From the Thought Leader - http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/morningafter/2008/03/04/a-weekend-in-the-city/

The Morning After
Lisa van Wyk

A weekend in the city

There were so many reasons to get out of the house last weekend and see the city.

Firstly, it was my birthday. It was (in my opinion) a significant birthday, and my first as a Jozi resident.

Secondly, I have yet another unwelcome guest at my house, and less time spent at home means less chance of bumping into him. Although Henry (the angry-looking but misunderstood Parktown prawn) has been relocated to the furthest corner of the garden (with the help of my landlady and a sturdy container), Keyser Söze (the rain spider) is still lurking in the shadows somewhere. As soon as the skies darken, as they did this afternoon, I start worrying about if and when he will pay me a visit.

Lastly, a friend has recently moved to the city. Although this place is still relatively new and unfamiliar to me, I need to be her tour guide, and there’s no better excuse for getting out. Her “newness” also makes her able to point out things that I have stopped noticing in the six months I have been here, things I now take for granted.

Johannesburg is an interesting place to a newcomer, and a surprising one. Despite the moans and groans about the traffic (I am yet to be stuck in a traffic jam), it is fairly easy to get around. My map book is already coming apart through overuse, but I have never found myself hopelessly lost, which, taking into account my attention span and sense of direction, probably says more about the city and its layout than any navigation skills I might have.

Once you get used to looking for landmarks, rather than road names, and the fact that within moments one can go from driving through lush, tree-lined suburbs to driving through a bleak, concrete environment (complete with litter blowing through the empty streets, the modern urban equivalent of the usual tumbleweeds one sees in dusty old western films), you’ll be just fine.

One of my favourite venues in Jo’burg is Intermission, a large, industrial gallery space 18 storeys above the heart of the CBD. It has hosted some fantastic exhibitions, as well as the launch of Bang Chong, a video by Jo’burg skateboard company Familia (more about that later). It may not be the best venue for gigs, for a number of reasons, but what it lacks in terms of sound quality and atmosphere, it more than makes up for with the view. It is the Jo’burg skyline as seen in tourism brochures and television commercials, marked by the tower and the flashing Vodacom sign on Ponte, with a tangle of twinkling lights between, and I don’t know if the novelty of that will ever wear off for me.

Last Saturday it hosted Qbert, the infamous scratch DJ, and I was thrilled that a venue like this, which reminds you so forcefully that you are in the heart of the city, was chosen to host a performer whose art form emerges from, celebrates and is a defining feature of the urban environment. I encourage anyone who has not been to events in the city, who is too scared to travel there at night or thinks that it is too far out of the way, to try it at least once. There is an energy there, maybe more noticeable to a “tourist” like myself, that is missing from the suburbs, and it excited me enough to make me want to live here in the first place.

I could wax lyrical about this place for ages, about the ways my friend and I gushed about the art scene, the way theatre and music are generally supported here, the ridiculousness of parking in Melville (which at first to me was a charming quirk of the suburb, but is now an everyday irritation), how encouraging it is to see restaurants overflowing throughout the week, not just on weekends, with people who are willing to take time out from their otherwise hectic days to enjoy the company of friends (something often missing from other cities). I could, but I know that everything I say that illustrates my naive excitement about my new home will be met with rolling eyes and an argument from the other side — one that points out the city’s faults, what it lacks and how it’s not how it used to be. I know that these arguments will be valid and founded on experience, and that eventually I might find out first-hand that it is all true.

But that hasn’t happened yet. And until that happens I will remain convinced that time spent not exploring my new home is time wasted. I will continue to annoy friends with my constant requests to see and do things they now find tedious, and I will continue to get a thrill every time I see that skyline. I’ll get over it, I’m sure. But I don’t want to; not just yet.

When the 3 of us drove through Hillbrow on Saturday, it was clear that something was happening. A lot remains to be done - but Hillbrow is on the move!

Making Hillbrow a neighbourhood
Written by Lucille Davie
Monday, 10 March 2008


The Ekhaya Neighbourhood programme is reclaiming the streets and buildings of Hillbrow, one step at a time.


Newly painted and refurbished buildings in Hillbrow, part of the Ekhaya neighbourhood initiative HILLBROW used to be known for its dangerous New Year's Eve bashes, where fridges, TVs and couches would be thrown out of flatland windows, endangering lives and causing chaos - but no more.

A huge socialisation process is happening in the suburb. This means that throwing unwanted items out of windows has stopped; instead a social upliftment programme called Ekhaya Neighbourhood, with the slogan "Making Hillbrow your home", has been put in place. Ekhaya means "at home".

The organiser behind this pioneering inner-city, low-income residential neighbourhood initiative is Josie Adler, community organiser and a woman with a strong desire to change people's lives for the better. She has worked since 2004, with support from property owners and their managements, residents and the City to "make a neighbourhood" in Hillbrow.

Today the Ekhaya Neighbourhood Association has a membership of not-for-profit and for-profit landlords of 22 buildings in an area of some 17 city blocks, and a network of building managers, cleaning and security service providers and resident volunteers. Around 12 000 people live in the area.

The suburb, which dates back to 1895, is notorious as a high-rise no-go area, troubled by overcrowding, crime, dirty, unhealthy streets and neglect. One of the city’s first residential areas, it used to be filled with single-storey houses, overlooking the fast-developing town. From the 1940s the tall residential blocks went up, and Hillbrow became the most densely populated suburb in the country. It was a cosmopolitan suburb, with bookshops, cafes spilling on to pavements, and coffee shops with balconies overlooking the streets.

Some streets are lined with rows of mature jacarandas and oaks, softening the tall buildings.

More than a CID
Ekhaya is much more than a city improvement district (CID), many of which have been established in the city and suburbs. The CIDs see building owners paying for guards to patrol streets; while building managers oversee blocks of flats, which are made more secure, allowing only residents into the buildings.


A sanitary lane, now clean and rodent free Neighbouring Berea is the first residential CID in Johannesburg. Preparations are being made for the registration of Hillbrow as a CID.

However, Ekhaya takes the CID concept further – it has worked from the ground up, in a process of building relationships between building owners and managers, residents and commercial tenants, and between these groups and agencies such as the Hillbrow Community Policing Sector Forum, SAPS, JMPD, Pikitup, Johannesburg Roads, as well as the local councillors.

With these solid networks in place, eKhaya has been able to work towards making Hillbrow a home through its annual "Safe New Year" campaign, its "Our Healthy Ekhaya Neighbourhood" campaign to clean and secure the dangerous sanitary lanes, and with the highly successful "Ekhaya Kidz Day" held in November 2007. Such activities have brought residents out from behind their closed doors, socialising with one another, and developing an interest in their surroundings.

"We are breaking the anonymity – people now know one another, and they now phone Pikitup to collect remaining rubbish, and report non-service by City Power and Joburg Water," says Adler. "Excuse me for being so excited about this."


Two street guards Eric Zulu and Nico-John Ndlovu on duty It also involves creating an environment in which property owners assume responsibility for upgrading and maintaining their buildings, and getting the City to fulfil their obligations regarding cleaning streets, changing light bulbs and ensuring traffic lights work.

The growing number of brightly painted, renovated buildings which distinguish the Ekhaya Neighbourhood from the generally drab surrounds are a tribute to the property owners who have responded with energy and commitment.

Tenants are also empowered by means of the building managers. Complaints about noisy fellow tenants or inadequate cleaning of a building can be directed to these managers. Reneus Mtema, the building manager of the 147-flat Lake Success in Pietersen Street, says the cleaners in the building are now more responsible. But so are the tenants. "The tenants are getting involved, I cannot achieve this alone."

Last year Ekhaya distributed 3 000 pamphlets in late December, wishing residents a good new year, at the same time urging residents at celebrate the new year "with joy and respect for others", and encouraging them to "help make Hillbrow safe and friendly".

Guards now patrol streets in a 17-block area in southern Hillbrow, supplemented by security from the buildings and a patrol car. At first residents raised questions about the men in the bright bibs, wondering who they were and what they were doing, but within months they came to recognise them as a familiar and reassuring aspect of the streets. Comments ranged from "We can walk freely now", and "Now we will start to respect our streets", to "People are very happy to see the security".

Residents then started asking whether the guards could be on duty at night and over weekends, and when Ekhaya could be extended further north into Hillbrow

Learning how a city works
Adler says that the history of the inner city, including the collapse of rent control and laws governing landlord/tenant relationships and health and building safety, were followed by rent boycotts. The outcome was the complete breakdown of governance, thus alienating property owners, residents and the City and leading to an environment of exploitation and easy corruption.

The introduction of sectional title during the period when the suburb "went grey", and the failure of the majority of bodies corporate to manage their buildings was an aggravating factor in the general degeneration.

Add to this the fact that people coming to live in Joburg have never lived in a city before. "They have never learnt the business of how a city works."

They need to learn to communicate with one another, and with the City, so that when water goes gushing down the street, or when rubbish is not collected, they need to know who to contact and to be assertive about demanding their rights.

Ekhaya started by working with owners of the 22 buildings in the area. "We knitted a common-interest relationship." It was established that in some cases pipes in the buildings had not been fixed in 30 years. And with bad management and overcrowding, the facilities in the buildings were more than past their lifespan. Owners now pay their rates, and their garbage is collected, a marked difference to those buildings where rates are not paid – untidy, foul-smelling buildings are sandwiched between neat, respectable buildings.

In one instance Adler walked past a building and got wet. She discovered that a resident was urinating down on her from the third floor of the building. That building is now refurbished and properly managed.

Each building has a building manager now, through whom tenants direct complaints.

Sanitary lanes have also been cleaned, going from being thick with garbage and stinking running with water to being neat and clean.

Adler wants to "get buildings to squeeze each other" and to create "positive tensions" with unco-operative owners, residents and city departments until the whole area is "safe, healthy and friendly".

The City is making a contribution. A R171-million upgrade of Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville is taking place, to be completed by mid-year. Pretoria and Kotze streets, identified as high streets, will get a thorough work-over, including new paving, special parkings bays, benches, bins, bollards and new bus shelters. High pedestrian traffic streets – Claim, Twist, Bruce and Quartz – will also get a dusting down. Parks in the suburbs will also be upgraded.

This project is to be overseen by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA).


Quiet, clean streets with green trees - where Hillbrow is heading Place to play
Adler is also concerned about places for children to the play in the suburb. At present they play on fire escape stairways and in garages.

She has her eye on an open patch of land behind the Windybrow theatre, now littered with a huge pile of rubbish, the odd shopping trolley, a barber shop, and filthy running water. The site contains a stretch of craggy rock, several tall jacaranda and wattle trees, and beautiful old stone steps - it has the potential to be an attractive park which Ekhaya would manage, and which, Adler hopes, would stretch to Pullinger Kop and other parks further east.

Adler facilitated an Ekhaya kids’ day at St Enda’s School in November last year, managed by 35 volunteers and funded by the JDA and several property management companies. Some 400 kids turned up and had fun with competitions and games, winning prizes, taking home a goody-bag and a t-shirt. "It was the first time parents were invited to engage on a social level," she says, "it is an important first step in engaging trust, involving NGOs, the church, schools, and housing managers."

Scared in Hillbrow
Two street guards, Eric Zulu and Nico-John Ndlovu, say they are scared working in Hillbrow, especially at night. They have had guns pointed at them, with a threat to shoot, with criminals telling them they are "disturbing them on the streets". The guards play it cool, saying nothing, and walking away. "We know the criminals, we report them to the police."

When asked why she does this at times dangerous work, Adler says: "It is an absolute obscenity that in my city there should be no-go areas. I am deeply satisfied that community organising principles are working."

She is greeted warmly by people in the buildings, answering in elementary Zulu and Sotho. "If the single woman knows she can walk in the streets, and children are safe, that’s what I want."

Mtema testifies that this is certainly happening: "You can walk around at night with no problems." He says his wife leaves for work at 5am every day and walks almost one kilometre, with no problem.

Adler explains that South Africa has an unexplained resource – "The sawubona culture is highly relational, which is why Ekhaya works." The "sawubona culture" refers to the custom of taking time to know each other before discussing the reason for the visit.

burbs dont get better over night so where did the type of people who threw fridges over the balconies go to?

dunno but im building a small 6 storey flat in hillbrow"project" and it seems too hav cooled down quite a bit in terms of crime,will vist the europa house and take some more pics .... and yes it been hell getting hillbrow stuff from council they seem to have lost it all lol

burbs dont get better over night so where did the type of people who threw fridges over the balconies go to?

Hillbrow is an example of a neighbourhood that does not have any social capital left. The criminals rule the streets, and the average joe is too afraid to get involved. People isolate themselves, there is a feeling of hopelessness, people believe that they cannot change the suburb. As such, when confronted by rubish, crime, grime and neglect people believe that they cannot make any difference. They become apathetic, depressed and frustrated.

This is why the project is so important. It re-energises the community. It makes individuals realize that they are not alone - others want change as well. There are mostly good people living in Hillbrow. they want it to be clean and safe. But for such a long time they were afraid of the bad elements. And the brutal police did not allow them to trust state institutions. This drive will be successful, I am glad they are doing it together with beautifying the area. You can't put in a sculpture and then declare an area is renewed. You have to renew the minds. Release the social capital. it is there.

For such a long time we treated all who live in Hillbrow as criminals with no rights. These people have rights. And they want to be safe. Give them a voice, and those that formerly ran the suburb will have to run...

And that is my little contribution for the day. hehe

Research shows that the best way to beat poverty in a neighbourhood is to introduce children to quality education...

City kids now have own school
Written by Emily Visser
Tuesday, 11 March 2008


Thanks to the unwavering vision of a small group of people, young children living in the inner city have a school that offers quality education and care.

The pupils, dressed in their grey uniforms with cobalt blue trimmings, feel proud and at home ALMOST hidden by the factories and warehouses surrounding it, a quaint, newly revamped school in downtown Johannesburg is filled with children of all ages, shapes and sizes.

CityKidz Pre- and Primary School is a living monument to the efforts and commitment of ordinary people to make a difference, and a prime example of what can be achieved when business and government work together.

Just over six months ago the school buildings stood empty, neglected and decaying, their original purpose all but forgotten.

But one company, assisted by other sponsors that included the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), took a chance where others saw no future. With just four months in which to revamp the buildings, Afhco Group, the major sponsor and trustee of the school, delivered on one of its social responsibility initiatives.

"Afhco decided to raise the standard of education of young children in their formative years by providing excellent education in a pleasant and open environment in the Johannesburg central business district," Renney Plit, the group's chief executive officer said at the official opening of the school on Monday, 3 March.

Reopened
And so the school was able to reopen its doors, in time to welcome 140 learners at the start of the 2008 school year. It is tiny compared to suburban schools, but its pupils, dressed in their grey uniforms with cobalt blue trimmings, already feel proud and at home.

Tuition is concentrated on giving quality maths, science and computer studies education. In addition, learners are given regular, nutritionally balanced meals. Afternoon care and activities such as drama, arts and crafts are offered by volunteers from Childline.

In general, inner city children are desperately in need of proper schooling as the area is almost devoid of good, well-run government schools. Instead, most inner city parents opt to send their children long distances each morning to schools in the surrounding suburbs.

Sadly, many fall prey to the numerous fly-by-night schools that have mushroomed in the inner city. These schools are often not registered with the department of education and offer inferior education or the wrong syllabus.

Working together
Beyond offering quality education in a neglected area, CityKidz is also a strong reminder of what can be achieved when government and business work together.

A number of sponsors assisted in the refurbishment, including the JDA, which handed over a cheque of R150 000 to Afhco at the opening ceremony.

Other sponsors include Engen Petroleum, Fuel Feeding Scheme, TNT Electrical, RJN Building Construction, Prominent Paints, TUHF, MGM Glass and Etching, Chevron SA, Resilient Carpeting, Bernard Fagri Insurance Company, ITEC and Nandos.

Afhco will carry the cost of any operational shortfalls for the next three years, expected to be about R1-million. It is still seeking financial support from major institutions. To date, it has cost the company R2-million to refurbish the school, its grounds and facilities.

Plit, urging sponsors to come on board, said people did not have to accept decay, lawlessness and poor service delivery.

Chutzpah
It was this kind of chutzpah that should be applauded, said Lael Bethlehem, the CEO of the JDA. "[Social development] is not something which can be done by the City alone."


Lael Bethlehem, the chief executive of the JDA with Ruby Mathang, MMC for development planning and urban management at the official opening of Citykidz And there were times when things looked bleak, confirmed principal Pierre de Lange. "The fear of failure, of ‘Is this possible?' was always on our minds." De Lange, previously of Bramley Primary School, understands the challenges, but is sure of the goal. "We want to concentrate on the upliftment of the inner city."

Because its registration still has to be finalised, the school has not yet received any support from the department of education. Registration can take up to a year.

Afhco hopes to extend the school at a later stage to cater for high school learners and will be looking at purchasing additional buildings. For now, it can accommodate 220 children; it is open to the public.

CityKidz School is a section 21 company. The board of trustees is made up of Afhco staff members. It offers tuition from Grade 00 to Grade 7 in nine classrooms, and there is ample space for outdoor activities. There is outdoor equipment; however, the school still needs help to buy computers, science equipment, readers and text books.

Afhco Group is a property investment, development and management company and provides quality affordable rental accommodation for residential and commercial clients in the inner city.

CityKidz School is in Goud Street, City and Suburban.

Parktown to get diamond complex (property24.com)
2008/03/12

A new property jewel, which will incorporate all the facets of SA's glistening diamond industry, will be erected in the heart of Parktown in Johannesburg.

Diamond Hill was specifically designed to cater for all the needs of the diamond and precious stone industries, says Dave Savage, managing director of Abland, the developer.

The project, valued at R600m, is based on similar developments in Tel Aviv, Antwerp, New York, London and Dubai and aims to accommodate the leading role players in the diamond industry at a safe location with easy access. He says the design is in accordance with global designs where "diamond buildings" are accorded iconic status.

The building premises border on Empire Road in the north and on the extension of Joubert Street in the east. It is situated across from the Constitutional Hill complex, a site that includes a 100-year old jail complex and is gaining popularity as a tourist destination.

Constitutional Hill forms part of a CBD renewal initiative amounting to millions of rands and includes the Constitutional Court's new building which opened its doors in 2004.

Savage says Diamond Hill will cover approximately 44,000sq m. This includes a retail component of 4,581sq m for specialist jewellery shops and other retailers related to the diamond industry.

He says Diamond Hill's success will by and large depend on the success of the renting of space in the building by diamond dealers and manufacturers. The business units have been specifically designed to provide for the needs of every diamond dealer and manufacturer. It also makes provision for international clients who are used to high standards abroad.

Clare Pook, developments manager at Abland, says great attention has been paid to security, with extra security measures in a red zone for the banks, couriers and certification department.

There is a requirement that, for Abland to continue with the development, 70% of the space be rented. Savage says it is already 66% rented and the tenants include several international customers. The rental amount is R84 per square metre and includes a 20% discount when compared to market-related rentals, Savage says.

He says the Diamond Council reacted positively, but hasn't made a final decision whether it will be moving into the building.

Justus van der Hoven, a well-known corporate architect who designed the building, says it has the potential to become a beacon building. "The external design with its many sharp-edged glass elements strikes you immediately and the emphasis – with the exceptionally large windows – is on the provision of the maximum amount of natural light required by diamond cutters," he says.

Construction is expected to start in April and be completed by December 2009. – Elma Kloppers, Sake24

Wrong post

Sandton's most expensive apartments, ranging from R25 000 to R40 000 per square metre, are to be constructed on the corner of Maude Street and Rivonia Road.

Investors have already spent R150-million buying off-plan. A R27-million penthouse has been sold and a second is about to be sold. Two of the smaller penthouses have sold for R14-million each. For those who are cash-strapped, there are one-bedroom units going for R3-million.

The units will be ready for occupation in 2010.

La Residence, a R1,6-billion development, will be 29 storeys high and will include office, retail and residential components. The developer, Nedbank, says enormous interest has been shown because of the nearby Gautrain station.

The residential component starts from the seventh floor and will have state-of-the-art features.

Each apartment will have its own lift, there will be 24-hour security, a 24-hour concierge, a 3D face-recognition system, closed-circuit monitoring, airconditioning, fitted kitchen appliances, a top-of-the-range entertainment and home theatre system, and an integrated home management system, which allows residents to switch on appliances through their cellphones or laptops.

The building will also feature an upmarket restaurant and a wellness centre, as well as an electronic butler service through which occupants can order a meal or have their laundry delivered.

The office space will be occupied by Nedbank.

29 storeys, sweet. I'll repost in Sandton thread

cash-strapped haha

JHB hotel to boost CBD tourism
2008/03/13

Tourism in Johannesburg's inner city has received a boost with the establishment of an upmarket four-star hotel.

Launching in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Gauteng Local Government MEC Qedani Dorothy Mahlangu said at the Maphungubwe Hotel Apartment that the rejuvenation of the inner city would promote tourism and contribute to the province's economic growth of 8% by 2014.

"Any massive investment in the inner city will yield good returns and effectively contribute to the regeneration of the city, tourism as well as job creation.

"This is indeed a great initiative which also underpins the provincial's government vision of attracting people to come and reside as well as invest in the inner city," she said.

The City of Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) and the Gauteng Provincial Government were commended by the MEC for ensuring that investing and doing business in the inner city is made easier.

Mahlangu said the private sector should continue investing in the inner city to ensure that the City of Johannesburg accomplishes its mission of becoming a world-class African city that can compete with the rest of the world's biggest cities.

Regarding the exclusive restaurant which is to open in the hotel, Mahlangu said it was important to have top of the range restaurants and accommodation which would contribute to the country hosting a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup and beyond.

Tabakenna Mashilwane, who operates the onsite restaurant Black, said it was encouraging the see the rejuvenation of the city becoming a reality.

"It is close to major highways and is in the financial and business heart of the Johannesburg's inner city."

Developer Gustav Holtzhausen of Circle Properties said the grand opening of the hotel, which is nestled in the heart of the Johannesburg inner city, bears testimony to the many successful efforts by private sector to restore the inner city into its former glory.

The Maphungubwe Hotel is the only four-star hotel to open in this part of Gauteng in the past 20 years.

"Prior to the birth of Maphungwubwe Hotel Apartments, visitors doing business in the inner city could only find the closest A-grade accommodation in either Sandton or Rosebank.

"This is now a limitation of the past," said Holtzhausen. - Edwin Tshivhidzo, BuaNews

Courtesy of Marco, its about the firth coming developments in Jozi. To those who can view it please list those developments for us who can't.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aAgINgcIrc&feature=related

Oh no, that was horrible - documentary with members of the rate-payers association complaining about the lack of dialogue, planning & public infrastructure whilst housing developments are undertaken - basically lots of negativity. :(

Two bits of news....

Firstly, proposals are on the table for a fifth passenger and cargo airport in Gauteng, in addition to OR Tambo, Lanseria, Grand Central and Rand. I personally think it would be better to improve Lanseria and Grand Central, but perhaps this is not possible due to space constraints.

http://www.pretorianews.co.za/?fSectionId=3534&fArticleId=nw20080314142547573C183706

Secondly, Pace has released their third development in the Joburg CBD - The Ambassadors. Very nice looking building! Will post a thread sometime. Prices go from between R400k and R500k.

http://www.pacerez.co.za/theambassadors

Joburg (left) and Jakes1(Right) in Newtown

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f119/Puleza/Johannesburg/P1080120.jpg

Rocking out

Vital signs seen in inner city

Written by Neil Fraser

Monday, 17 March 2008

JUST as it was with New York when it was in decline, so it was in Joeys. Maybe that's because the media are basically the same whatever continent they are on - they just love bad news.

"Another nail in the coffin" was a frequent headline both here and there. When the JSE announced it was moving northwards; when the Carlton Hotel closed; when Nedbank upped and went, each event provided "another nail". In fact, there were so many nails in the coffin that it was nothing short of a miracle that the corpse could push aside the lid and start breathing again.

And it has, both here and there. We clearly still have some way to go. But the vital signs have slowly started emerging, particularly over the last couple of years. Two that have become very apparent lately are the recovery in rental levels, with a corresponding decline in vacancies, and a return of the "city infrastructure". By infrastructure I don't mean roads, pavements and sewers, but those aspects of a city that make it liveable.

If one remembers that it wasn't that long ago that gross rentals for good quality space were hovering around the R20 a square metre mark, then it may be surprising to some to know that double that is now quite commonplace. Even more surprising to some may be the news that recent lettings for new quality space are more than double that again, edging close to Sandton levels.

Cranes
So it should be no surprise that one sees construction cranes back in the city - two on the west side of the magistrates' court are busy on the first commercial office tower to be built in the inner city for a couple of decades, and another major block (parking and offices) to commence shortly on the block bounded by Diagonal, Kerk, Sauer and Pritchard streets which will link into the Bank City complex.

Office vacancies should also be affected by the number of older office blocks that have been transformed into residential. Way back in March 1998, Citichat suggested that the issue wasn't "how we can grow big again?" but rather "how can we prosper with what we have?" and the conversions to residential have certainly answered the latter question in part.

It is this increase in residential population that is in fact now starting to drive the return of "city infrastructure". The residential population of the inner city has sky-rocketed, from about 120 000 in 1992/3 to about three times that by the end of last year. A large amount of residential projects are being launched or will be launched this year and the council aims to have at least 70 000 additional residential units provided by 2015.

I would guess that we will have an inner city with between a half and three quarters of a million people living, working and playing in its revitalised environment within a decade. While the majority will be in the rapidly growing middle-income group, a much smaller higher income group is also being accommodated with apartments and lofts - disposable income is coming back to the inner city. It is this new wave of inner-city residents, middle and higher income, that is attracting new retail services (city infrastructure), from gyms and laundries to pavement cafes and restaurants and now, hotel rooms.

I know that Ian Fife of the Financial Mail has often stated that the benchmark for the return of the city is a 24-hour delicatessen. That will eventually come, but what is happening is the return of this city infrastructure not only in the form of coffee shops and pavement cafes, but also hotel rooms and quality restaurants.

Mapungubwe Hotel
So it was no surprise to be at the official opening on Monday, 10 March of the Mapungubwe Hotel Apartments. Previously the French Bank building on the block edged by Anderson, Ferreira and Marshall streets, it has been converted to a four-star hotel and apartment block. It is thus well positioned in relation to the corporate sector, with companies such as Anglo American and Standard Bank as neighbours. The hotel/apartments tag is because the project was developed as a sectional title scheme with 91 hotel apartments and an additional 37 residential apartments of which, I understand, a number are already occupied.

The accommodation options include very well appointed studio or one-bedroomed apartments, while the hotel provides a fully equipped communications and business centre, high speed internet connectivity in each room and a fully equipped gymnasium and a swimming pool.

It also has CCTV surveillance, 24-hour security and valet parking. I had a meeting with some hotel guests from the United Kingdom last week and we used the pool deck in the central well of the complex, which was gloriously quiet and didn't feel like being in the city at all. A shuttle service to and from OR Tambo International Airport as well as an "on demand shopping facility" for the apartments' residents is also available - maybe not a 24-hour delicatessen but as close as one can get.

The food and beverage side of the hotel is via a restaurant called Black, a tastefully styled Afro-chic decorated restaurant (all the interior design of the hotel is inspired by the Mapungubwe theme) serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is a welcome addition to the "city infrastructure", particularly in the southwest quadrant of the city.

It has a "gentlemen's club" styled bar-lounge in the basement that has retained the vault grilles of the building's original occupier, the French Bank. Planned is a health bar that will provide quick lunches for the local business community. The hotel hit 90 percent occupancy over the past two weeks, which reflects the need.

Now, to the fact that this is the first new four-star hotel facility in the inner city in yonks, add a number of other new establishments and we get back to vital signs. Isibaya House, on the corner of Marshall and Simmonds streets, boasts a new Cappino Haute Café with great cappuccinos that can be imbibed inside or at the pavement tables. Both Main Street and Gandhi Square have attracted a host of pavement coffee shops including Nino's, the Coffee Shop, Cramer's Coffee and Cappellos, plus fast-food businesses.

Newtown
Newtown's No 1 Central Place provides Kaldi's Coffee and the Sophiatown Bar Lounge while Moyo at the Market Theatre jostles with the "old faithful", Gramadoelas, which continues with consistently good food, wine and service.

But right in the heart of the city, at 87 Commissioner Street, in the splendid, lofty banking hall of this 1902/3 National Bank Building, a new up-market restaurant, Picasso's Restaurant and Bar, is due to open this month. I haven't been able to get in as yet but I believe that a great deal of expense has gone into providing a fine dining ambience.

The City Bakery in De Beer Street in Braamfontein is also housed in one of the city's refurbished heritage buildings and is a must for freshly baked croissants, butternut breads and cinnamon sticks, and great coffee. Also in Braamies, at 81 De Korte Street, the Narina Trogon will open initially for breakfast and lunch. With a take-away patisserie, it will specialise in high-quality, hormone-free local produce. The Narina Trogon is a beautiful but elusive bird named after the Khoikoi mistress of a French orthinologist.

Hotel rooms, quality eateries and coffee shops - it's all adding to the returning vitality of the inner city.

Now, I did say that this week I would be interrogating the Charter Progress Report that was provided in last week's Citichat, but I'm not quite through, so hopefully I will bring that to you next week.

Ciao, Neil

Jhb deals well with challenges
19/03/2008 12:30 - (SA) news24.com

Johannesburg - Johannesburg is the second best city in Asia, the Middle East and Africa in dealing with urbanisation and environmental challenges, a report showed on Wednesday.

The MasterCard Worldwide Insight Report on urbanisation and environmental challenges ranked Johannesburg second, after Melbourne.

Author of the report Dr Yuwa Hedrick-Wong said: "The overall picture for Johannesburg is that by and large the city has done exceptionally well in creating a high quality environment within its urban setting, managing increasing population growth and a degree of unpredictable environmental impacts to ensure a good quality of life for residents."

The report reviewed the relative vulnerability and degrees of protection from key environmental challenges such as air pollution, infectious disease and natural disasters of major cities in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Johannesburg's high ranking reflected the city's favourable geographic location, protected from most adverse environmental factors that are either outside of government's control or highly unpredictable, said Hedrick-Wong.

The only notable factor from which Johannesburg was not protected, was drought.

When ranked solely by environmental factors that were within policy control, Johannesburg ranked at a sixth place, after Dubai.

This was due to low levels of incidences of infectious diseases and air pollution.

Last year's MasterCard Worldwide Centres of Commerce Index ranked Johannesburg as the only city in Africa to feature in the world's top 50 cities that were classified as "the hubs of the new world economy".

Johannesburg ranked 47th.

Joburg Art Fair was 'huge success'
Written by Lucille Davie
Thursday, 20 March 2008

About R30-million was spent over four days at the Joburg Art Fair, with art lovers and collectors snapping up the works on show.

Acclaimed artist William Kentridge strolls around the art fair GALLERY owners and the organisers agree - the Joburg Art Fair was a huge success. The evidence: up to R30-million worth of artworks was sold.

Katrin Lewinsky, the production manager of Artlogic, the organisers of the fair, said that international and local buyers were equally represented. Some 6 500 people walked through the doors of the Sandton Convention Centre, where 5 000m² of concrete floor space was abuzz with art lovers from 13 to 16 March.

Some the city's best galleries had a presence at the fair: the Everard Read, Gallery Momo, the Goodman, Warren Siebritz and David Krut. In all, 22 galleries, six of them international, had stands.

And some of the country's best artists had their works on show - Zwelethu Mthethwa, William Kentridge, Santu Mofokeng, David Goldblatt, Pieter Hugo and Sabelo Mlangeni. Artists from Africa were also represented, with works from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fantastic pieces

"We did really well; we sold some fantastic pieces," said Jacques Michau, the curator at the Everard Read Gallery. "It was a great forum for the art community to come together." The majority of the gallery's sales were to local buyers, he added.
Monna Mokoena, owner of Gallery Momo, said that he was "very, very happy" with the 90 percent sales his gallery had enjoyed. His buyers were local but there was a huge interest shown in the work from international buyers and curators. "We have a strong market for art."

He traces it back to the Randlords, Joburg's early entrepreneurs, who were active art buyers.

Mokoena said he thought the fair came at exactly the right time, when the country was experiencing negative sentiments. "People came out and forgot their fears."

Clive Kellner, the curator of the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), was also very happy with the fair. The JAG had a stall, where the gallery and its programmes were promoted. "It was very good; we were very happy to be there. We managed to profile the gallery as a resource."

Market for art

Kellner said that there was a good market for artwork in the city, despite the fact that some of the work was "pretty edgy". And, although there were now dozens of galleries in Joburg, the competition had been good - the city was experiencing a boom in art sales.

"Art is now a real industry. It has moved into the mainstream." New markets, he said, had been created in India, China and Russia.

Lewinsky said that Artlogic was already starting to organise next year's fair.

Joburgers can continue their art frenzy - Marlene Dumas's Retrospective is on at the Standard Bank Gallery until 29 March, while the 120 works in the Spier Contemporary exhibition, on at the Johannesburg Art Gallery, will continue until 31 May.

Oh, how absolutely marvellous that posh Parktown, the dowager duchess of all Jozie's suburbs, the home of the mining moguls and their mansions, is to be the new home of the Diamond Centre, aptly names "Diamond Hill" ......what a kudos for Parktown, but isn't Apex-Hi feeling a little green around the gills right now ?
I wonder how the young Abland blades are squaring up to the much older less agile Apex-Hi ?
Is it to be David against Goliath ?
And how is the Diamond Industry responding ?
Apex-Hi's Jewel City in the CBD has had an injection of some R14-million, while Abland is planning a R600-million flagship for the Diamond industry.
Who will win, who will be left behind....?
Will the DBC lose out to prestigous Parktown and its office parks ?

Sage Satine


Parktown to get diamond complex (property24.com)
2008/03/12

A new property jewel, which will incorporate all the facets of SA's glistening diamond industry, will be erected in the heart of Parktown in Johannesburg.

Diamond Hill was specifically designed to cater for all the needs of the diamond and precious stone industries, says Dave Savage, managing director of Abland, the developer.

The project, valued at R600m, is based on similar developments in Tel Aviv, Antwerp, New York, London and Dubai and aims to accommodate the leading role players in the diamond industry at a safe location with easy access. He says the design is in accordance with global designs where "diamond buildings" are accorded iconic status.

The building premises border on Empire Road in the north and on the extension of Joubert Street in the east. It is situated across from the Constitutional Hill complex, a site that includes a 100-year old jail complex and is gaining popularity as a tourist destination.

Constitutional Hill forms part of a CBD renewal initiative amounting to millions of rands and includes the Constitutional Court's new building which opened its doors in 2004.

Savage says Diamond Hill will cover approximately 44,000sq m. This includes a retail component of 4,581sq m for specialist jewellery shops and other retailers related to the diamond industry.

He says Diamond Hill's success will by and large depend on the success of the renting of space in the building by diamond dealers and manufacturers. The business units have been specifically designed to provide for the needs of every diamond dealer and manufacturer. It also makes provision for international clients who are used to high standards abroad.

Clare Pook, developments manager at Abland, says great attention has been paid to security, with extra security measures in a red zone for the banks, couriers and certification department.

There is a requirement that, for Abland to continue with the development, 70% of the space be rented. Savage says it is already 66% rented and the tenants include several international customers. The rental amount is R84 per square metre and includes a 20% discount when compared to market-related rentals, Savage says.

He says the Diamond Council reacted positively, but hasn't made a final decision whether it will be moving into the building.

Justus van der Hoven, a well-known corporate architect who designed the building, says it has the potential to become a beacon building. "The external design with its many sharp-edged glass elements strikes you immediately and the emphasis – with the exceptionally large windows – is on the provision of the maximum amount of natural light required by diamond cutters," he says.

Construction is expected to start in April and be completed by December 2009. – Elma Kloppers, Sake24

...

Paris --> "omg i like so totally love south africa, the accent, and like, everyone..."
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20185920,00.html

Paris Hilton Hosts a Party in Johannesburg
Originally posted Sunday March 23, 2008 12:15 PM EDT

It didn't take long for Paris Hilton to organize a VIP party for herself in Johannesburg this weekend hot on the heels of her goodwill school tour earlier in the week.

On Friday night, Hilton was greeted by a throng of fans at the party, which had been organized with barely 24 hours notice, and gamely posed for pictures.

Meanwhile, Benji Madden, who had performed earlier to wild applause at the My Coke Fest 2008 with his band Good Charlotte, let his girl have the spotlight. At the party, he walked by the crowd virtually unnoticed.

Inside, the couple were affectionate as they hung out in the VIP section. Paris welcomed her fans from a distance via a microphone, declaring that she "loved South Africa, the accent and everyone."

Whenever Hilton leaned over the balcony of the VIP area, she waved and the crowd went hysterical every time, according to an observer.

The party quickly died down after the hostess departed close to 2.30 am.

Thought this was completely random.... an anti-apartheid song done in a country music style called 'Johannesburg.' By Gil Scott Heron.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgxWk4BE8Y8

MyCokeFest was amazing... MUSE was absolutely mindblowing. KORN was even louder than I expected... 46 000 people. What a blast.

both just played here in Dubaialong with Velvet Revolver at a massive music fest too

MyCokeFest was amazing... MUSE was absolutely mindblowing. KORN was even louder than I expected... 46 000 people. What a blast.

Sad I didnt go to my Coke fest, but heard about the Hilton Party, friend of mine went for it, & took pic's

What on earth is happening with PACE CBD flatland ?

Looked at "The Ambassador" website below, and see a ghastly colour scheme:
*Dingy grey mixed with ox-blood red* !
.... and that for an Art Deco building !
Common on, you PACE guys, are you all colour blind ?

And is "Art Deco" really to be confused with classical architecture ?
The ad-man clearly didn't pay attention in his history class at school.

Next: why are copywriters lying:
"the living room opens onto a balcony, offering vibrant views of the city" ...
last time I looked, it was litter-strewn, dirty, noisy and polluted...
common on, guys...

And what next - contorted euphamism ?
Who on earth is this "New Age city-dweller" - can someone please explain ?

I remember when sectional title was rammed down our throats as the ultimate housing shortage panacea > but it also rise to Hillbrow. Now the hard-sell has turned to the CBD.

Satine


Secondly, Pace has released their third development in the Joburg CBD - The Ambassadors. Very nice looking building! Will post a thread sometime. Prices go from between R400k and R500k.

http://www.pacerez.co.za/theambassadors

What on earth is happening with PACE CBD flatland ?

Looked at "The Ambassador" website below, and see a ghastly colour scheme:
*Dingy grey mixed with ox-blood red* !
.... and that for an Art Deco building !
Common on, you PACE guys, are you all colour blind ?

And is "Art Deco" really to be confused with classical architecture ?
The ad-man clearly didn't pay attention in his history class at school.

Next: why are copywriters lying:
"the living room opens onto a balcony, offering vibrant views of the city" ...
last time I looked, it was litter-strewn, dirty, noisy and polluted...
common on, guys...

And what next - contorted euphamism ?
Who on earth is this "New Age city-dweller" - can someone please explain ?

I remember when sectional title was rammed down our throats as the ultimate housing shortage panacea > but it also rise to Hillbrow. Now the hard-sell has turned to the CBD.

Satine

I agree with you on the horrible colour schemes. Remember, PACE is marketting to a young, up-coming middle-class (income R7500 to R13500 a month). This is not to attract uber yuppies. Rather, to satisfy the housing needs of those that need decent, convenient, clean and fun accomodation. And it is another building that is not falling apart. And more money in the CBD.

The ambassador is almost on the corner of von willich and pritchard. Its neigbours? Small Street Mall, for convenient shopping (yes, it is safe now). Capello's is just around the corner, in Pitje chambers. There are numerous coffee shops and restaurants just accross the road. It is clean. Your view would be of Von Willich Street, with Marlboro Towers right in front of you. Fashion Lofts is close by, with a gym. So it is not that bad a spot!

The new age city dweller? Upwardly mobile young professionals - those that reside in the CBD are most likely black. They earn decent salaries, but want to be close to amenities and their jobs. As such this is the perfect location for anyone working at the High Court, any of the Banking Headquarters etc.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/granova/AmbW-Exterior.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/granova/amb-Bedroom.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/granova/amb-Living.jpg

I don't find the colour scheme that hideous. In fact I think it's quite visually striking.

And I agree with Yarrick.. it's not that bad a spot at all. It might appear so from behind the locked doors of a car, but once you actually walk around it feels quite normal. There is a great deal of retail in that area, and also an increasing number of businesses, and so it's not unimaginable that professionals would snap up the opportunity - evidenced, in fact, by the fact that Pace's two other developments in the CBD have received a warm response.

And a new age city dweller? I would be one of them... or at least a wannabe new age city dweller. ;) They are quite the rage in Joburg at the moment, and one can see this currently being reflected in Joburg's more artistic crowd and their increasing acceptance of the city as a place to play and perhaps even to live.

And ox blood red might be a small exageration?

A nice little article on Melville here...
Cool photos too

Melville & Crime
Is our boho neighbourhood overrun with crooks?

http://www.jhblive.co.za/live/publications_view.jsp?pub_id=230854

Parks safety unit launched
Written by Lesego Madumo
Thursday, 27 March 2008


CITY PARKS has launched a park safety unit to protect both the environment and the people who use its parks and open spaces.

http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stories/2008/mar/parkssafety000.jpg

The launch was held at Florida Lake Park, in Roodepoort, on Wednesday, 26 March. It was attended by the managing director of City Parks, Luther Williamson; the head of the City's safety and security programme, Nazira Cachalia; the chief director of the Johannesburg metropolitan police department, Harold Dlepu; the Gauteng MEC for safety and security, Firoz Cachalia; and key safety and security stakeholders in Johannesburg.

The unit comprises of 64 officers - 30 uniformed metro cops and 34 City Parks park rangers. South African Police Service officers, who will be on standby for emergencies, will beef up the unit. The partnership is the first of its kind in the country.

A plaque was unveiled at the launch.

Monitors
Called park rangers, the unit will guard and monitor the City's parks, cemeteries and conservation spaces, stopping vagrancy, littering, public drinking, illegal dumping and any other illegal activities. They will also enforce open space by-laws.


Gauteng MEC for safety and security, Firoz Cachalia and City Parks managing director, Luther Williamson, unveil the plague of the new unit "Parks are a critical part of society, where people come and congregate," said Firoz Cachalia, the Gauteng MEC for safety and security. "It is important for our open spaces to always be safe."

City Parks is the municipal-owned entity responsible for maintaining, conserving and greening open spaces. It manages more than 2 000 open spaces across Johannesburg, including parks, cemeteries, pavements and street trees.

All parks need to be well managed by every resident, said the utility's managing director, Luther Williamson. "We all have to be ambassadors of safety in our parks."

He exhorted residents to report any transgressions in open spaces.

Problems at the parks include illegal tree felling, dumping, loud noise or music, and misuse by residents. These acts could all be hampered if there was visibility of policing units, Williamson noted.

No fear
The park rangers are tasked with ensuring that public spaces are safe and friendly, and that they are a tranquil setting for residents to relax without fear of crime. The unit's establishment was a key priority that was in line with the mayor's safety and security strategy, said Nazira Cachalia, the head of the City's safety and security programme.

"Parks are a critical part of society. The more people occupy and nurture them, the more criminals will be afraid to come closer."

According to Jenny Moodley, spokeswomen for City Parks, growing urbanisation has resulted in increased transgressions in parks, such as illegal dumping, tree felling and littering. "City Parks, as part of its responsibility to contain these contraventions, has established the partnership, which is aimed at developing healthier, safer and vibrant open spaces."

Driving branded 4x4s, the new park safety unit will work through two shifts. It headquarters are at Florida Lake Park, and all its flagship facilities will be patrolled at least twice a day. Two dedicated units will patrol cemeteries and nature reserves, with an additional two acting as rapid response units.

Residents who spot any illegal activities taking place in the City's open spaces should call 10111 or contact City Parks on 011 712 6600.

I went through Hillbrow yesterday after more than a week and I must say that work is progressing nicely. I was in Swaziland and took leave for a couple of days. The good thing about my drive around Hillbrow and the city is that I se more and more buildings being renovated. The city is lso getting more cleaner than ever and there's large visibility of the new Recap taxis. Can somebody tell us as to what's going on as it seems like everybody just woke up and realised that its now 2008 and they should start working in making the city a better place. The only sad thing I came acrosss is when I read that the city is looking for private sector to take over Park Station Pricint project, I think if they are serious about seeing Park Station being used in 2010 they need to get their hand dirty and start working on it.

There's work going on this mosque. And I think Jakes hinted about FNB going to construct a new building opposite that that mosque, as you can see in the pic something is starting to happen.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f119/Puleza/Johannesburg/P1080836.jpg

Yup! Definitely something going on there! Hope it's not another parking lot though! lol
And I love that Mosque, especially when seen in the reflection of the blue glass opposite it.

With lack of parking in Jozi, there's a possibility of another one.

The place that used to house gay club(s) in Juta Street in Braamfontein is being refurbed, anybody knowing what's going on there?

I currently work at Bank City , I'll ask around and see if it's FNB that's building something there. I know they actually own a few buildings around Bank City ( including the Sage building ).

I currently work at Bank City , I'll ask around and see if it's FNB that's building something there. I know they actually own a few buildings around Bank City ( including the Sage building ).

Welcome Tavesh, it will be great if you can find info for us, may be you can even get more than what you asked for. I'm just down the street from you at Std bank.

Hey guys.. if you're on facebook, search for an event entitled 'Saga 631.' It's an event that's being hosted as part of the Wits Arts and Literature Experience Festival taking place this week, and this particular piece looks pretty kewl... It's this Sunday on the Library Lawns

"Saga 631 is a video performance piece edited to a composition by WITS composition student Angie Mullins. The video deals with Johannesburg City, its schizophrenic character and its multitude of contradictions. (Video by WITS architecture student Eduardo Cachucho)
Duration: [around 15min]
This specific piece will probably start after 3pm (times from the organising committee are still unclear)
And it is also free.
Also on in the same performance:
Wits Contemporary Performance Ensemble Concert
Contemporary South African art music compositions by Angie Mullins, Annemari Ferreira, Chrsito Jankowitz and Mokale Koapeng will be presented by the Wits Contemporary Performance Ensemble String Quartet, Piano Quartet, Piano Trio, Chamber Ensemble and Soloists. "

I wish that other cities could adopt this move.


Source: www.sadelivery.co.za

http://www.sadelivery.co.za/images/homepage/photo_of_the_month/part.jpg

The City of Joburg has integrated public art into its long-term plans and developments through an innovative approach called the
‘percent for public art’. This requires that 1% of the construction budget of all major city building projects worth
R10 million or more be devoted to public art.

Funds from the percent for public art will be used towards the development of art to be displayed in public areas, including the
commission, design, purchase and installation of works of art, as well as the employment of administrative staff connected to
this function. The percent for public art policy is implemented through an open and publicly accountable processes and it is
estimated that all the building work toward 2010 could generate up to R40 million for public art, fundamentally altering much of
the urban landscape.





.

There's work going on this mosque. And I think Jakes hinted about FNB going to construct a new building opposite that that mosque, as you can see in the pic something is starting to happen.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f119/Puleza/Johannesburg/P1080836.jpg









Reply from Neil Fraser "The new building work is for FNB who are building a parking garage with offices over – very big development"








.

I guess we loooking 15 floors plus for this one. It won't surprise me if it goes to 20+ floors.

Welcome Tavesh, it will be great if you can find info for us, may be you can even get more than what you asked for. I'm just down the street from you at Std bank.


Cool, I've also done a stint at Std Bank :)

Anyway I've asked around and it looks like FNB is putting up a new parking lot there, as the one next to the mosque is almost full on a daily basis.

Apparently FNB also owns the building behind PC Training, which is now going to be called FNB Towers. This will be refurbished and FNB staff will move in , which also means they would need additional parking.

Anyway , this is great development for the area. I'm sure another bank building will have a knock-on effect and we'll soon see more shops etc opening up.

FNB Towers... That's a name of a building that I like to here. Wonder who the architects are.

FNB Towers is an existing building Tom, the brown one. It seems like the area is gonna to be very attractive.

Here's additional info from Neil "Hotels – the Mapumgubwe has opened, there are plans for the refurbishment of the smaller of the two buildings in the Southern Sun complex, and I believe Urban Ocean is now looking at some form of hotel on the corner of Rissik and Market. Regards, neil "







.

FNB Tower, 27 Diagonal Street. Its the old securities building, and 1100 people now work in this building.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/granova/DSC01028.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/granova/DSC01027.jpg