obvious too. And, the city is not as 'decayed' as most ppl would let you to believe. If you pop into the pics of Joburg, you would see that the city centre is looking clean and rejuvinated; no thanks to low rise buildings I might add.

Inertia...

What is happening with that development? and exactly where is it in morningside?

You know the Wedge @ Morningside? There is a vacant plot of land to the back of the development that my dad is trying to develop. Currently he has 12 story rights for the land, but is thinking of rezoning after the new spatial framework guidelines were released. He has an awesome model of the 20F dev that I will take pics of and post later

Pearls advert irks ratepayers' group

January 03 2007 at 11:38AM

By Amelia Naidoo

Umhlanga residents who have objected |to the controversial Pearls of Umhlanga skyscraper resort's Pearl Dawn phase are upset over the placing of a newspaper advert during the Christmas period, which gave members of the public just 10 days to lodge a notice of intention to appeal against the development.

The developers published the notice in The Mercury on December 29.

Umhlanga Ratepayers' Association spokesperson Desmond Tobin said the notice had come at a time when many of the affected parties were away on holiday and were unlikely to have been scanning the newspapers for a "small notice on the bottom of Page 15 in the classifieds".


An amendment to the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations came into effect on July 3 and has compelled all developers to consider any negative impact on the public by conducting a "basic assessment" of all development projects within 100m of the high water mark.

However, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs granted the Pearls' developers an exemption from the amendment on December 22. The developers were, however, still compelled to make public the granting of the exemption - by way of adverts and a sign at the construction site - and to inform interested parties in writing.

"I find it remarkable that (Agriculture and Environmental Affairs MEC) Mtholephi Mthimkulu's department in Pietermaritzburg was able to assess the situation and grant the exemption within 11 days of receiving the request from the developers," said Tobin.

"It has been reported that the department is in a shambles with administration and |financial management, as well as having EIA backlogs, so I take my hat off to them for a quick turnaround time."

Tobin said the association had already instructed its attorney to submit a notice of intention to appeal. Some members were still away on leave, but Tobin said they would be meeting on January 25 to discuss how to contest the exemption. They have until Wednesday February 7 to submit the appeal.

The Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Department provided nine reasons for granting the exemption, one of which Tobin vehemently opposed: that only a "very small part of the development footprint is within 100m of the high water mark of the sea, and the development is separated from the beach and dune system by an existing promenade and the existing Pearl Tides building".

Tobin said that the area described by the department was not as small as it was made out to be and "even if a small part was within the 100m high water mark, it affects the whole".

The department has, however, reduced the number of storeys that would comprise Pearl Dawn by nine storeys. The tower was initially |intended to be 29 storeys high.

"Due to several objections from residents and interested and affected parties, as well as the shadow issues related to the height of the proposed tower, the plans for Pearl Dawn were subsequently reduced," the department said in a document recording the exemption.

Attempts to contact major players in the Pearls development - Trevor Botsis, of Global Property Investments SA, and Keith Wakefield, of Wakefield Property Management - were unsuccessful. Movie mogul Anant Singh also has a large stake in the development.

Singh had previously told The Mercury that the developers would be "completely transparent in all their disclosures to the public and city council".

When interviewed in November last year, Singh was cagey about whether the developers would apply for an exemption in respect of the Pearl Dawn building.

amelia.naidoo@inl.co.za

o This article was originally published on page 3 of The Mercury on January 03, 2007

Given the abrasive lack of notice provided by the developers of The Pearls, the Umhlanga residents should appeal against the 31-storey Pearl Dawn phase. How stupid can you get by conducting a 10-day public participation process during the Christmas break when many people are on holiday.

^^ i think u are misreading what has happened.

There is no way to object by the public. The developers recieved an exemption from certain assessments by the provincial government in early dec. Part of their conditions were to announce to the public that they had recieved this exemption by public notice in the paper and at the construction site. Announcing the exemption at this period (as inappropriate as it may seem to those against the dev) does not affect the exemption. they were ordered to post the notices at that time by the provincial government. there is nothing underhand about it, except maybe that the provincial government so quickly granted the exemption from the eia.

Secondly. The pearl dawn tower has been shrunk to 20F plus a 4F parkade, making it 24F now instead of the 32F it was.

This now means that the pearl sky tower will most probably be no more than 30F when they do apply for it.

Why are u so bullishly against this dev mosi?? all ur previous posts suggest is that u equate height with poverty...which is odd to say the least.

^^ i think u are misreading what has happened.

Secondly. The pearl dawn tower has been shrunk to 20F plus a 4F parkade, making it 24F now instead of the 32F it was.

This now means that the pearl sky tower will most probably be no more than 30F when they do apply for it.

That is good to hear. I thought too that they would bring it down height-wise as the original plan was unacceptable. Maybe they will approve it and allow it to start construction early this year. I'm not opposed to the development in principle. I think it is spectacular, probably the most spectacular towers in all of SA. I do not think that going 40 floors + (or more than 150 metres) is the way to go.

That means that Pearl Dawn will now be the same height as Pearl Breeze, which is under construction and that Pearl Sky would be 120-150 metres tall instead of 180 metres.

Dysan,
I also heard that Urban Hip Hotels is going to manage some rooms in the Pearls of Umhlanga complex just as they are planning to do in The Mast at Durban Point as a sectional title hotel. The Pearls is on the former Umhlanga Rocks Hotel site.

Do you have any new pics of Pearl Breeze and where it's at right now?

^^ Urban hip will manage and service the pearls, but WILL NOT turn the apartments into a hotel pool like they are doing with other developments. they will merely maintain the buildings and services

Where exactly in South Africa is Umhlanga? How many inhabitants? I have never heard about this town before.

its part of durban and is about 20km North up the coast. It was a holiday village untill about the mid 70s when it boomed and grew to become part of the city. it has massive beach hotels (up to 20F) with the biggest mall in the southern hemisphere , so its really the "new" durban so to speak.

Finally i went and got some update pics...

The Pearl Breeze Tower is at 19F, with 8F to go (its 27F due to the 3F 'basement' which is built above ground level on the sea side)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP5866.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP5873.jpg

Here u can see the nearly completed Pearl Tides buildings and the completed Pearl Reef. With work on the pier in the foreground

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP5870.jpg

Hey, I honestly forgot about this project, good to see the tower up. Any news on the other 2 as yet?

Thanks for the pic's Mike

see it everyday...i cant forget

the second tower looks to nearly have finalised all approvals

so then 2 down 1 to go, lets hope Pearl sky also get approved

Great pictures!
Any pictures of the new pier right in front of the site?

^^ yes i have, will put up now. not much to see tho, its still way from finishing...they are slow...but the pearls tower is rising well...the pearl dawn basement levels are u/c

http://www.urbanhiphotels.co.za/images/uhhlogo.gif

The Pearls of Umhlanga

The Pearls of Umhlanga, Awesome!! This super luxurious precinct, right on the beach of Umhlanga, north of Durban, will on completion consist of 388 apartments released in six phases The first two phases are being handed over on the 1st December 2006. The Pearls of Umhlanga of Umhlanga is a lavish residential resort that will change the face of the Kwa Zulu Natal coast line forever. Expect to find the closest view of the warm Indian Ocean waves when you wake up in the morning, where you could step out onto the beach and enjoy a swim during the day and for the sounds of the ocean to offer you a night time lullaby to go to sleep with.

^^ yes but it is not a hotel in their range. they are merely managing the building

Pearl Breeze is now up to 23F and Pearl Tides North is being occupied

Can we get some pic updates pls?

u got some in feb. all that is different are a few floors and some glass. will try in the next 2 weeks

Ok here is another photo i took yesterday. Glass is clearly seen going in. The workers were on site. guess its a 7 day week job. Its got 3F plus the glass dome and spire to go

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP6012.jpg

Awesome stuff, thx!

Took a nice walk past the other day. All the pearls tides units are occupied and complete. and looking great in their striking white paint (wonder how long they will stay looking white tho...)

The pearl breeze tower is also getting its paint job now too.

any news on pearl dawn's building plans??

according to the developers, Pearl will be rising in the next few months, now that formal approval has been consented

So the building plans have been approved?? ie, all systems go??

according to the developers, Pearl will be rising in the next few months, now that formal approval has been consented

so this is now the 2nd tower of the 3 biggies to be approved and 128 and 147m its big ass buildings and probably the tallest to be U/C in SA for a while

Yes it is the second. However it is no longer 147m sadly. They have been mandated to reduce the height and floors to the same as Pearl Breeze. I will get confirmation on the height ASAP. But glad it is going ahead.

The funny thing is, they have said that getting approval for the 3rd tower, Pearl Sky, will be easier than the 2nd, as it is further than 100m from the beach and as such is not subject to as stringent rules as the other 2. EIA processes are shorter and height is not affected by the "shadows" as they are less likely to affect the beach according to the rules. so it could be close to its initial proposal of 43F, but more than likely it will be slightly shorter.

So it's gonna be an identical tower? That's not that bad if pearl sky comes in at 180-200m..

It will still make a magnicent sight from the ocean.

Sa's first twins?

scc going up in the last 3yrs
michaelangelo is 150m
mast if built would be 157m"i think"
so the 2nd tower is def going to be shorter than thoses 2 but what about the main tower is it also going to be shortened and end up a as 150m tower??

Michelangelo is 140m

the main tower has yet to even seek approval yet so anything we say about it is merely speculation at this stage

It's beautiful. There's nothing better than a Glass Facade. :okay:

KZN Minister raps officials over Umhlanga skyscraper decision
Published in: Legalbrief Environmental
Date: Tue 19 June 2007
Category: Development
Issue No: 0015

A controversial environmental exemption notice given to a major Durban property developer has been torn up by KZN’s Environmental MEC Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, who also rapped his officials for apparently putting money above the social and environmental fears of Umhlanga residents.

The effect of Mthimkhulu’s new ruling could lead to a reduction in the height of the Pearls of Umhlanga skyscraper development or; alternatively force the developers to conduct a more detailed environmental impact assessment process under public scrutiny, says a report in The Mercury. This follows Mthimkhulu’s decision late last week to uphold a legal appeal by the Umhlanga Residents Action Group, which complained that the Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Department had ignored its concerns by exempting the final phases of the Pearls development from the requirements of the National Environmental Management Act and the environmental impact assessment regulations.

http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20070619090919564

^^ this will give the developer good grounds to sue, for the eia and all have already been on for 2 years and they have already made many major changes.

bladdy NIMBYS

I like environmentalist, but they need to relax a little bit..they are really hurting development, sometimes.

What hurts the environment more? A multistorey tower, or a huge suburban sprawl? It doesnt always makes sense to complain about these things! I mean, suburbs always complain about towers - but they (the suburbs) gobble up all the available land, create traffic chaos, it looks bland... blah blah blah. Complain about aggressive tower designs, for sure, because a thirty floor can destroy the visual impact of a city. But an elegant tower (especially towers such as the pearls) can only add to a space's distinct character.

Tree Huggers! as much as I understand their perspective. They have to understand that constructing such a Building, will in turn mean; A greater Property Value in the area, Jobs etc.

The decision of KZN needs to be challenged.

there are only 2 options left for the developers: Challenge the decision or redesign the remaining phases, for their holding costs must be through the roof

I'm thinking a redesign will be the most feasible for the dev's.. Challenging could delay the building even further, which the devs cant afford

View of the Pearls and Durban Skyline in the distance, taken from Umdloti.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/CopyofIMGP6360.jpg

geeze it looks next door. Umdolti was like a day trip when I was a kid and now its durbsna otter suburbs.
Great pic Mike, any more close ups on the 2nd tower and even th1st one to see the glazing happening

geeze it looks next door. Umdolti was like a day trip when I was a kid and now its durbsna otter suburbs.
Great pic Mike, any more close ups on the 2nd tower and even th1st one to see the glazing happening

yeah and with the sibaya zone development and the masses of apartments going up in la mercy and westbrook there is almost no free coastline until blythedale!

The glazing is nearly complete on tower one, just the dome to do.

View of the Pearls and Durban Skyline in the distance, taken from Umdloti.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/CopyofIMGP6360.jpg

Stunning!

Show us more someone please-possibility of buildings up to 56 storeys

Pearls plans made public
Tony Carnie
August 01 2007 at 04:19AM

Graphic illustrations of the unsurpassed scale of the controversial Pearls of Umhlanga skyscraper apartment plan have been made public for the first time by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Environmental Affairs.

The illustrations, along with a pile of documents on the Pearls controversy, were placed in the Umhlanga library, old town hall and Natal Sharks Board offices recently to enable members of the public to comment on a building project that would result in tower blocks more than twice the height of most existing buildings.

The documents reflect a number of issues. One is that the developers refused to consider alternatives for their second 29-storey tower block late last year, arguing that the flats were "sold out".

They were concerned about losing millions of rands owing to further delays in environmental approval.

They were concerned about losing millions of rands
The first 23-storey Pearl Breeze is nearing completion, but the second 29-storey Pearl Dawn phase hit a snag two months ago when MEC Mtholephi Mthimkhulu over-turned a previous decision taken by his department to approve the project.

Although his department insisted that the 29-storey building be scaled down to 20 storeys, the MEC revoked this permission and ordered the developer to put all its plans, studies and impact assessment documents on the table for the public to comment on.

According to the documents, the developers were advised by a Johannesburg-based group of environmental and landscape consultants, Strategic Environmental Focus (SEF), that the Pearl Dawn tower would cast premature afternoon shadows on the popular beach, and a potential decrease in property values for neighbouring home and apartment owners because of obstructed sea views.

The SEF report notes that the second tower block would have "major (visual) impacts owing to its unsurpassed scale in relation to the surrounding landscape".

The consultants cautioned the developers, Global Property Investments, that public opinion was against the "excessive" and "extravagant" scale of the project.

'The lack of sun on a beach poses no significant loss of amenity'
"They (the public) are also afraid that if a development such as the Pearls of Umhlanga is approved and built, it would set a precedent... There is also a feeling that the public does not have access to all the information available."

They also refer to a meeting in June last year, where members of eThekwini Municipality voiced fears that adjacent land owners had not raised objections to the project "because they are hoping the Pearls will get additional floor area ratio and set the precedent for them to follow".

eThekwini municipal officials and the developers also discussed the results of the city's Umhlanga Node Study, but it was noted that this study "was not put in the public domain owing to certain inflammatory details that it contains (regarding other high-rise buildings)... the municipality is afraid that this initial study may spark a wave of concern among residents".

The full study, complete with 3D graphics of what Umhlanga might look like, still has not been published, but an edited summary document referred to the possibility of buildings up to 56 storeys high if the present floor area ratios were doubled to permit higher-density development.

The summary report suggests that doubling the present floor area ratio would lead to "colossal and overbearing" buildings that could reduce the value of neighbouring properties.

A separate volume of correspondence shows that city officials refused to authorise the second-tallest building three times because of the impact of early afternoon shadows on the beaches, and the lack of agreement on how much the developers would pay to upgrade Umhlanga's overloaded infrastructure.

An environmental impact statement submitted on behalf of the developers maintained that because Pearl Dawn was "pencil-shaped", its shadows would not be broad enough to deter beach visitors. Andrew Mather, the city's Project Executive for Coastal Policy, disagreed strongly.

"The developers have put forward the argument that, in fact, the lack of sun on a beach poses no significant loss of amenity... I do not agree... and would caution against a decision based on the developers' line of argument," he said.

Eventually, however, the head of the city's development planning unit, Soobs Moonsamy, wrote to Anant Singh (a senior member of the Pearls development) last year, stating that the city would approve the Pearl Dawn phase if it was limited to a height of 20 storeys.

But she made it clear that if the provincial department of environmental affairs sanctioned a building larger than 20 floors, her department would reserve its right to take the matter on appeal.

Considering projects at the point have been shelved because of rising cost I wonder how much longer the Pearls can be delayed before it's no longer viable.

^^ true, but the prices in umhlanga are at far higher levels than the point, which gives them greater room. Sale prices at the Pearls have been R35k - R40k per m2, while The Mast was only charging R15k/m2... big dif.

Here is an image from todays East Coast Express. You can see the work on the pearls and on the pier.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP6371.jpg

Thanks for the picture, Mike. I swear that pier is the slowest project ever, especially considering that its initial completion date was Christmas...of 2006. :lol:

It was held up in court action for over 7 months because it is tied within the pearls development and the realignment of stormwater drainage. it is speedily moving along now.

Court action? Really? I didn't know. I never saw news stories about it. Who brought the action and when?

I'm glad it's finally moving along.

Court action? Really? I didn't know. I never saw news stories about it. Who brought the action and when?

I'm glad it's finally moving along.

no one brought court action against the pier. The pier is being developed within the same framework policy as the pearls and hence when the pearls phase 2 was taken to court, the pier was held up too, for the stormwater system that the pier is being built to help, is being developed by the pearls. so it was all very intwined. the pier is ok now and moving on.

Pearl Dawn has received building rights for 20 floors.

Also have information that Pearl Sky will instead be built as two smaller buildings, not sure of the heights.

Pearl Dawn has received building rights for 20 floors.

Also have information that Pearl Sky will instead be built as two smaller buildings, not sure of the heights.

If that is the case then Pearl Dawn will be lower than Pearl Breeze which is 24 floors.

It would be interesting to see what they do with Pearl Sky as it used to be 43 floors.

Pearl Sky has never even seeked approval or additional zoning rights yet.

According to anant the Pearl dawn tower has been downsized to 24F (20 F of livable space is the approval, the other 4F are parking and the dome structure)

As such it is to be an almost identical tower to the pearl breeze one with the difference being it will be wider at the lower levels to increase the number of units it can hold since all the units of the 31F tower were sold out.

Regards pearl sky, there is speculation that the developers will now propose 2 towers to replace it, these towers being in the 20-30F range, but anant refuses to comment. as they have never seeked any approval for the main tower (as it is over and above the site zoning bulk allowance), what happens with pearl sky is mere hope, for they have to apply for additional bulk first.

man they shud i have just built this at the point after this episode i don't see anything higher than 20fs going up in umhlanga beach front or maybe they could zone some areas for high-rises"like the point"

the entire umhlanga beachfront has unlimited height zoning and is far more prime than the point is now or will be until many years in the future. this dev is the right place, just 43F for pearl sky is way too tall for the area

an image i snapped today driving into the village

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/Photo0024.jpg

The Cabana Beach looks so tiny now!
Thanks for the picture, Mike.

^^ and this is the "baby" building, still missing its 20m dome and 15m spire

Nice pioc Mike

just arived in Dubai after a week in SA and sat on the plane from CT to Durbs with an old mate who is very well informed and he told me the pearls was always due to have 4 buildings but in order to raise the bulking to make it work they went for a massive tower knowing it would get canned and then would apply pressure to council to change zoneing to "reduce" the towers for the sake of peace with the NIMBYS. Told me he know of this 3 years ago when it was being planned. Told me lodas of other bits and pieces too which I have to try to remember as those windhoeks kicjked in around PE somewherer

^^ lol. please try remember. 4 will be good tho! the biggie was too big for the area anyway. cos imagine how out of place double the height of the building in the above pic would look. lets rather encourage the massive big ones on the durban beachfront and point/vic embankment

he did say that this plot next door auctioned for R123mil had rights to 50F but would probably be a 30F hotel and appartment complex

Pearl Sky has never even seeked approval or additional zoning rights yet.

According to anant the Pearl dawn tower has been downsized to 24F (20 F of livable space is the approval, the other 4F are parking and the dome structure)



I guess we are looking at the Pearl Dawn being finished in 2010 if they can start it before year end while the Pearl Sky or what will replace it, 2 towers, probably will come sometime in the early part of the next decade.

^^ pearl dawn can carry on building now. the foundations for it have already been done, so all it needs to do now is rise, so in many ways the hard work has been done and a 2009 completion is not completely far fetched.

^^ pearl dawn can carry on building now. the foundations for it have already been done, so all it needs to do now is rise, so in many ways the hard work has been done and a 2009 completion is not completely far fetched.

Thats good.