#Central Cape Town Renewal [Archive]

Mo Rush

August 2nd, 2007, 05:05 PM

Grand plans alone won't bring the Parade to life

By Erik Schaug

If the proposed improvements to the Grand Parade are going to work, it will be because of good management. This is one of the factors neglected in urban design theory until fairly recently.

Most urban designers come from a background of architecture, and their emphasis tends to be formal, in the sense of the shapes of the spaces they create.

But often the most important thing about public spaces is not their shapes - important as these are - but the nature of the human activities that take place in them, and how they are managed.

Modernism in architecture is very concerned with the appearance of buildings, and although they are supposed to look functional, they often end up looking suspiciously sculptural.

Little thought, if any, is given to the impact buildings have on the spaces immediately surrounding them, particularly at ground level. There may be a few trees planted to soften the often hard visual impact of the buildings, and perhaps a water feature to add a bit of life and movement.

Too seldom do architects realise that the liveliest thing you can add to a building is human life. One reason why modernist architecture fails to do this is that it has been heavily influenced by humanism, and one of the chief shortcomings of humanists is that they think humanity is more important than humans.

Historian Paul Johnson put it very well when he defined intellectuals as those who think that ideas are more important than people.

Early writings about urban spaces concentrated mostly on ideas of shapes and appearances. Alberti, for instance, wrote in the 15th century that the proper height for the buildings around a square is one third of the breadth of the open area, or one sixth at the least.

Similarly, Palladio wrote in the 16th century about the typical width of a Roman Forum being 1.75 to |2.50 the height of the buildings around it.

Camillo Sitte, writing in the 19th century, said that the key to a sense of enclosure to a square is the treatment of the corners: if they are open, the sense of enclosure is diminished.

Little was said about how public spaces were actually used by people, and how these activities could be enhanced and encouraged. The title of his book, published in Vienna in 1889, says it all: City Planning According to Artistic Principles.

Public spaces are large containers for human activities. They might be beautifully designed, but they do not fill themselves automatically.

Urban designers who have written recently about such matters include Jan Gehl, whose book Life Between Buildings has made a big impact since it was published in 1980 and then translated from the original Danish.

Another is William White, who wrote The Social Life of Small Urban Space in 1980 and City: Rediscovering the Centre in 1988.

Both focus very much on the human and social aspects of public spaces; for instance, they point out that urban squares, if they work at all, do so from the edges. Get the edges wrong - make them lifeless and unattractive to people - and the square will fail.

Squares also need lots of opportunities to sit and socialise: on formal seats and benches and on impromptu perches like flat-topped bollards and wide steps and ledges.

Even these types of measures will not be enough. You have to manage what happens when people start to fill the space.

In his handbook, Managing Downtown Public Spaces, American Stephen Davies puts the case succinctly: "Early on, we focused primarily on finding ways to design spaces better. But now we recognise that management is often more important and can accomplish more, and faster, than any new design scheme.

Many cities have discovered the hard way that just creating a new pedestrian mall, for example, is not enough - brick sidewalks and flowering trees cannot in themselves revitalise a downtown."

That's why it is encouraging to see that, among the proposals for the redevelopment of the Grand Parade, management plays an important role.

There are two other urban spaces in Cape Town which could benefit from this approach: Greenmarket Square and Riebeeck Square.

Of the three, Greenmarket Square is the smallest and most enclosed. The majority of the buildings around it are somewhat on the high side, but the sense of enclosure is agreeable - there is no feeling of being at the bottom of a deep pit, which often results when the buildings are too high.

Greenmarket Square is, as an urban container for human activity, one of the best in South Africa. An added bonus is that the perimeter buildings include both the Metropolitan Methodist Church, considered the finest church in the Cape Colony in the late 19th century, and the splendid Old Town House, built in 1755.

Next in size is Riebeeck Square. It is much more open, and the sense of enclosure is scant. The space leaks out because the buildings surrounding it are generally too low, and the corners are not closed off as Sitte would advise.

The jewel of the square is St Stephen's Church, built as a theatre in 1800, and converted to a church and school in 1839. The rest of the square is used as a parking area for cars, hardly the best possible use for it.

The largest, of course, is the Grand Parade, which is not - and was never intended to be - an urban square in the Greenmarket sense.

It's a military parade ground, closely associated with the Castle, but has traditionally served the citizens of Cape Town as much more than a place to see marching bands and parading soldiers. It has been described as Cape Town's melting-pot. It is very big and quite open, with little sense of enclosure.

The suggestions for the revitalisation of the Grand Parade seem to strike the right balance. The character would be retained and enhanced, and the proposals are admirably restrained.

Formal interventions are minimal. A double row of deciduous trees would be planted around the perimeter, and perhaps the reintroduction of old grachte, or canals, would take place.

A long overdue memorial to the Cape Corps is envisaged, and not a lot more would be built.

The north-western end would be where traders would be situated and the rest of the area would be used at various times for pageantry, military tattoos, sporting events and other public activities.

Consideration is also given to such matters as transport, cleanliness, security and the integration of the Grand Parade into the surrounding fabric of the city.

All in all, the emphasis is on tidying up the Parade and then putting a lot of effort into organising and encouraging a fine variety of public activities in it.

The proposals also make it clear that the management is to be seriously considered, which is especially heartening.

One of the principles of good management is to make someone responsible for it, and to ensure that the level of responsibility is matched by the authority the person wields.

Davies identifies four "management ingredients" which he says are essential to successful public spaces:

# Someone is responsible for making sure that the space works well for the people who use it.

# The details of cleaning, repair, safety and security are taken care of daily.

# The public space is exciting, active and geared to spontaneous socialising.

# Someone watches over the public space consistently, making sure any changes in design or management are made in response to people's needs or patterns of use, which inevitably change over time.

Greenmarket Square used to be a boring car park, and many Capetonians wanted to see it turned into a people-friendly place.

The introduction of traders was undoubtedly a huge improvement, but a wall-to-wall fleamarket is not seen by all as the best way to optimise the inherent spatial qualities of the square.

Most people find an intriguing warren of small trading stalls very romantic. Images of Middle East and African souks bring to mind an agreeable maze of shops, affording surprises and new vistas at every turn.

This quality, a tightly-packed warren of informal shops, creates its own very special spaces, and the question that arises is whether it ought to be located within another type of space, which has its own very special and very different quality.

When you're surrounded - hemmed in, even - by small shops, it's almost impossible to appreciate the larger space of Greenmarket Square.

Maybe the time has come for those responsible for investigating the Grand Parade to consider what |it is that Greenmarket Square ought to be.

Perhaps the fleamarket could be transferred to Riebeeck Square, where the creation of a souk could establish a new spatial element which could sit quite well within it. With the promised improvements to public transport which will come with 2010, a case could be made for removing the cars from Riebeeck Square, just as they were from Greenmarket Square.

If this were to be considered, it would have to be done in such a way that the Greenmarket Square stallholders would not be disadvantaged, so good management would play a vital role. There is management of a type in Greenmarket Square at the moment, but it doesn't seem to be working very well.

The north-western edge of the Cape Town CBD, including the Bo-Kaap, is undergoing a revival and revitalisation. Riebeeck Square could play a significant part in the process. There's plenty of space, and imaginative ideas could transform it into a valuable asset to all who live and work nearby, as well as attracting tourists.

The three - Grand Parade, Greenmarket Square and Riebeeck Square - could form an axis of well-managed urban spaces in our city, each with its own character and generating its own human activities.

# Schaug is a chartered architect and urban designer.

Published on the web by Cape Times on August 2, 2007. © Cape Times 2007. All rights reserved.

Mo Rush

August 2nd, 2007, 05:13 PM

Public spaces upgrades

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Mo Rush

August 2nd, 2007, 05:18 PM

Confidence continues in Cape Town’s Central City

Pre-2010 investment in hotels and other infrastructure in and around Cape Town’s Central City, can only boost the area’s residential sector. So says Mick Joyce, regional MD for Pam Golding Properties, following the news of yet another hotel planned for the CBD area – this one an Express by Holiday Inn, a brand owned by the prestigious InterContinental Hotels Group.

The hotel is planned for St George’s Mall and will have a 161-room capacity. It brings to at least six the number of new hotels in the planning stages or already under construction in the Central City and surrounding areas such as Green Point and Sea Point.

Mick says this growth in the area’s hotel sector is another show of confidence in the Central City, and will lead to increased visitor traffic into the West City Precinct in particular – boosting demand for a bustling nightlife with restaurants, clubs and other upmarket entertainment venues. This in turn will feed demand for the already rapidly-expanding residential sector, where numerous office-to-apartment conversions have now reached completion and are seeing their owners take occupation. ‘PGP’s new office at the top of St George’s Mall is ideally placed to service both these residents and visitors to the area,’ says Mick, ‘offering a comfortable and convenient location for them to view properties and investigate investment possibilities.’

PGP area manager and director Laurie Wener confirms this, saying agents based at this office sold a R3-million apartment in Cartwright’s Corner to a walk-in client, just days after opening their doors. The Central City team have already sold in excess of R21-million in sectional title units in the Central City this year, and Laurie points out that this figure is now virtually on a par with sales in the ever-popular City Bowl.

These figures, says Mick, are proof that the concept of Central City living has now entrenched itself and is here to stay. ‘The amount of construction either planned or already underway in the CBD,’ he says, ‘is testament to the growing status of the Central City as a vibrant and trendy place to live and play. We are confident that despite the high number of units coming on line, there is still sufficient demand to support the sector, and oversupply is not a concern. We also believe that despite the possibility of another interest rate hike to come, the Central City residential market will continue to be a sought-after investment node.’

Mick concludes that the ongoing building activity in the Central City can only have positive spin-offs for other sectors of our economy, as well as further feeding the booming construction industry, which grew more than 20 per cent in the first quarter of 2007, and which is predicted by some analysts to double in size by 2013. ‘The result is more investment in infrastructure, and more job creation,’ says Mick. ‘And as tourist awareness grows around the 2010 World Cup, visitor numbers are on the rise and flights to Cape Town are increasingly full. It is only fitting that a substantial number of these guests should base themselves in the very heart of our city, enabling them to enjoy the new vibey urban lifestyle which is taking hold.’

For more information, contact PGP’s MD for the Western Cape metro region, Mick Joyce, on +27 21 673 4200. PGP director and area manager for the Central City, Laurie Wener, can be reached on +27 82 777 0002, +27 21 439 7415 or lwener@pamgolding.co.za

The Property Magazine
26 July 2007

Mo Rush

August 16th, 2007, 12:08 PM

16 Aug 2007 :
R15m upgrade for Cape Town office tower

A R15 million upgrade by Old Mutual Investment Group Property Investments of the Plein Park office tower in the eastern precinct of Cape Town CBD is under way.

The upgrade to the Plein Street building, close to Parliament and the headquarters of Woolworths and Truworths International, covers the ground floor and mezzanine retail and public areas.

The upgrade will also create additional space for a new conference centre for the adjacent four-star Townhouse Hotel, says Amelia Beattie, regional general manager of Old Mutual Investment Group Property Investments.

The hotel which has 106 recently renovated rooms, is leasing more than

1 700m² over the basement and ground floors to house the expanded conference centre, she says.

“A plus for the Townhouse hotel and conference-goers is the high ratio of 6,8 parking bays per 100m² in Plein Park. “

Beattie says the further investment in Plein Park has been prompted by rising rentals and declining vacancies for premier grade offices.

“The desirability of the CBD as an office location has increased due to its relative ease of access and market rentals lower than those for greenfields decentralised office developments.”

Mo Rush

August 21st, 2007, 04:28 PM

REJUVENATION FOR CITY’S GREEN HEART

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MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 313/2007
21 AUGUST 2007

REJUVENATION FOR CITY’S GREEN HEART

The Company’s Garden, the City of Cape Town’s ‘green heart’, is being primed for upgrades of over a million rand this year.

The oldest public garden in South Africa provides an oasis in the Central business district for an estimated 700 000 visitors each year.

“All the upgrades will be done in line with approved development and design guidelines which have been formulated over the past few years.

“These include the restoration of the Bothy, the old farm labourer’s quarters and used in the 1850s by the Botanical Gardens Committee as a meeting venue, into a café, coffee shop or take-ways kiosk,” says Cllr Grant Haskin, Mayoral Committee Member for Amenities and Sport.

Besides the abundant vegetation, the garden offers features such as ponds, an aviary, a sundial, and the historic Victorian restrooms. The park is also popular for educational, cultural, entertainment and recreational events, as well as for wedding photographs.

Sections within the Paddock area, where the majority of events take place, will be enhanced with the introduction of paved surfaces, street furniture and litter bins. The old Director’s House will be developed into a mixed use facility or possibly as a restaurant.

“During the previous financial year, expenditure was focused on improved security. Projects include the installation of bollard lighting throughout the gardens to improve visibility for the newly installed security cameras, increased security guards, as well as the appointment of a social worker to deal with homeless people in the vicinity.

“To complement these investments, the Central City Improvement District (CCID) has helped with graffiti removal and the cleansing of the area especially at events together with the non-profit NGO, Straatwerk,” says Cllr Haskin.

A BBC film crew will be filming the Garden as part of a series on historical gardens of the world.

“This will place the Company’s Garden on the international stage and raise its profile as one of the most extraordinary gardens in the world.” he says.

waltjie

August 23rd, 2007, 03:16 PM

Caisson Boy

August 23rd, 2007, 04:36 PM

Glad you like it. It has changed incredibly during the last 7 years or so. And it keeps getting better.

Mo Rush

August 23rd, 2007, 04:58 PM

I am currently in Cape Town on business, and have had to drive into and walk around in the city centre. I must say, it is truly amazing. It is so vibey, and really beautiful in most places. I especially like the area where the Investec Building etc is... (I think you guys call this the 'Foreshore'). Wow...

I think its the smaller things rather than the larger projects which make all the difference. The attention to detail in slowly upgrading the CBD has been taking place for a long period of time, and its the little upgrades to public squares, the greening of certain parts and the partnership between business and the city which makes the difference.

In some sense its really not brain surgery, and it is possible for our other main South African CBD's that sort of lag 7-10 years behind the Cape Town CBD to catch up by choosing to make a difference.

The real success will be the rejuvernation of the east side of the CBD and the integration of the CBD/foreshore and the waterfront. A few significant challenges lie ahead, one of them being the need for increased density and affordable living space within the CBD.

kulani

August 23rd, 2007, 06:00 PM

Mo Rush

August 24th, 2007, 10:03 PM

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Mo Rush

August 24th, 2007, 10:13 PM

Building by building..street by street.

http://www.commercialspace.co.za/c/image/full/87/
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Size: 2200 m²
Price: R 50 per m²
Address: 25 Commercial Street
Availability: 01 May 2007
Description

Building to be refurbished to clients spec. 27 Parking bays available on site with ample parking available in parkade down the road. A superb area, with a charismatic building. Call for an appointment to view the space.

Mo Rush

August 24th, 2007, 10:14 PM

http://www.commercialspace.co.za/c/image/full/95/

Address: 4 Loop Street
Availability: 01 August 2007
Description

Located in the ever growing foreshore next to THE ICON development. Opposite well known 2 Long street. Next to FNB and Standard Bank with superb finishes. Frienly coffee shop downstairs. NEW FRUIT & VEG opened up next door. Do all your shopping and banking a stone throw away from your office.

waltjie

August 25th, 2007, 11:13 AM

...That ICON building is AMAZING!!!!!!!

hsark

August 25th, 2007, 01:48 PM

the only thing i would really love to see in ct in now is 1 tall shinny building

Mo Rush

August 25th, 2007, 04:36 PM

the only thing i would really love to see in ct in now is 1 tall shinny building

u might get 2.

Mo Rush

August 29th, 2007, 08:13 PM

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Shacks bottom right.

Mo Rush

August 30th, 2007, 10:08 PM

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Mo Rush

August 30th, 2007, 10:09 PM

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Mo Rush

September 3rd, 2007, 09:30 PM

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dysan1

September 8th, 2007, 10:50 AM

More feet in CT CBD, no biz spike

2007/09/07

While numerous developments in recent years have aimed at transforming central Cape Town from a crime and grime hot-spot to a viable residential and business destination, the full benefits of the higher numbers of inner-city residents seem to be evading retailers.

Following years of decay, efforts began in 1999 to spring clean the city centre with the aim of encouraging inner-city living and business growth under the auspices of the Cape Town Partnership.

Founder member and a director of the Cape Town Inner City Improvement District, Theodore Yach, said since the beginning of the process almost 3,000 new residential apartments had been made available by different property developers in the central city district.

Sold at an average price of R1m, 75% of the apartments were intended for owner occupation while 25% were to be leased to tenants, said Yach.

But a July 2007 study conducted by Life Residential, a property company focusing on the inner city, noted that although the study group upon which their research was based was relatively small (43 respondents), 58,1% were tenants while 41,9% were owner/occupiers, and over 20% of the respondents said they do not use their apartment throughout the month.

Additionally, out of 1200 surveys distributed throughout 18 residential buildings, only 43 were returned. One might deduce from the unusually low number of returns that some of the units remained untenanted.

Steer and Company portfolio manager Rose Frank said although inner-city living was becoming more popular, it was still establishing itself, and upgraded apartments, business and office buildings were very costly to rent or buy, meaning only well-established businesses and young professionals could afford to live in the inner city.

A canvas of inner city business owners approached for their opinion on the success of the revitalisation effort produced predominantly dim views.

Long Street bookshop owner Graham Leigh said the expected increase in business he expected from the thousands of new residents has not materialised.

However, Leigh said there had been an increase in the number of tourists visiting the CBD as they felt safer and therefore prolonged their stay in the city centre.

The owner of the Da Capol restaurant and bar in Shortmarket Street, in the heart of the inner city, who was only willing to give his first name, Michael, said he doubted if the new residential apartments were occupied.

He said a lot of restaurants and coffee shops were forced to close at 5pm as there were no people in the CBD thereafter. "The number of people in the CBD is not enough."

Those who were resident, he said, seemed to shop in malls rather than the city centre.

He said a lot of the inner city buyers were investors who perhaps did not live in their apartments for most of the year.

However, coffee shop owner Bev Brown said the upgrading and increased security in the inner city had made businesses more secure and led to a "tremendous" flow of customers through her shop.

Permanent Trust Property Group portfolio manager Derek de Reuch said all 50 new residential units in the Adderley sectional title building he managed had been sold, 75% of which were occupied by the owner or tenanted.

This, he said, indicated that there were more people living in the inner city.

On the commercial side, he said: "There is better quality tenancy going into the retail shops and that's a sign that there is overall growth in the city centre." – Peter Luhanga, West Cape News

Mo Rush

September 8th, 2007, 10:56 AM

Halting Spread of Inner-City Decay

Lessons can be learnt from both local and international authorities where the early prevention of city residential properties falling into ruin resulted in model inner cities being created, writes ANNA-MARIE SMITH
WE'LL take back the neighbourhoods, is the message from property management companies to property owners who, by allowing the decay of rental buildings, are creating slum areas.

Not only is the long-term value of upgrading and managing rental properties not realised, but irresponsible property owners are placing unnecessary pressure on city councils, ignoring the resulting environmental effects.

Andrew Schaefer, MD of Trafalgar, a national residential letting and property management group, says SA needs to consider international experience in inner-city problems, citing US billionaire and real estate entrepreneur Samuel Zell as an example.
As the co-founder and chairman of private investment firm Equity Group Investments, Zell acquired cheap real estate throughout the country from distressed owners and is also in the Brazilian property market with his home-building company Gafisa.

In South America he has played a significant role in contributing to affordable housing, while demonstrating this arena can be a profitable private-sector venture. In Mexico he established the home-building company Homex Development for middle-class Mexicans -- the demand for low-cost housing is close to 4-million units.

"There are lessons to be learnt internationally, but by avoiding those lessons and allowing city infrastructure and buildings to continue decaying, the council is opening the door to significantly larger and thus more difficult problems in the future," Schaefer says.

Andrew Boraine, CEO of the Cape Town City Partnership, says preventing decay from getting a foothold in the inner city has been a constant battle over the past seven years, one that would have been lost were it not for the co-operation of financial institutions, the city council, other public authorities and private property companies.

"The City of Cape Town currently has 65 projects worth R28,5bn in the process of development, and the momentum is such that nobody is going to be allowed to spoil it."

He says the partnership's precinct managers patrol the city for five hours each day, and through a highly efficient reporting system ensure that any sign of decay, degradation of the environment or crime related to property is managed immediately.
Putting pressure on landlords, private owners and management companies from the outset has sent out a strong message of "blame, name and shame" those who are trespassing, he says.

Schaefer says despite municipalities struggling against diminished expertise and resources, it is not in the cities' best interests to allow aging infrastructure to continue deteriorating. Slumlords are also not investing in their properties -- often despite tax rebates for upgrading ailing buildings. Private-sector investors, tired of the ongoing decay in their neighbourhoods, have recently called on local authorities to take stronger actions against inner-city slumlords and hold them tom their promises about rejuvenation.

Dimetri Qually, Muizenberg ward councillor and South Peninsula Subcouncil chairman, says the Muizenberg Improvement District has resulted in a significant improvement in the False Bay suburb over the past two years. Through ongoing battles with landlords, and co-operation with local authorities, its focus on severely neglected key properties has paid off. Bylaws are now enforced, and owners who break the law face lengthy court processes.

Qually says the local council has also come to the party, ensuring that services and inspections relating to fire prevention, health, land use and building are in place.

The result has been an overall willingness from property owners to help to facilitate the upliftment and improvement of the area.

Schaefer says environmental concerns related to inner-city decay include the ecological footprint and energy efficiency that takes heed of conservation. Ailing infrastructure tends to waste electricity and water, as opposed to efficient utilisation through systems where precious resources are maximised.

He says by not investing in their properties and turning a blind eye to tenants crowding their flats beyond reasonable capacity, inner city slumlords are creating "cesspools holding back rejuvenation, and it is in this light that the councils must be called on to take a firmer stance and thus eradicate these blemishes across the inner-city landscape, particularly where other owners are taking to heart initiatives and tax incentives to rejuvenate decaying buildings".

Clamping down on rogue buildings wholly owned by a single investor is easier than applying strict criteria to sectional title and body-corporate buildings, where ownership is shared by a host of investors. However, by allowing buildings to deteriorate, specifically where levies remain unpaid and the body corporate falls foul of the council, law-abiding citizens are being tainted with the same brushstrokes as their opportunistic counterparts.

Schaefer says that the recently promulgated Property Rates Act, in terms of which every property throughout SA will be rated according to its market value, will alleviate the potential for law-abiding citizens to lose their properties when the banks threaten to repossess the whole sectional title building. However, city councils are significant investors in inner cities and consequently need to play a meaningful role in transforming derelict buildings.

Business Day
31 August 2007

Mo Rush

September 8th, 2007, 11:01 AM

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Mo Rush

October 4th, 2007, 12:40 PM

Dealership mirrors success of city's CBD

The fortunes of Cape Town's central business district (CBD) are mirrored in the performance of the local Harley-Davidson dealership; opened in 2000, the Cape Town operation has grown to become one of the largest-selling dealerships of the iconic motorcycle brand outside the United States.

"The dealership has recently moved to new premises at the De Waterkant building on Somerset Road - an almost 1 000m2 complex housing extensive showroom and workshop facilities - to cope with a seemingly endless demand for the distinctive marque," says Broll retail leasing specialist, Mario Inzadi.

"This positive sentiment is reflected throughout the CBD and the optimism shows no sign of abating in the medium term, with continued new developments and redevelopments under way spurred-on by retail vacancies of around 4%."

He says CBD rentals are now on a par with those experienced in other highly desirable retail nodes. Shops of 80m2 to 100m2 in St George's Mall and Long Street are achieving rentals of between R130/m2 and R180/m2, and Greenmarket Square is topping out at around R250/m2.

Integral to the resurgence is the successful establishment of the three City Improvement Districts covering the greater CBD.

"We are experiencing an ever-increasing downward spiral in central city crime -17% lower than last year," says Tasso Evangelinos, Cape Town CID chief operating officer.

"But we have also made huge inroads on the human social problems.

"Thanks to improved infrastructure and the work of a qualified team of social and field workers we have dramatically reduced the number of homeless children and adults on the street."

Published on the web by Cape Argus on September 22, 2007. © Cape Argus 2007. All rights reserved.

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Mo Rush

October 10th, 2007, 06:46 PM

2010 to renew Cape Town inner city
I-Net Bridge Published:Oct 10, 2007

Cape Town inner city property prices and rentals will be boosted by the 38 billion rand package to build support structures for the 2010 World Cup, a new report showed.

The Trafalgar Inner City Report 2007 measured world understandings against South African inner city issues, effectively demonstrating universal approaches to universal problems.

However, the office and retail accommodation investment generated the highest interest, with the residential drive having peaked at 3,500 inner city apartments and the pendulum returning to office accommodation.

Despite rentals touching R115 to R120 per square metre for A-grade office accommodation, Cape Town experienced "negligible" vacancy rates at 3%-4%, the report noted.

Lydon

October 10th, 2007, 08:23 PM

u might get 2.

May I ask which?

Mo Rush

October 10th, 2007, 08:25 PM

May I ask which?

strand-adderley intersection..buts its all a bit of a mystery

Lydon

October 10th, 2007, 08:41 PM

Ah cool thanks

Mo Rush

October 15th, 2007, 07:41 PM

Cape Town Office Demand Set to match Growth Rate

15 Oct 2007 - Old Mutual Investment Group Property Investments - Od Mutual Investment Group Property Investments

Intro
The demand for office space in the greater Cape Town metro area can be expected to grow in line with overall macro economic growth in South Africa, anticipated to be around 5% a year in real terms
This is one of the findings of a study of the city’s office and retail sectors. The study was commissioned by Old Mutual Investment Group Property Investments (OMIGPI) which has just concluded the purchase of a vacant CBD site off Buitengracht from the City Council for R89,2 million.

The addition to Old Mutual holdings in the CBD is in line with OMIGPI’s aim to grow assets under management to R100 billion by 2015.

“The study indicates demand for office space in greater Cape Town can be expected to grow at an annual 107 000m² through to 2015,” says Brent Wiltshire, business development executive for OMIGPI.

“If Cape Town CBD maintains its 40% share of the metropolitan office market, demand for office space in the CBD will be about 43 000m² a year, according to the study.”

Wiltshire says the study found there are plans for an additional 60 000m² of office space in the metro area, 24 000m² of this being in the CBD.

He says the study notes office development typically comes in lumps, rather than an even distribution each year, with projects delivering more than the average annual demand.

“It also notes that after two decades of decline, with decentralisation and residential growth creating strong nodes away from the CBD, work done on improving the inner city has brought a change in fortunes.

“According to the study, it appears the CBD has turned a corner with total available office space increasing, total occupied office square meterage increasing and vacancy levels dropping to 6,5% for the period 2002 to 2007.

“The report says the growth in the office rental market is also good news for retail. Most shoppers in the CBD are people working in the city, it says, and the increase in workers will positively affect retail.”

More than 1,1 million passenger trips on public transport are made daily into the city, with rail accounting for 53% of the total, the report said.

Priority projects for the regional rail system included extension of the Khayelitsha line with two new stations, an increase in trains on priority corridors, upgrading of stations, and refurbishment of the fleet. Priority corridors had also been identified for road-based public transport.

A survey of 100 small, medium and large companies leasing CBD offices reflected the primary advantage of a city location was its central base, for clients and employees.

“A further component of the research found that four of five CBD residents worked in the city centre, the primary reasons being convenience to work and to retail facilities.

“The convenience benefit was also reflected in vehicle usage, with 44% of those households surveyed not having the use of a vehicle.”

Mo Rush

October 15th, 2007, 07:42 PM

15 Oct 2007 : New contender launched

WITH corporate action rendering Cape-based listed property companies almost extinct it is heartening to see that a new contender – with a heavy Cape Town bias – has been launched.

Or should we rather say re-launched, because SA Reit Limited is in essence a radical revamp of the old Shops For Africa listing – which ironically shed its portfolio in corporate action several years ago.

Basically Cape-based investment company Trematon Capital – headed by the influential triumvirate of Allan Groll, Arnie Shapiro and Monty Kaplan – snapped up a majority stake in Shops For Africa at a price that was pitched well below the company’s intrinsic value.

Trematon then hired ex-Paramount Property executive Arnold Maresky after the Cape Town-based property company was bought out by Growthpoint.

Initially pundits may have been forgiven for thinking SA Reit may be a case of too little too late. The company had too scant a capital base (mainly a holding in Apex-Hi shares) to pursue opportunities – never mind the fact that property values had bloated and interest rates appear to be on the rise.

But Trematon have pushed ahead, and recently re-listed SA Reit with rather an impressive portfolio of properties in tow.

Before listing SA Reit announced the acquisition of a portfolio of 10 properties - including three development opportunities - for R370 million.

The bulk of the property purchases will be settled by SA Reit issuing 546 million shares in a vendor placement (that includes Nedbank and Absa) at 50c/share per share (R273 million) with the balance being funded by borrowings.

Maresky emphasises that SA Reit is looking to differentiate itself through key management and superior development skills. “We are confident we have assembled the strongest possible team to achieve this.”

Maresky points out that the acquisitions are being made in line with the company’s strategy to create a leading South African property investment and development company that delivers capital returns above the market average.

He says properties have been selected where the company can add value, and comprise nine commercial and industrial properties in the Western Cape and one in Port Elizabeth.

The Cape Town properties include three re-development opportunities in the Cape Town CBD, namely 33 Waterkant as well as the Curry and CMH buildings. The latter two comprise an entire block bordered by Hans Strijdom, Bree and Long Streets which SA Reit plan to redevelop at a cost of about R500 million.

Other buildings in the portfolio are 22 Long Street (the old Liberty Life building), the Midas buildings in Goodwood and Port Elizabeth, the Natural Stone Warehouse in Paarden Eiland, and a site assembly on the Foreshore (comprising the Master Tyre, African Wholesalers and Reeds buildings).

Maresky says while the portfolio will initially be concentrated in the Western Cape, it is envisaged that this will be expanded countrywide in due course.

While Trematon (which also owns some interesting property development at Club Mykonos) will remain a major shareholder in SA Reit with a stake of about 18%, it is interesting to note the involvement of the Rabie Group – which will, along with Trematon, “provide strategic guidance where necessary.”

No doubt Rabie Group could play a key role in extracting value from SA Reit’s three development properties.

Leon Cohen, the MD of the Rabie Group, will serve on SA Reit’s board of directors, along with well known Cape architect Dennis Fabian.

Maresky says Rabie Property Administrators - which administers about 25 buildings in the Western Cape including three shopping centres with a value of more than R1.2 billion - will be responsible for the day to day management of SA Reit’s property portfolio.

SA Reit revealed that Cohen, along with other directors of Rabie Property, would jointly own 15% of the new company.

Cohen says SA Reit gives Rabie an ideal opportunity to diversify their asset base. He adds: “We will be bringing our collective development skills to the table providing great opportunities and synergies between the two companies.”

Mo Rush

October 15th, 2007, 07:59 PM

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Mo Rush

October 16th, 2007, 12:12 PM

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It's a boom town

Billions spent on the new face of city in run-up to 2010

By Jade Witten

At least R7 billion is being spent on upgrading, redevelopment and expansion involving 26 buildings which are set to change the face of the CBD in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup.

Many of the existing buildings are being improved and others demolished to make way for new developments.

The Cape Town Partnership provided the Cape Argus with a list of 26 building projects in the city to illustrate the transformation, but construction is going on everywhere, with cranes, wrecking balls and bulldozers a common feature in the city.

Although in a number of cases developers and on-site project directors were reluctant to provide specifics, some sketched the changes taking place to provide a picture of what the city will look like in future.

Chaim Cohen, managing director of the Newcity Group, said a substantial number of hotel rooms and exclusive penthouses at 15 on Orange, a R420 million five-star hotel, had already been sold.

The development includes 12 penthouse apartments and a retail segment, and is scheduled to be completed late next year.

John Bielich, the development manager of Growthpoint Property Fund, said redevelopment was taking place in the old OK Bazaars inside the Golden Acre, which would now be called 11 Adderley.

The upgrade includes offices from the second to the eighth floor, and will incorporate a retail section.

Bielich said the R200m project was expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

At least four buildings in the city centre have been demolished to make room for other commercial ventures.

A five-star hotel is planned for the old Good Hope Bank site opposite the Mandela Rhodes building in St George's Mall.

Propfin's Paul Moxely said the an underground parking, retail and office block was to be built on the old EK Green site in Somerset Road.

The R200m development was to be completed by mid-2009.

Billy Rauch, chief executive of the Cape Peninsula Organisation for the Aged, said a R150m residential development of 94 apartments, next to the Mount Nelson Hotel on Orange Street, would be completed by the end of 2009.

Rudi Raubenheimer and Georgio Nava co-own the land where demolitions are taking place on Queen Victoria Street, next to the Centre for the Book.

Raubenheimer said no final drafts had been prepared sketching exactly what would be built on that site, but a R200m residential hotel was on the cards.

A hotel to be run in accordance with sharia law would be built on the open space on the corner of Wale and Buitengracht streets, close to the Bo-Kaap, on-site project manager Alex van Zyl said.

The deadline for completion was 2010 and the approximate cost of the development was R200m, he said.

The Cape Town International Convention Centre is to be expand-ed, with extensions including office space, retail and exhibition space.

A news conference where specific details will be spelled out was due to be held later today.

Jim Hallinan, heritage resource specialist for the city, said there were "protective umbrellas in place" and that before permits were granted to developers, buildings were evaluated according to the zoning scheme.

"The significance of a building is taken into consideration, not just the age, but whether or not they tell the story of Cape Town," he said.

Hard questions were asked, including whether Cape Town could afford to lose a building and whether its replacement would "grace the city".

Buildings should not compete with "the natural splendour" of the city, he said.

"There is no need to improve perfection."

The executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, Albert Schuitmaker, said organised business was "certainly excited" about the developments, which proved there was business confidence in the CBD.

"This strategy is bearing fruit and the development of Cape Town will prove it to be a vibrant metropolis and beautiful core for the millions of visitors we hope to attract," he said.

This "economic multiplier" would definitely boost job creation, Schuitmaker said.

Published on the web by Cape Argus on October 16, 2007. © Cape Argus 2007. All rights reserved.

Pule

October 24th, 2007, 12:09 PM

CT's District Six gets green shade
2007/10/24

Green is the new black. But is it fashionable enough right now for South Africa's property buyers?

To hear some speak, there's no avoiding it becoming adopted as the prevailing colour in every human endeavour. Particularly as far as buildings are concerned.

However, while the terrifying images and statistics popularised by Al Gore and his acolyte Leonardo di Caprio in their well-researched films create mutterings about an urgent need for change, green is still not the colour that South African property development marketers are convinced will turn the heads of local fashionistas.

For some developers, dipping a toe into the recycled grey water is about as far as they are prepared to risk their investment bucks, but local authorities might be getting more strident about measures that will go a lot further.

More significantly, private entrepreneurs are looking to their peers around the world for guidance on standards by which to grade projects – a system firmly in place in many first-world countries.

Bruce Kerswill is a Cape developer who has taken the initiative, and with the assistance of South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) has set up the Green Building Council of South Africa. It is an independent non-profit body that is developing an objective measurement or rating system to assess the sustainability of projects, based on models in Australia, which is a leader in the field.

The rating system sets out to create categories of objectives and how to achieve them. Ratings against the scale of "green" achievement will follow. Eventually, the rating of a development could be used as a marketing tool in a more accepting market.

Kerswill, who is the managing director of the Spire Property Group, said when, as developer, his company looked for guidance on sustainable development measures, or even a materials and knowledge base, none could be found. So he took the initiative, gained the backing of SAPOA, started the ball rolling, and has since had a good response from developers keen to explore the processes and the possible benefits they may represent.

He reckons huge change will be seen in the next year or so, and the council is also planning to nudge the process with the introduction of courses in green building.

Some are already enthusiastically demonstrating their adoption of green methods, and Sustainable Systems Design, a Cape Town property design partnership, has embraced the concept in every way possible. Vernon Collis and partner, Anna Cowen, are responsible for a somewhat revolutionary single residential project in the context of the City Bowl.

While Collis already lives in a house that could be seen as a prototype for inner city green construction, his client's new home will have features that are distinctly uncommon.

On a plot of not more than 450sq m, the courtyard house with two separate living units (one for the owners, the other for their family visitors) are built atop large underground cisterns to collect rain and spring water from the mountain run-off. The previous buildings on the site have been almost entirely recycled into the new building, including using the rubble as an ingredient in the concrete (he calls it "rubblecrete") for the new building.

The rocks and soil from the excavation have been stored on a nearby site and some will be used and others sold. Uses will include driveway paving. "Every effort is made to reabsorb waste material," he says.

Former pathway slate tiles have been used, stacked horizontally to create a decorative wall, and thousands of bricks have been saved for re-use. Shuttering is being used extensively in the walling and the support material is all recycled wood. Props are gum poles from an alien replacement project.

In operation, the house will make use of recycled grey water for irrigation, passive cooling will be achieved by thick walls and carefully orientated fenestration. Solar water heating will be used.

On a larger scale, but employing more conventional building methods, a development will start to come out of the ground on the east side of the City - on the edge of District Six - in February next year. The development, called the Red Brick Building, will be an apartment block.

Project architect Jean Bernicchi says the development represents a strong move towards eco-friendly sustainable construction and operation, implementing solar pre-heated water systems and grey water recycling.

It will also employ plants as an interface between the street and the building, and the inner courtyard of the seven-storey building will be heavily planted and landscaped. Even a walkway from the nearby University of Technology will receive attention by way of landscaping and street furniture. Bernicchi says each elevation of the 83-apartment block responds to its orientation, with shuttering protecting windows where necessary and window shapes helping to control thermal effects.

Bernicchi says it would seem wise to start adopting the kinds of measures that are likely to be introduced as law in the near future, with authorities already paying close attention to green issues in the building industry. The effect on the market of stringent green measures that might require changes of mindset in property buyers, has, however, not been fully tested.

Mo Rush

October 24th, 2007, 05:24 PM

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Mo Rush

October 24th, 2007, 05:29 PM

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Mo Rush

October 30th, 2007, 04:01 PM

R25-30 billion in store for City Centre over 3-5 years

Intro
The past year has seen the Cape Town Central City developing at a rapid pace

“Potential investors are standing in line to become part of the revitalisation of the Central City,” said Andrew Boraine, Chief Executive of the Cape Town Partnership, at the Partnership’s 8th Annual General Meeting, held at the new Mandela Rhodes Place Conference venue today.

According to Boraine, the key development trends in the past year were:

• Major improvement in the Central City commercial property market, with A-grade vacancies down to under 4%. The latest Rode Report, released in October 2007, states that: “despite the much talked-about movement of office rentals in central business districts, most centres showed nominal rentals moving sideways, with real rentals declining. The only exception was the Cape Town CBD, which jumped by 20% year-on-year during the second quarter of 2007”.

• The emergence of the Foreshore precinct as a major financial, media, convention and business services centre, signifying movement towards the final completion of the Foreshore Reclamation project which starting over 70 years ago.

• Continued growth of creative and cultural industries such as advertising, craft, design, film, media, publishing, performing and visual arts. There are currently more than 800 of these creative industries and organisations in the Central City alone.

• A shift from residential conversions to office-space development, although a large number of mixed-use developments with a residential component continue. Ian Slot, the managing director of Seeff City Bowl, Atlantic Seaboard and the CBD, said the CBD will continue to deliver a capital growth of 10% per year. “We have seen a consistent return on investments in excess of that – and we expect this to continue.” (Source: Weekend Argus, October 13, 2007)

• A strong trend towards new private sector developments in Lower Gardens, Green Point and Woodstock/Salt River precincts.

• The growth of new ground floor retail, in particular, home ware, health shops, fashion and design – signifying a shift for the first time in over twenty years. Important retailers are now opting for Central City high street retail as opposed to the customary decentralised shopping malls.

• The growth of restaurants and coffee shops. The CCID has just released its 2008 eating guide – Taste the City – where more than 200 restaurants, coffee shops and other similar establishments in the Central City are listed.

• Upgrading of key public spaces such as Pier Place (on the Foreshore) and St Andrew’s Square (Green Point) by the City of Cape Town. Good progress is being made on the planned upgrading of the Grand Parade and Greenmarket Square in time for 2010.

• Hosting of bigger and better events in the City Centre, such as the Tickertape Parade for the Springboks, the 2006 Homeless World Cup, the Cape Town Marathon, the Switching on of the Festive Season Lights, the Adderley Street Night Market, the Community Chest Twilight Run, the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour, the Design Indaba and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival to name but a few.

Boraine said between R28 to 30 billion worth of new private and public sector investments are being planned for the next three to five years in the Central City.

He said some of the specific development highlights of the past year include:

• The launch of Mandela Rhodes Place in November 2006 (a development comprising of seven buildings being renovated into a mixed use property complex).

• The launch of the Icon Building on the Foreshore in March 2007.

• The sale of the V&A Waterfront to an international consortium based in the UK and Dubai, as well as the planned expansion of the Waterfront over the next 3-5 years.

• Commencement of planning for the R2,2 billion Strand-on-Adderley mixed use development.

• Planning process for the revitalisation of the Cape Town Station, including upgrades in time for 2010, as well as good progress towards an Inner City Public Transport Plan.

Boraine said a strong performer of the past year has been the various components of the Cape Town Central City Visitor Economy – being a combination of spaces and places for events and festivals, facilities for conventions, meetings and exhibitions, the hospitality industry, the experience economy and branding and marketing Cape Town. According to him, over 21 50 (47%) out of 45 750 beds in the greater Cape Town region are located in and around the Central City.

“Cape Town has undoubtedly the safest central city in South Africa. Hence we see the rapid development of new hotels, such as The Adderley, Protea North Wharf, Urban Chic, Daddy Longlegs, Cape Diamond, Protea Extreme, Holiday Inn Express, Taj Palace, 15 on Orange, Wale Street site and Oscar Pearse, to name but a few. All located in the Central City where people nowadays feel safe to walk the streets during the day and at night time.

“At last, the Central City is becoming what we have been striving for: a place where the people of Cape Town meet, in a unique and pleasant urban environment, to conduct business, welcome visitors and in true tradition of the Mother City, watch the world go by over a good cup of coffee”, said Boraine.

Mo Rush

October 30th, 2007, 04:27 PM

Public transport plans must become a reality

City to get R30 billion for development

'Failure to revamp public transport and upgrade infrastructure could limit growth' - report

By Lindsay Dentlinger

Cape Town's central city will be developed by up to R30 billion over the next three to five years, according to the latest review of the Cape Town Partnership (CTP).

And developments estimated to be worth several billion rand more are already in the pipeline but are being kept under wraps for now.

Releasing the eighth annual report of the CTP today, chief executive Andrew Boraine warned that the failure to dramatically revamp public transport and upgrade the city's underground infrastructure could limit growth and choke investment.

"The projects are coming in thick and fast but the concern is that there is insufficient infrastructure to sustain them over time. Up until now the city has invested in backlogs and a little for maintenance, but we need to gear up for growing the city with more jobs, more businesses and more people living in the city," he said.

Preparing for 2010, he said, was undoubtedly the trigger which would improve the city's transport system.

Boraine paid tribute to the partnerships which had been formed over the past year and had contributed to the development of the central city over the past year. He said: "It is the way in which partners work together and the small partnerships that have made a difference and that we can be proud of as Capetonians."

But he lamented the failure of the CTP to make significant strides to foster growth of affordable housing in the city, saying it had been difficult to get the public sector to make land available.

The CTP will be appointing consultants next month to help make inroads on this issue.

In his chairman's report, Shaun Johnson noted the need to make the central city more accessible to poorer residents.

He singled out the lack of development in District Six as a "scar on our landscape".

According to Johnson, the Cape Town Central City was now seen as one of the safest, cleanest and most successful economic nodes in the country.

By February the CTP hoped to have its Central City Development Strategy in place to address a number of issues affecting developments in the city. The strategy, which would focus on areas from Green Point to Salt River, would support private sector investment in line with council planning and policies.

In his annual report, CTP said such a strategy was necessary as developments in the city had happened with little co-ordination.

He said: "Existing infrastructure and services are probably insufficient to support the current rate of growth."

While the central city's public, private and community partners had achieved a great deal over the past year, several urban management issues were still outstanding.

These included the need for better enforcement of traffic; parking and environmental health violations; improved public space management; repairs to streets; and directional signage.

The past year had been the busiest for the CTP, a non-profit organisation that aimed to develop, manage and promote the central city as the economic, social and cultural heart of the Cape Town metropolitan region.

Among the key trends highlighted by the CTP over the past year was the improvement in the commercial property market; new private sector developments in Gardens, Green Point and Woodstock and Salt River precincts; and new retail, in particular restaurants and coffee shops.

The City of Cape Town had decided to double its financial contribution to the CTP over the next three years, the report said.

Published on the web by Cape Argus on October 30, 2007. © Cape Argus 2007. All rights reserved.

Luf

October 30th, 2007, 09:11 PM

Cape Town CBD is coming along great, was there a week ago and i was really impressed.
I wish i could say the same about JHB CBD. All i hear is talk talk talk and no action.

Mo Rush

October 30th, 2007, 10:29 PM

Cape Town CBD is coming along great, was there a week ago and i was really impressed.
I wish i could say the same about JHB CBD. All i hear is talk talk talk and no action.

We must never give up on the cbd of Joburg. It plays such an important role and the city itself as the heartbeat of the continent needs a cbd which matches its status.

Luf

October 30th, 2007, 11:08 PM

We must never give up on the cbd of Joburg. It plays such an important role and the city itself as the heartbeat of the continent needs a cbd which matches its status.

I know:( I suppose the size and population is much bigger than that of Cape Town so more time is needed. Great city you guys got there.

Pule

October 31st, 2007, 09:05 AM

I know:( I suppose the size and population is much bigger than that of Cape Town so more time is needed. Great city you guys got there.

Luf much has been done to uplift the CBD and I appload the Joburg Municipality for doing such a great Job. The parts of the city that posses a chanllenge are Hillbrow, Berea, area around Noord Taxi rank, Yeoville and Jeppe and again in Yeoville and Jeppe projects are underway to beutify them. I will be meeting with the "Project Manager" for Hillbrow renewal next week and I will keep you informed of the outcome of the meeting.

AFHCO have bought almost every delapidated building in the CBD and from tommorow people will be moving in to a couple of their buildings. The streets are cleaned more than once a day except the Hillbrow and Yeoville one and again the underground bins have been installed in Hillbrow to simplfy pickit up job. I don't think its fair to compare Joburg and CT, it wil lmake sense to comapre it with Durbs as they are faced wih the same challenges.

Mo Rush

October 31st, 2007, 09:22 AM

Luf much has been done to uplift the CBD and I appload the Joburg Municipality for doing such a great Job. The parts of the city that posses a chanllenge are Hillbrow, Berea, area around Noord Taxi rank, Yeoville and Jeppe and again in Yeoville and Jeppe projects are underway to beutify them. I will be meeting with the "Project Manager" for Hillbrow renewal next week and I will keep you informed of the outcome of the meeting.

AFHCO have bought almost every delapidated building in the CBD and from tommorow people will be moving in to a couple of their buildings. The streets are cleaned more than once a day except the Hillbrow and Yeoville one and again the underground bins have been installed in Hillbrow to simplfy pickit up job. I don't think its fair to compare Joburg and CT, it wil lmake sense to comapre it with Durbs as they are faced wih the same challenges.

Def not fair because Cape Town has a headstart but we should never blame lack of progress on the size of a cbd. The larger cbd should result in more business pumping money into a city partnership getting more done.

Mo Rush

October 31st, 2007, 09:37 AM

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Mo Rush

November 2nd, 2007, 06:06 PM

spent the afternoon in the city having lunch..walking around..
if u drive from the N1 onto the boulevard past the convention centre, you see about 22 cranes ahead!!

Mo Rush

November 5th, 2007, 06:50 PM

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Mo Rush

November 6th, 2007, 08:58 PM

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Mo Rush

November 7th, 2007, 07:35 PM

13 nights of Cape Town night market

SPEECH BY CLLR SIMON GRINDROD AT MEDIA BRIEFING ON THE 2007 ADDERLEY STREET NIGHT MARKET: 6 NOVEMBER

MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 434/2007
07 NOVEMBER 2007

SPEECH BY CLLR SIMON GRINDROD AT MEDIA BRIEFING ON THE 2007 ADDERLEY STREET NIGHT MARKET: 6 NOVEMBER 2007

Over the last five years, different models have been attempted with regards to managing an informal trading night market in Adderley Street, Cape Town over the Festive Season.

As a result of lessons learnt, over the last five years, the City requested the Cape Town Central City Improvement District to manage the Adderley Street Night Market as part of their 2006 Festive Season programme. This arrangement was a great success.

The following objectives were achieved:
* •The efficient and effective management of the Adderley Street Night Market as part of the overall CBD Festive Season offering;
*• The minimal disruption to formal retailers and visitors to the central city, in accordance with regulations laid down by the relevant City service departments;
* The creation of opportunities for local small businesses and informal traders to maximise revenue opportunities over an intensive 13 day shopping period;
* The promotion of the CBD as a viable and exciting leisure and shopping destination for Capetonians and visitors during the Festive Season;
* The maximising of the event as a marketing opportunity for the City of Cape Town and the Cape Town Partnership.

The City, the Cape Town Partnership and the Central City Improvement District undertook a post event assessment and a comprehensive report was compiled.

Overall, the event was a huge success, despite some minor problems being experienced. There was a discernible difference between last year’s market and those of previous years. An element of professionalism has been introduced that should send positive signals both to informal traders, the public and retailers. Also, a solid platform has been built to take this event forward, and to improve it even further so that it becomes a flagship event for Cape Town during the Festive Season.

It is believed that the negativity and concerns of previous years have been overcome. A few areas of concern were identified, relating to trader management, and the reluctance of corporate retailers to extend their trading hours and the impact on people living in the CBD. Steps have been taken to address these during the 2007 Market. Retailers expressed dissatisfaction at the disruption caused by the market in previous years, and cited this as the reason they would not extend their trading hours. Many were doubtful that the market could ever be run in an orderly fashion and adopted a ”wait and see” attitude. It is believed that this perception has been effectively turned around.

The Cape Town Central City Improvement District has built a successful track record of CBD event management and marketing. The Partnership will be facilitating a varied programme of events in the CBD over the coming Festive Season in its drive to create a 24-hour inner city.

It is clearly apparent that the Adderley Street Night Market should complement all the other City of Cape Town, Cape Town Partnership and Cape Town Central City Improvement District activities in the Central City.

The City’s agreement with the Cape Town Partnership will ensure that informal traders, small business, residents and visitors benefit from the event. Also, this event is seen as an ideal opportunity for the Cape Town Partnership to build a more positive relationship with the small business/ informal sector.

It is emphasised that this proposal does not give the Partnership control over Informal Trading, but simply the organisation of this particular event, which must be undertaken in a way that benefits small business/informal traders.

END

ISSUED BY:
DIRECTORATE: COMMUNICATION
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
TEL: 021 400 2201

MEDIA QUERIES:
CLLR SIMON GRINDROD
MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR SOCIAL, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM
TEL: 021 400 1298 CELL: 084 200 6060

Mo Rush

November 7th, 2007, 07:37 PM

Big clean up for Green Market Square

06 November 2007

CITY TERMINATES CURRENT GREENMARKET SQUARE LEASE

MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 433/2007
06 NOVEMBER 2007

CITY TERMINATES CURRENT GREENMARKET SQUARE LEASE

At the end of the coming festive season, the City of Cape Town is to embark on a major program to upgrade one of the most popular tourist attractions in the CBD, the historic Greenmarket Square.

To facilitate this process, the City, as owner of the property, has terminated the lease which Mr Badih Chabaan previously administered in respect of most of the Square and, as of the first of December, the City will resume possession and control of the property and the management of that section of the informal trading market previously controlled by Mr Chabaan.

The City will manage and operate the open air market on the Square from1 December 2007 to 28 February 2008. The informal traders previously paying rentals to Mr Chabaan have accordingly been advised that they must, by 19 November, register their current trader status on the City's database.

To assist them and to regularise trading, the City will reduce the rental fees (of R70-00 per day) for the informal trading sites they occupy, to R400 per month.

This monthly rental fee must be paid on or before the first day of each month at the Green Point Traffic Department, starting from 1 December. Payment for December can be made from 26 November.

Once they have registered on the City's database, the traders will then be issued with a monthly permit which must be available for inspection on the site for the month in question.

By registering on the City’s database the traders will become part of the consultative process when the upgrade program starts, a process that will also involve adjoining property owners and other interested parties as well. However, should they fail to so register, their lease will be terminated and the site re-allocated.

Mo Rush

November 10th, 2007, 04:16 PM

Mother City a Role Model

Business Day (Johannesburg)

NEWS
9 November 2007
Posted to the web 9 November 2007

By Anna-Marie Smith
Johannesburg

THE Cape Town City Partnership continues to inspire business, financial institutions and Capetonians through its phenomenal performance in partnering what is the essence of every city -- the core operators and investors.

CEO Andrew Boraine said at the AGM last week: "We've seen a turnaround of the fortunes of the most important business node in Cape Town in a relatively short period. This is a good news story, not just because of increased investment, growth and jobs, but also because it demonstrates the ability of Capetonians from different public, private and community sector organisations to come together and tackle problems collectively.

"On its own, the Cape Town Partnership is a very small organisation, and I have always said that we are only as strong as our partners.

"The achievements of the Cape Town Central City show what can happen when we actively work together," he said.

Development highlights of the past year included the launch of Mandela Rhodes Place, a development comprising seven buildings being renovated into a mixed-use property complex; the launch of the Icon Building on the Foreshore; the sale of the V&A Waterfront to an international consortium, as well as the planned expansion of the Waterfront over the next three to five years; the commencement of planning for the R2,2bn Strand-on-Adderley mixed-use development; and the planning process for the revitalisation of the Cape Town Station, including upgrades in time for 2010; as well as good progress towards an inner city public transport plan.

Key innovations from the Cape Town Partnership during the past year saw the launch of several "out-of-the-box projects" including a first-of-its-kind in SA, the CBD energy efficiency initiative. This city-level public-private partnership was established to help reduce energy consumption of the commercial buildings of the central city.

Launched in February this year, the goal is to reduce electricity bills, save power to prevent black outs and reduce environmental damage caused by electricity generation. Boraine said the Partnership embarked on this research and implementation initiative with the Sustainability Institute (linked to the University of Stellenbosch), the City of Cape Town, Western Cape provincial government, and with seed funding from CordAid (a large Dutch Foundation).

"The Cape Town City Partnership played a central role in promoting energy efficiency in the CBD during the power crisis of 2006. We are committed to expanding this initiative to make Cape Town a leading green city," Boraine said. The first eight audits of major buildings have been conducted and will be subjected to Eskom's subsidy scheme for evaluation and implementation. Several business models are being investigated to implement energy efficiency measures in as many existing and new buildings as possible. The main focus area next year will be the potential increase in energy efficiency of new buildings planned for the central city.

One of the most heartening financial developments this year is the increase in the Cape Town City Council's financial contribution to the Partnership over the next three years. The city will contribute a whopping 50% more than previously, amounting to R18m over three years, as opposed to the previous one-year contracts since inception in 1999.

Shaun Johnson, who chairs the Partnership board and is CEO of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, said that the city's vote of confidence in the work of the Partnership would ensure that it would be financially sound to deliver on its mandate, including that projects planned for 2010 and beyond would be finished on time.

Johnson said the Partnership had generated an impressive rate of return on the City's investment since its inception. "Projected forward to 2010, for a total investment of R28,2m of ratepayer's money, the city will leverage R202,5m of private sector contributions in the form of city improvement district levies, an impressive gearing ratio of 1:7 public to private funding. This demonstrates the specific value of the public-private partnership in the central city."

Of future plans for the partnership Boraine said between R28bn and R30bn worth of new private and public sector investments were planned for the next three to five years in the central city, attracted by Cape Town's status as the safest central city in SA.

Mo Rush

November 21st, 2007, 07:35 PM

Renowned Cape Town gardens to get facelift.

Company Gardens in central Cape Town are to get a facelift over the coming year. Plans for the overhaul of the site between Government Avenue and Queen Victoria Street include the conversion of the Bothy, or old farm labourers’ quarters, into a cafe or take-away kiosk and the installation of paving, litter bins and benches in the Paddock area. The old Director’s House will also be developed into a mixed-use facility or restaurant.

The R1 million restoration project follows investment last year to improve safety in the gardens. Measures taken include installing security cameras and improving lighting in the gardens, providing more security guards and appointing a social worker to assist the homeless people in the area.

Laid out by Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 to supply fresh produce to ships travelling to the Dutch East Indies, the gardens were subsequently transformed into a botanic garden. Today they attract around 700,000 visitors each year and are a popular venue for cultural and entertainment events.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1254/1329341947_62c072357e_b.jpg

Mo Rush

November 28th, 2007, 07:57 PM

Strong Demand Sees Rapid Take-Up in Cape Town Office Tower

27 Nov 2007 - Old Mutual investment Group Property Investments -

Intro
The strength of demand for A grade offices in the Cape Town CBD has been underscored by the fully let sign going up on a city high-rise where almost a third of the space was vacated by a major tenant last year

Triangle House, formerly Safmarine House, on Riebeek Street, has been restored to full occupancy after letting of 7 000m², says Amelia Beattie, chief operating officer of Old Mutual Investment Group Property Investments.

Triangle House is one of the landmark commercial, retail and industrial properties in the Triangle unitised funds established by Old Mutual investment Group Property Investments (OMIGPI) to provide steady, growing returns, primarily for the institutional pension and retirement fund market. Other Cape Town properties are Cavendish Square and Cavendish Connect in the Claremont retail node and industrial parks in Montague Gardens and Epping.

Beattie says the renaming as Triangle House followed the move by Safmarine to the Waterfront last year.

“The vacant space has now been occupied by larger users, some of whom have taken up to two floors in the building.”

She says new premium space in the CBD is commanding rentals of up to R140m², with older, A grade offices fetching up to R115m².

“The demand for office space echoes the findings of a recent study by OMIGPI of the city’s office and retail sectors. The study indicated total available CBD office space was increasing, total occupied office square metreage was increasing and vacancy levels had dropped to 6,5% for the period 2002 to 2007. “

The release of the study findings by OMIGPI coincided with the purchase of a CBD site off Buitengracht from the City Council.

Beattie says plans for a new office tower on the site are being finalised.

Mo Rush

December 10th, 2007, 05:17 PM

Proposal to create mega CBD

Changing the Cape skyline
Michael Morris
10 December, 2007
Cape Argus

Far-reaching proposals to redefine the central city to encompass everything in a 10 kilometre radius of Table Bay including Milnerton, Wingfield, Century City, Athlone CBD and Wynberg have been made by the Cape Town Partnership in a radical scheme to gear the city for growth.

Incentives for property owners to build affordable accommodation including granny flats and garage conversions within this 10km radius are among the proposals in this far-reaching initiative.

The partnership's proposal to redefine "the city" is focused on finding practical solutions to the city's public transport deficiencies and the lack of affordable near-to-the-city housing.

Part of the thinking is to give incentives to property owners, including homeowners in these areas, to become involved in providing affordable accommodation to meet a growing Cape Town's residential demands.

'So we have begun to view it differently, going for higher densities of existing buildings'
This conceptual shift in shaping the future city arises from discussions within the partnership and is a key element of a new Cape Town Development Strategy which it is fashioning with its partners in local and provincial government and the private sector.

The strategy is focused on fixing problems that stand in the way of Cape Town making the most of anticipated investments of more than R30-billion in the next few years.

There is concern that much potential will not be realised unless problems are purposefully dealt with.

March is the first deadline for workable proposals on dealing with poor public transport; insufficient spending on improving infrastructure such as electricity, sewage, water, and other services; the lack of affordable housing close to central workplaces; the speeding up of development approvals through simpler, clearer and consistent policies on zoning, heritage and height restrictions; and the better management of public spaces.

Partnership chief executive Andrew Boraine said public transport was an essential option if the rapidly growing city was not to choke itself, and lose investment. But for it to become a better, safer option, there had to be enough people to sustain it.

'We are saying, this is not just a moral issue'
Boraine said that in the past decade, Cape Town had achieved a remarkable turn-around in succeeding in making itself a safe, clean and desirable destination for visitors and residents. But major problems remained and these had to be tackled in fresh ways.

Extending the concept of the central city to incorporate a wider catchment area in which densification could be nurtured through incentives had been spurred in part by the failure of attempts so far to get affordable housing on the ground in the central city area.

"We focused on too narrow an area where the market makes it difficult to provide affordable housing.

"Time and again, the public sector's well-located land is sold for high value and the income is used for low-cost housing on the periphery.

"So we have begun to view it differently, going for higher densities of existing buildings and properties across a broader segment of the city, where, say, you have a single storey building that could be increased to three storeys, and, where such opportunities exist, you offer incentives to encourage such development.

You could make it worthwhile for people to put in rooms, build granny flats or convert garages into flats.

"We are saying, this is not just a moral issue - we need to come up with practical solutions. It may mean changing policies or launching incentives, and creating circumstances where residents see themselves as developers, all the way through from Woodstock, Salt River, Rosebank, Mowbray and so on."

Meanwhile, the Woodstock Renaissance initiative is joining forces with the partnership to extend the turn-around success of the central area into long-neglected Woodstock.

The model for this exercise is, partly, the rehabilitation of the East City that, for years, was in shabby decline after the destruction of District Six.

In the past few years, it has become a lively, desirable residential and business quarter with boutique shops, restaurants and pavement cafes.

Mo Rush

December 12th, 2007, 06:52 PM

Major Facelift for Greenmarket Square

BuaNews (Tshwane)

NEWS
12 December 2007
Posted to the web 12 December 2007
Cape Town

South Africa's second oldest public square, Greenmarket Square, is receiving the largest multi-million Rand facelift in its 300-year existence.

Greenmarket Square, in the heart of Cape Town's central business district, turns 300 on 10 March 2010, and the city has initiated a rejuvenation drive, which is attracting millions of Rands of private investments into the precinct.

"The Square has played a significant role in the city's history since the first trading ships berthed in Table Bay in the late seventeenth century and used it as a trading area," said Councillor Simon Grindrod, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic, Social Development and Tourism.

The city now plans to resuscitate Greenmarket Square into the cultural, social and business hub of Cape Town which will also act as catalyst for inner-city revival, said Mr Grindrod.

Plans include the 'pedestrianisation' of the Square, the widening of the Shortmarket Street sidewalk, upgrading of the ablution block, construction of a concert stage, reconfiguration of the informal trading areas, and moves to link it to the 2010 FIFA World Cup 'fan mile'.

Heritage features such as a slave memorial and original water pump are also being considered.

The city has already started sprucing up the craft market as part of a broader initiative to regulate informal trading across the city.

"Cleaner and safer trading areas will inevitably attract more tourists and investors. As part of the city's plans, we will use informal trading as a springboard for emerging entrepreneurs to start their businesses with the aim of growing into the formal economy," said Mansoor Mohamed, the City's Executive Director: Economic, Social Development and Tourism.

Property developments in and around the Greenmarket Square precinct have boomed in recent years, reinforcing Cape Town's reputation as having the most vibrant and sustainable central business district in Southern Africa.

The city is greatly encouraged by the praiseworthy efforts of property owners and developers around the Square who have collectively spent millions on improving the precinct and public urban environment.

Eurocape Holdings, currently the largest foreign investor in Cape Town's CBD, with its R1 billion Mandela Rhodes Place mixed-use development, supports the city in its efforts to rejuvenate Greenmarket Square.

"The history attached to the Square cannot be lost to future generations. If the city does not take drastic action now, Greenmarket Square will not take its rightful place as a major tourist attraction in Cape Town.

"It is the historic heart of Cape Town and belongs to the people of Cape Town," said Derek Bock of Eurocape Holdings.

Eurocape and the Indian Hotels Company - Asia's largest hotel group - are investing R300 million in the development of the Taj Palace Hotel, a five-star luxury hotel on the corner of St George's Mall and Wale Street.

The hotel will form part of what is to be called the Cathedral Precinct, linking the Company's Gardens with St George's Mall and Greenmarket Square.

Vunani Properties, another major investor, is about to launch a destination Jewellery Mall off Greenmarket Square, aimed at tourists and local shoppers.

"The mall off Burg Street and Hout Street, will consist of a unique 'one stop shop' of 30 jewellers, featuring local and international designs. It will house a mix of established retailers as well as provide an 'incubator' for new jewellers," said Rob Kane, director of Vunani Properties.

The group developed 'The Decks', a R125 million mixed use development of 18 levels just off the Square, as well as the R60 million office redevelopment of 56 Shortmarket Street.

"Vunani also owns the majority of Wale Street Chambers on Church Street. Its investment in the CBD is over R230 million and this will increase with the acquisition of two new buildings for redevelopment," said Mr Kane.

The Cape Town Central Improvement District (CCID) has also come out in full support of the city's urban regeneration programme and initiatives to restore Greenmarket Square to its former glory.

"We back the city's regulation of the Greenmarket craft market so that it can become the 'jewel in the crown' and an example of excellence that can be replicated across the Metropole," said Theodore Yach, Chairperson of the CCID.

According to Andrew Boraine, Chief Executive of the Cape Town Partnership, potential investors are standing in line to become part of the revitalisation of the Central City.

"Up to R30 billion worth of new private and public sector investments are being planned for the next three to five years in the city centre," he said.

This is borne out by the latest Rode property survey which reports that rentals in the Cape Town CBD jumped by 20 percent during the second quarter of 2007, in contrast to most other central business districts with real rentals declining.

"Important retailers are now opting for Central City high street retail as opposed to the customary decentralised shopping malls. The growth of restaurants and coffee shops now total more than 200 in the city centre," said Mr Boraine.

The city recently doubled its financial contribution to the Cape Town Partnership to R18 million over the next three years.

Mosi-oa-Tunya

December 14th, 2007, 08:57 PM

Engineering News

INNER CITY REVIVAL

By: Christy van der Merwe

Published: 13 Dec 07 - 11:18

The City of Cape Town has embarked on a central business district (CBD) rejuvenation drive, and has earmarked South Africa’s second-oldest public square, Greenmarket Square, for a multi-million rand makeover.

It is hoped that this investment from the public sector will act as a “catalyst for inner-city revival”, and spark further private sector investment. The City of Cape Town alone has budgeted about R2-million for the Greenmarket Square upgrade, which is set to start in June 2008, and completion is expected by June 2009.

Property developments in and around Greenmarket Square have already attracted attention in recent years, and Asian hotel group the Indian Hotels Company, Eurocape, and Vunani properties have already made significant investments in the area.

Upgrade plans for the almost 300-year old Square include the ‘pedestrianisation’ of the Square, the widening of the Shortmarket street sidewalk, upgrading of the ablution block, construction of a concert stage, reconfiguration of the informal trading areas, and heritage features such as a slave memorial, and an original water pump are also being considered.

There is also the possibility of linking the Square to the 2010 FIFA World Cup ‘fan mile’.

Eurocape and the Indian Hotels Company are investing R300-million in the development of the five-star Taj Palace hotel, which will form part of what will be called ‘Cathedral Precinct’, and will be linked to St, George’s Mall and Greenmarket Square.

Vunani Properties will launch a Jewellery Mall at Greenmarket Square, which will be aimed at tourists and local shoppers. “The mall will consist of a ‘one-stop shop’ of 30 jewellers, with local and international designs. It will house a mix of established retailers, and provide ‘an incubator’ for new jewellers,” said Vunani Properties director Rob Kane.

“The Square has played a significant role in the City’s history since the first trading ships berthed in Table Bay, and the City now has plans to resuscitate Greenmarket square into the cultural, social and business hub of Cape Town,” stated mayoral committee member for economic, social development and tourism councillor Simon Grindrod.

The City’s executive director for economic, social development and tourism Mansoor Mohamed explained that the initiative formed part of a broader initiative to regulate informal trading across the city. “Cleaner and safer trading areas will inevitably attract more tourists and investors. As part of the City’s plans, we will use informal trading as a springboard for emerging entrepreneurs to start their businesses with the aim of growing into the formal economy,” he added.

An estimated R30-billion worth of new private and public sector investments are planned for the Cape Town city centre over the next three to five years.

The latest Rode property survey indicated that rentals in the Cape Town CBD increased by 20% in the second quarter of 2007.

Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter

Mo Rush

December 21st, 2007, 10:46 AM

Business, city work hard to create unique square
Nick Wilson

Property Editor

THE efforts of private property players and the City of Cape Town to rejuvenate Cape Town’s Greenmarket Square are paying off, with millions of rands pouring into building refurbishments in SA’s second-oldest public square.

The rejuvenation drive, initiated by the city, includes the “pedestrianisation” of the square, the widening of Short- market Street sidewalk, upgrading of the ablution block, construction of a concert stage and reconfiguration of the informal trading areas.

Prominent stakeholders involved in the rejuvenation efforts include the Cape Town Partnership, Cape Town Central Improvement District, Irish property investor Eurocape Holdings and Vunani Properties, among others.

Rob Kane, director of Vunani Properties, a significant investor in the area with developments and existing properties valued at about R220m, said yesterday the group would soon launch a jewellery mall on the square.

The R18m mall, which would include 25 shops on the 900m² premises, was due to open by the end of February. “We have it about 50% let. We are also looking to put in a deli,” Kane said.

He said there had been a “huge change” in Greenmarket Square over the past few years. “In the vicinity of the square there have been 15 buildings that have been substantially upgraded,” Kane said.

Over the past five years, the s quare had not been maintained properly. “The city and business will work together to create a really unique market there ,” Kane said.

Mo Rush

December 21st, 2007, 04:33 PM

Pier Place sculptures celebrate ordinary Capetonians

http://www.capetownpartnership.co.za/files/pierplace.jpg

What used to be a barren, cold, windswept and unfriendly open public space, Pier Place on Cape Town's foreshore is now an area fillwed with beautiful bronze-crafted sculptures of ordinary Capetonians and park benches where people can relax and enjoy the space.

Barbara Southworth, previously the firector for urban planning at the City of Cape Town, wanted the public to start engaging with this previously unused and degraded open space. The brief was given to Adam van Nieuwenhuizen, from Earthworks Landscape Architects in Claremont, to upgrade the public open space on Heerengracht.

"The Square was dark and oppressive, lots of pople crossed it everyday but there was no reason for anyone to linger, the sense of the place was lonesome and cold without any opportunity for people to sit. Historically the square was under the sea before the foreshore was claimed. We wanted to celebrate this historical connection by using lines in the paving that resemble wave action on a beach. We changed the dark pavers to wihte by using lines in the paving that resemble wave action on a beach. We changed the dark pavers to white cobbles to bring light to the square and trees. The concept for the artworks was to celebrate the ordinary people of Cape Town that work and live in the city, and create art that people could relate to and interact with."

He chose a local Salt river-based artist, Egon Tania, to create the sculptures. "Egon is renowned for creating realistic and emotive characters in his sculptures - features that I wanted to see in these art works so that people can engage with them."

"You can now walk over Pier Place and not feel secluded anymore. These sculptures makes you want to engage with them," said Adam. The square is also lit at night - which makes it safe and inviting to use.

He siad the art works are made from bronze which ensures tha thtey need little or no maintenance. The sulptures will be a permanent feature on Pier Place. He was also involved with the upgrade and sculpture on the adjacent Jetty Square. "The City of Cape Town is doing great work in creating and upgrading public open spaces for the benefit of all the pople of cape Town," said Adam.

Mo Rush

January 11th, 2008, 12:18 PM

City CBD top of pops in online property hunts

By Dominique Herman

THE number of online property searches for apartments in Cape Town's central business district exceeded those in all other areas of the country last year, according to a survey by internet search portal propertygenie.co.za.

The chairperson of the Central City Improvement District, Theodore Yach, who runs a property consultancy, said that at the end of last year there were almost 4 000 apartments, with an occupancy rate of between 70% and 75% and 6 000 to 7 000 residents, in the CBD.

Five or six new developments had been completed.

About 2 000 people were permanent occupants and the rest long-term or short-term tenants.

An "unpredictable" development in the central city had been the "enormous market" for 50 to 60 apartments used for hotel rentals.

The occupancy rate of these apartments, which were run by management companies, had been well over 80% in the past three or four months, Yach said.

One of the developments, Mandela Rhodes Place, has 110 apartments in its "apartment hotel", which is managed by the Three Cities Hotel Group. All but 10 of the apartments sold in that development are used in the rental pool.

Property economist Erwin Rode wrote in a recent newsletter that an interesting trend among developers of the new hotels in the city centre was that many offered fractional and sectional-title ownership. These included the Taj Palace Hotel and the Oscar Pearse Hotel.

According to the most recent report compiled by Yach in collaboration with Nedcor on residential property in the CBD, there were 37 apartment complexes, including those that were under development.

In 1999, the year the Cape Town Partnership was founded, there were 13.

Yach predicted that residential development in the CBD would take a "breather" this year and next, as there were no more buildings to be converted.

"New projects in a rising interest rate environment are difficult for developers."

The general manager of propertygenie.co.za, Johan Strydom, said Sea Point and Claremont were the suburbs viewed second and third most often on the site last year.

Seven of the top 10 properties most viewed were in the Western Cape - some of them in Hout Bay, Somerset West and Parklands.

The property most viewed last year was an apartment for R395 000 in Woodstock, followed by a R38.5-million house in Clifton.

Mo Rush

February 8th, 2008, 12:02 PM

City Hall to become a music centre after a R40m facelift

By ANÉL POWELL

A R40-MILLION revamp of the historic City Hall and its conversion into a centre for music will start in June.

The City of Cape Town, the Cape Town Partnership and the Cape Town Heritage Trust yesterday released their restoration plan for the dilapidated building.

Mayor Helen Zille said the hall would be leased to a non-profit section 21 company that will be set up later this month.

"We are not putting city money into this. The non-profit organisation (NPO) would need to be financially viable to raise the money."

She said the project would not take money from the city's budget.

Zille said there would be two public participation processes before the lease was given and restoration started. "A great deal of consultation has already taken place in the music industry and there is already a developing unit of purpose around the plans."

The city will be included in the advisory board that will be set up to oversee the running of the hall. It will also include representatives of the tourism sector and music industry.

The hall will be rented for a nominal fee of R150 a year.

Andrew Boraine, chief executive officer of the Cape Town Partnership, said the money for the revamp would come from a loan against the projected revenue. The right tenant mix for the building was therefore important.

The R140m will be used for the interior of the building because R22m has already been spent in the past decade on restoring the facade.

Boraine said the upgrade should be seen as part of the revitalisation of the Grand Parade, Cape Town Station and surrounding areas.

"We see the City Hall as the centre of cultural activities in a new vibrant East City cultural precinct which is rapidly developing."

Laura Robinson of the Heritage Trust said the vision of the City Hall as a music venue would complement other cultural institutions in the area, such as the District Six Museum, the Drill Hall and the Castle.

Construction will not affect events already booked at City Hall and the restoration is expected to be almost complete by 2010.

anel.powell@inl.co.za

Mo Rush

February 29th, 2008, 06:31 PM

Credit: stefanlash

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/2297466279_2a59d9d4ef_o.jpg

Mo Rush

April 3rd, 2008, 12:48 AM

Foreshore

Foreshore: CTICC Expansion and hotel (R730m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441384)
Foreshore: Roggebaai Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=599301)
Foreshore: SA Reit Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=600124)
Foreshore: Harbour Bridge, Roggebaai (R180m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=392685)
Foreshore: Canal Quay, Roggebaai (R220m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=409565)
Foreshore: Desmond Tutu Peace Centre (R140m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=370846)
Erf 9 and 10, Jan Smuts, Foreshore

Foreshore: CT Harbour expansion (R4,5bn) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=528903)
Amway House site
Media City Upgrade (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=512594)

Green Point

Jarvis House, Green Point (R300m)
Green Point: Cape Quarter Expansion (R100m)
(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=532082)
Green Point: Cape Royale Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242106)
Green Point: World Cup Stadium (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=503967)
Green Point: Green Point Sport and Urban Park (R160m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=554842)

Waterfront

Waterfront: V&A Waterfront expansion (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=393361)
Waterfront:One&Only Hotel - R900m (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=275923)
Waterfront: Somerset Hospital site - R1 billion
(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=567857)
Central

Central: #4 Church Square (R20m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=454948)
Central:Piazza on the Square (R70m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242101)
Central: Holiday Inn Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=593479)
Central: New Hotel, Buitengracht/Wale (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=372933)
Liebenberg and Stander Building
Cnr Riebeeck/Bree – two sites
The Pulse (R600m)
T1, Strand/Buitengracht
Central: Strand on Adderley (R2,2bn (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=466130))
Golden Acre upgrade (R475m)
11 Adderley upgrade
Central: Oscar Pearse Hotel (R220m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=354996)
Central: Taj Hotel (new - R500m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242013)
Central: 106 Adderley commercial/retail (R300m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=497974)
Central: Cape Sun upgrade (R56m)
Townhouse Hotel/Plein Park upgrade
Citroen Building (R90m)
Oval Institute (R12m)
Malgas/Brian Porter site
D6 Homecoming/Sacks Futeran (R30m)
Creative House, Church Square

Central: Four Seasons, Buitenkant (R100m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=282375)
Temple House, Buitenkant
Central:Parliamentary extension (R750m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=533496)
Central: Parliamentary residential complex (R1,2bn)
Granary Building (R35m)
Greenmarket Square (R4m)
St Andrew’s Square (R8m)
Pier Place (R2m)
Harrington Square
Central: CT Station, phase one (R300m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441508)
Company’s Gardens upgrade (R1m)

Gardens

Wembley Square extension, Lower Gardens
Gardens: Orangerie, Lower Gardens (R180m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=410315)
Gardens:15 on Orange Hotel, Lower Gardens (R500m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=460439)

East City Precinct

East City Precinct: The District, Woodstock (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=557017)
East City Precinct: Boulevard, Woodstock -R750m (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=548969)
East City Precinct:The Edge (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=601422)
Drill Hall/CT Library

East City Precinct: City Hall (R81m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=583099)
East City Precinct:Good Hope Centre (R50-75m)
Salt River Market (R1m)
Grand Parade (R23,5m)

Mo Rush

April 8th, 2008, 08:54 PM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2398727914_10b3e60e03_b.jpg

Mo Rush

April 17th, 2008, 07:51 PM

Greenmarket Square
http://www.thepropertymag.co.za/images/452774491/ArticleImages/2008/May/articles/greenmarket-square.jpg
Words: Hilary Prendini Toffoli Photographs: Alfred Lor

Suraya Theys has been selling cotton clothing from her stall on Greenmarket Square’s hand-tooled cobblestones for 22 years. She started out there in the company of emerging brands that have since become Cape Town legends, including Naartjie, Keedo, Uzzi, Mad Dogs and Vertigo, which launched fashion king Marcel Joubert, now the owner of Jenni Button and Hilton Weiner.

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Suraya has seen them all come and go – the craftsmen from the orth arriving with their cowrie-covered masks and tall, brightly painted statues of colonial houseboys, and the famous Eggman, 29-year-old Gregory da Silva of Benin, who carries on his head up to 30 kilograms of eggs, masks and ostrich feathers and makes a killing from tourists wishing to have their photograph taken with him.

Traders have frequented this piece of Mother City turf – the oldest public square in South Africa – since the late 1600s. Sailors arriving on ships in Table Bay came to exchange their European goods for provisions for the trip eastwards, particularly fresh fruit and vegetgables; hence the name ‘Greenmarket Square’.

On the more sinister side of things, slaves were also traded on this square. The area became the thriving hub of the city after the Burgher Watch House, which stood on the same spot where the Old Town House stands today, was built as housing for the guards patrolling the city’s streets. That was 1696, and Cape Town has never quite managed to rid itself of its renegade elements, who, more recently, have included renegade city councillor Badih Chaaban.

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For years, Chaaban collected exorbitant rents from the Square’s traders, forcing out many of them. Suraya Theys survived only because she worked other markets. Chaaban came onto the scene legitimately in the mid-’90s to manage the Square, but his shenanigans finally got him ousted during a rowdy council meeting last November, where the aim of was to inform traders of plans to upgrade the Square.
The improvements to Greenmarket Square are part of the regeneration of Cape Town’s CBD, which involves several nearby developments. These major investors include Eurocape, who along with Asia’s largest hotel company, The Taj Group, are investing R300-million in the development of the five-star Taj Palace Hotel opposite their own R1-billion Mandela Rhodes Place, which is a block away.

The Taj will be completed by 2009, in time for the World Cup. So will the jewellery mall off the Square that’s being developed by another major CBD mover, Vunani Properties, whose residential developments include The Decks, which are also just one block away from
the Square.

The R2-million that the Council has allocated to the upgrade of the area will leave no cobblestone unturned. The benefits for the public include: tighter security, cleaner streets, public toilets, informative signage, better maintained cobbles and aesthetically pleasing light fixtures that match the architectural style of this National Monument. For traders, the funds will secure metered electrical outlets, access points for water, and lockable storage. The Council envisages a theatre stage being built in the area, and possibly even a slave heritage memorial and water pump.

Whether the upgrade will bring back any local clothing stalls remains to be seen. Traders dealing in products of top-grade cotton were previously an essential part of the Square’s merchandise mix. Today there are hardly any of them left. The feeling among traders is that they need a bigger variety of product, as visitors who are confronted with similar products on all sides don’t tend to stick around the market long enough to see whether there’s anything unique on offer. But with feelings still running high after the Council meeting, there are presently no plans to relocate any of the 280 traders to other tourist sites, such as Bo-Kaap.

Mansoor Mohamed, executive director for economic and social development and tourism, is one of the councillors involved in the upgrade of the area. He says: ‘We are bound by national regulations to allow traders to sell any non-prohibited goods. However, we will engage with the traders to optimise the mix and steer it towards market demand.’

He sees the Square as a vital component in the Cape Town tourism package. ‘Every major city has a square that defines its character. In London you have Trafalgar Square. In New York you have Times Square. Greenmarket Square is an essential tourism asset for Cape Town and South Africa. And it’s a significant platform for economic development. Individual traders can ply their trade without having to endure the high costs associated with shopping malls.’

Part of the Square’s unique appeal are the Art Deco architectural gems sprinkled among its historic buildings. Five years ago the Old Town House was host to the Seventh World Art Deco Congress, where the world’s most important collections of Deco bronze and ivory figurines – belonging to a Johannesburg businessmen - went on show for the first time. Visiting Deco lovers from around the world were bowled over, both by the figurines – worth around R140-million at the time – and by Cape Town’s collection of Deco buildings.

Namaqua House, where James Small once owned a club, is one of the city’s most attractive Deco buildings. Located on the corner of Burg Street on the Square, it’s a colourful little building painted in tones of coral, mustard and grey to bring out its exceptional Deco features. Equally thrilling for Deco lovers are the world’s only examples of stylised Deco proteas, which, along with some quirky-looking Aztec-style eagles, decorate the façade of Market House on St George’s Mall side of the Square.

Property broker Theodore Yach has a stake in both the Old Town House and Namaqua House. One of the main players behind the Cape Town Partnership, which turned the CBD around, he’s now chairman of the Central City Improvement District and the Cape Town Heritage Trust. Theodore comes from an old Cape Town family – his grandfather built Namaqua House.

Market House is equally close to Theodore’s heart. It’s taken him and the original owner, Geoffrey Ashmead, four years to restore the building while retaining the Deco feel. They’ve redeveloped it into 42 residential units, which came on the market recently at R22 000 per square metre. Four one-bedroom units facing the Square are still available at R895 000, as well as the penthouse, which is being marketed at R8-million, making it one of the priciest penthouses in the CBD.

Only three apartment buildings face directly onto the Square itself: Theodore’s two and Greenmarket Place – and most of these units have been sold already.

The Square’s two major commercial buildings, the NBS Waldorf building and the Protea Assurance building, are owned by the Baba Family (major industrialists from Cameroon) and Oasis Fund (a shariah fund headed by Adam Ebrahim), respectively.

The only commercial space available on the Square is the first floor of Market House, which is being marketed at R3,3-million for 321m2.
British film director Peter Gerber makes TV commercials in Cape Town and needs to be centrally located. He bought a 36m2 studio in Market House off-plan last July for R975 000. ‘It’s a magnificent piece of architecture and the square is its living garden,’ he says. ‘The hustle and bustle makes for endless viewing pleasure. It’s got to be one of the most cosmopolitan places on earth.’

Nor does the ongoing noise worry the people living here. ‘The concept of sleeping in does not exist, but I love the energy and vibe,’ says Thulare Monareng, who rents on the 7th floor of Market House, where the noise still reaches. She’s lived in New York and Belgium and understands inner-city living. Now working for PetroSA, she commutes to Parow but still wouldn’t live anywhere else but the CBD.
‘I park in Cartwrights building, walk home at 1am and feel very safe. We walk everywhere. That’s the really nice thing.’ She pays R4 200 rent a month for her attractive one-bedroom, open-plan apartment.

One floor down, commercials production co-ordinator Kabelo Seane and his cousin Cholo Helo, a commodities trader, pay R7 000 a month for their apartment, which is twice the size of Thulare’s. ‘Parking is a bit of an issue,’ says Kabelo. ‘I park at The Decks.’
The rental market is taking off and set to continue apace, according to Trafalgar, South Africa’s largest manager of residential rental accommodation.

One of the reasons properties move here, says Richard Boxford of Life Residential, is that the Square is in the heart of what is arguably the safest city centre in South Africa right now – safer probably than most Cape Town suburbs. ‘There’s activity 24/7, and security patrolling all night,’ he says. ‘South Africans still haven’t got used to the city-centre residential concept because five years ago it was all just urban decay and it’s come together very quickly. But overseas buyers are completely unfazed by the idea of buying into this kind of urban environment.’
You can’t get more urban than this. ‘If you’re going to buy into the Cape Town CBD, you want to buy into a residential node with night activity, vibrancy and life,’ says Ian Slot of Seeff Properties. ‘Greenmarket Square is the epitome of the café society lifestyle.’ Certainly you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat. In and around the Square are well over a dozen good restaurants. High-end places include Riboville in St George’s Mall and the brand-new Synergy on 7 in Mandela Rhodes Place.

Among the ethnic delights are Haiku in Burg Street (Asian-Pacific), Bukhara in Church Street (Indian), and Addis in Cape (Ethiopian), Nyoni’s Kraal (South African) and Mesopotamia (Kurdish) on Long Street. Mesopotamia’s owner has also opened Baran’s Shisha Lounge, which overlooks the Square.
There’s also the popular tapas bar, Fork on Long, the Famous Butcher’s Grill next to the Park Inn Hotel, and the Heritage Square restaurant cluster two blocks up, which includes Caveau and Savoy Cabbage. Not to mention all the coffee bars.

Theodore is bullish about the fact that the Square is becoming what he calls ‘the most demographically appropriate place in the city’. He says: ‘At the Cape Town Partnership, our vision for Greenmarket Square was always that it would not be an exclusive enclave for the rich, not another Cavendish precinct,’ . ‘We wanted to make it an environment that everyone could enjoy. I think we’ve succeeded.’

Mo Rush

April 23rd, 2008, 06:52 PM

Greenmarket Square Article R2 million upgrade

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Mo Rush

May 25th, 2008, 04:26 PM

Thanks Upington

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...Canal Quays rising......

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Upington

May 25th, 2008, 06:11 PM

.....well, let me add the rest here then.....

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Upington

May 25th, 2008, 07:05 PM

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Upington

May 26th, 2008, 12:28 PM

......deleted

Upington

May 26th, 2008, 10:10 PM

...deleted

Upington

May 26th, 2008, 10:29 PM

.....deleted

Upington

May 27th, 2008, 11:47 AM

....deleted

Harkeb

May 28th, 2008, 02:17 AM

This thread turns out to be a 2nd CT Gallery? Most of these buildings shown, are new or have already being renovated. Could we stick to the tread's heading, and show only buildings or projets that are undergoing renovation/renewal?

Durbsboi

May 28th, 2008, 08:40 AM

We really should have a photo section

annman

May 28th, 2008, 09:48 AM

I did open a thread a month or two ago, for this specific reason, to showcase the architecture of the Cape Town CBD... would probably be the best place to post these pics. :) Thought our CT gallery was very much more focussed on the "overall scenic beauty" that is CT, but didn't have a thread showing the true "buildings" of the city.

annman

May 28th, 2008, 09:50 AM

Here's the thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=583555

Upington

May 28th, 2008, 12:51 PM

....doesn't matter to me.....no big deal!

Lydon

May 28th, 2008, 06:04 PM

I agree, a photo section would be a great addition.

Upington

May 30th, 2008, 12:09 AM

.....Woodstock construction.....

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Upington

May 30th, 2008, 12:23 AM

.....deleted

Pule

May 30th, 2008, 01:35 AM

Great work bro.

EduardSA

May 30th, 2008, 02:16 AM

.....Claremont construction......

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When are they going to finish this building?

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And what's happening to the building opposite of StadiumonMain? Is it under renovation? Kind of took me by surprise when I last went to Claremont...

Mo Rush

May 30th, 2008, 02:34 PM

Hey Upington.

Could you add all your images to the Claremont developments thread in the Projects Section thanks. This thread is reserved for the CBD Area.

Upington

June 3rd, 2008, 03:21 AM

...deleted

Upington

June 5th, 2008, 02:14 AM

....delete

Upington

June 5th, 2008, 02:32 AM

....delete

Mo Rush

June 6th, 2008, 09:34 PM

Cathedral Square

The cathedral square is seen as the most important focus area within the Cathedral precinct. The square includes the portion of Wale street abutting the Old Slave Lodge, Temple Chambers, the Reserve Bank building and Rhodes building. The Square also includes the Northern Entrance to the Company Garden via Government Avenue, a key site within the precinct. The proposal is aimed at achieving the following:

* The creation of a vibrant, new public space within the heart of the inner city
* The improvement of the pedestrian flow from St Georges Cathedral to the Company gardens, addressing the pedestrian crossing over Wale street
* The creation of a visual termination at the South end of St Georges Mall, which has historically been the original St Georges Cathedral
* Establish an address for the historically important buildings, which will create the formal edge to the square
* To create a visual unity between the area area surrounding St Georges Cathedral and the company gardens for the residents that have apartments with with views over the Garden towards Table Mountain.

The development of the Cathedral square is aimed at creating a ‘stage’ for many of the events and festivities anticipated for the inner city of Cape Town.

http://www.dhk.co.za/dhk12/p7ssm_img_04UCP/fullsize/wale_street_fs.jpg
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Mo Rush

June 6th, 2008, 09:36 PM

upington could u add images to the cape town gallery rather than slowing this thread down. images relating to certain projects can be added to their threads using the links in this thread. thanks

Mo Rush

June 6th, 2008, 09:37 PM

also please remove the claremont images and add them to the claremont developments thread. thanks

Upington

June 7th, 2008, 06:38 PM

upington could u add images to the cape town gallery rather than slowing this thread down. images relating to certain projects can be added to their threads using the links in this thread. thanks

.....don't mean to be rude......what's your broadband speed?......i never encounter any slowness on anything with my browser......

Mo Rush

June 7th, 2008, 06:46 PM

.....don't mean to be rude......what's your broadband speed?......i never encounter any slowness on anything with my browser......

its not my broadband speed thats the issue. id just like to make the thread easy to navigate for everyone, with images added to project threads.
i REALLY appreciate the images and ALL of them.

e.g. the woodstock construction - project thread is "The boulevard" which is under the list of links.

Id like the thread to function more as a news update thread rather than a gallery if that makes sense??

Mo Rush

June 7th, 2008, 06:48 PM

Another example would the "Foreshore New CBD" thread which acts as gallery for developments/building at the foreshore.

Upington

June 7th, 2008, 06:48 PM

its not my broadband speed thats the issue. id just like to make the thread easy to navigate for everyone, with images added to project threads.
i REALLY appreciate the images and ALL of them.

e.g. the woodstock construction - project thread is "The boulevard" which is under the list of links.

Id like the thread to function more as a news update thread rather than a gallery if that makes sense??

....got it....

Mo Rush

June 7th, 2008, 06:50 PM

....got it....

again not trying to be a dictator. id just like it if your pics got the proper exposure considering they have been taken all over the city. i also dont mind pointing you to the correct thread if you are unsure.

Upington

June 7th, 2008, 06:56 PM

again not trying to be a dictator. id just like it if your pics got the proper exposure considering they have been taken all over the city. i also dont mind pointing you to the correct thread if you are unsure.

.....we all need a little "Mugabe" tough-love once in a while......just kidding!.....hey, keep checking the Cape Tour section, i still have a lot pics to post.....and there are renovations and constructions photos in between......that way, you can place them correctly......

Mo Rush

June 7th, 2008, 07:42 PM

.....we all need a little "Mugabe" tough-love once in a while......just kidding!.....hey, keep checking the Cape Tour section, i still have a lot pics to post.....and there are renovations and constructions photos in between......that way, you can place them correctly......

cool thanks. when did you take these pics? if you are in ct i could point you to smoe developments which are under construction which would be nice to get an update on.

Mo Rush

June 10th, 2008, 08:44 PM

City weighs raising density in built-up areas

By Lindsay Dentlinger

The city council is considering a densification strategy for Cape Town that recommends 25 dwelling units per hectare across all built-up areas, a rate still equal to only one-eighth of densification in parts of London.

Low-density development, which has predominated in Cape Town for the past 40 to 60 years, is threatening long-term sustainability, the city says.

The policy, says a report under council consideration, has resulted in good agricultural land on the urban edge being eaten up by urban development, creating long travelling distances to town for those who live there.

It involves consolidating vacant and developed properties
And the fragmented and dispersed urban activity has made it difficult to develop a viable public transport system, a situation which has negatively affected the mobility of poorer people living on the fringes of the city.

Low-density development has also increased the cost of providing infrastructure because of the need to service large residential properties, in addition to the under-utilisation of existing infrastructure.

It is against this background that the city has prioritised a densification strategy to guide its future spatial planning, and decision making on land-use.

"Densification is viewed as a necessary step to promote the longer-term sustainability of Cape Town's valuable natural, urban and rural environment," the report says.

The city proposes achieving densification through constructing attached or detached second dwellings on properties, or increasing the existing bulk and number of units by expanding buildings or adding more floors.

Densities range from 58.7 dwelling units per hectare in Sea Point and 43.7 in Rosebank
Further, it involves consolidating vacant and developed properties, and then redeveloping them at higher densities, as well as the sub-division of land and higher-density infill on vacant and under-utilised land.

A total of 25 dwelling units per hectare is the internationally accepted minimum density to operate an efficient, sustainable public transport system.

It is viewed as a minimum target for the city if it wants to achieve significantly greater average density over the next 50 years.

In Cape Town, densities range from 58.7 dwelling units per hectare in Sea Point and 43.7 in Rosebank, to 15 in Parklands, 11.9 in Lakeside, and just 3.9 in Durbanville. An average informal settlement in the city carries as many as 100 dwelling units per hectare.

Certain parts of London carry as many as 200 dwelling units per hectare, as does Mykonos in Greece, while Amsterdam's old quarter of many five and six-storey buildings has between 75 and 100 dwelling units per hectare.

The city's proposed densification strategy says densification does not imply high-rise buildings, but that higher densities can be achieved through three to five-storey buildings.

Mo Rush

June 10th, 2008, 08:47 PM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2568363506_0fd2a0a974_o.jpg

Harkeb

June 12th, 2008, 05:10 AM

City weighs raising density in built-up areas

Low-density development, which has predominated in Cape Town for the past 40 to 60 years, is threatening long-term sustainability, the city says.

Gosh, why are the south african authorities so thick headed and slow in realizing the problems associated with urban sprawl? Urban densification should have been policy ages ago! SA cities are very poorly planned, have indeed become worse with no foresight.
FINALLY lights are going on!

Mo Rush

July 1st, 2008, 04:07 PM

Anybody know what the building being built on the corner is? I can't keep up anymore.

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Source: coda, flickr

Mo Rush

August 3rd, 2008, 02:18 AM

Foreshore

Three Towers Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=648715)
Foreshore: CTICC Expansion and hotel (R730m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441384)
Foreshore: Roggebaai Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=599301)
Foreshore: SA Reit Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=600124)
Foreshore: Harbour Bridge, Roggebaai (R180m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=392685)
Foreshore: Canal Quay, Roggebaai (R220m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=409565)
Foreshore: Desmond Tutu Peace Centre (R140m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=370846)
Erf 9 and 10, Jan Smuts, Foreshore

Foreshore: CT Harbour expansion (R4,5bn) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=528903)
Amway House site
Media City Upgrade (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=512594)

Green Point

Green & Sea Developments (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=648236)
Jarvis House, Green Point (R300m)
Green Point: Cape Quarter Expansion (R100m)
(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=532082)
Green Point: Cape Royale Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242106)
Green Point: World Cup Stadium (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=503967)
Green Point: Green Point Sport and Urban Park (R160m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=554842)

Waterfront

V&A Gateway Buildings (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=669380)
Waterfront: V&A Waterfront expansion (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=393361)
Waterfront:One&Only Hotel - R900m (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=275923)
Waterfront: Somerset Hospital site - R1 billion
(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=567857)
Central

Portside 34F Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=656514)
Pepper Club (R360 million) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=662688)
Central: #4 Church Square (R20m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=454948)
Central:Piazza on the Square (R70m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242101)
Central: Holiday Inn Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=593479)
Central: New Hotel, Buitengracht/Wale (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=372933)
Liebenberg and Stander Building
Cnr Riebeeck/Bree – two sites
The Pulse (R600m)
T1, Strand/Buitengracht
Central: Strand on Adderley (R2,2bn (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=466130))
Golden Acre upgrade (R475m)
11 Adderley (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=652993)
Central: Oscar Pearse Hotel (R220m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=354996)
Central: Taj Hotel (new - R500m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242013)
Central: 106 Adderley commercial/retail (R300m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=497974)
Central: Cape Sun upgrade (R56m)
Townhouse Hotel/Plein Park upgrade
Citroen Building (R90m)
Oval Institute (R12m)
Malgas/Brian Porter site
D6 Homecoming/Sacks Futeran (R30m)
Creative House, Church Square

Central: Four Seasons, Buitenkant (R100m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=282375)
Temple House, Buitenkant
Parliamentary extension (R750m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=533496)
Central: Parliamentary residential complex (R1,2bn) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=533496)

Central: CT Station, phase one (R300m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441508)
Company’s Gardens upgrade (R1m)

Gardens

Wembley Square extension, Lower Gardens
Gardens: Orangerie, Lower Gardens (R180m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=410315)
Gardens:15 on Orange Hotel, Lower Gardens (R500m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=460439)

East City Precinct

Upper East Side (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=420304)
East City Precinct: The District, Woodstock (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=557017)
East City Precinct: Boulevard, Woodstock -R750m (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=548969)
East City Precinct:The Edge (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=601422)
Red Brick Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=522090)
Six (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=604196&highlight=six)

Drill Hall/CT Library

East City Precinct: City Hall (R81m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=583099)
East City Precinct:Good Hope Centre (R50-75m)
Salt River Market (R1m)

Public Spaces

Granary Building (R35m)
Greenmarket Square (R4m)
St Andrew’s Square (R8m)
Pier Place (R2m)
Harrington Square
Grand Parade (R23,5m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=651751)

Mo Rush

August 6th, 2008, 08:19 PM

Central city residents 'need to triple' by 2014

A total of 400 000 people use Cape Town city centre daily. Of these just 55 000 live in the central business district. The remaining 345 000 spend valuable time commuting. With increasing volumes coming into the city centre and resultant traffic congestion every year, this commute is extended by an average of 10 minutes each way - a situation that clearly cannot be left unchecked.

Recently the Cape Town Partnership hosted a workshop to examine the problem of housing provision, especially affordable housing provision in the Central Business District (CBD), and craft a common vision. The first challenge the meeting addressed was the lack of residential accommodation in the Cape Town Central Business District (CBD) and the surrounding areas.

While significant residential development has occurred in the Cape Town inner city area, urban densities and residential densities, in particular, are still relatively low and fall short of our national and global competitors.

Densities recorded for world cities measured in people per square kilometre reveal opportunities for a massive increase in Cape Town's densities. New York has a density of 9 610, London 4 800, Berlin 3 810, Mexico City 3 700, Shangai 2 590 and Johannesburg 1 960 people per km2. By comparison in 2005 Cape Town's density was 1 252 people per km2 on the basis of a population of 3.1 million people.

Densification can contribute to the creation of good quality, efficient and sustainable urban environments in a number of different ways. It reduces the demands on land, already a scarce commodity in Cape Town. It reduces infrastructure costs. It reduces travel distances and associated costs. It also provides the thresholds needed to support the development of a viable 18-hour public transport system, something desperately needed to grow Cape Town's economy.

Higher densities, accompanied by increased population thresholds, create sufficient consumers to generate the development of economic opportunities, social facilities and services, and enable the cost effective provision and optimal use of infrastructure.

Ideally the inner city needs to triple its resident population by 2014. To achieve this it was agreed that the Cape Town Partnership should identify zones that could support much higher densities and residential development as part of its Central City Development Strategy.

This, with the city's recently published densification strategy, will facilitate increased provision of residential accommodation in the city.

Given the shortage of land within the CBD, a radius of 10km from the CBD is recommended as the target area for residential densification.

The second challenge facing Cape Town is the lack of stock that caters for lower income households. The cheapest rental in the study area is around R2 200 per month and the cheapest unit (excluding District 6) is around R500 000. Consequently very few of those who work in the city are able to reside in it.

The exclusion of the poor from the CBD is likely to become even more acute with rising interest rates which make it almost impossible to provide value for money for those earning below R12 000 without some subsidy and as urban spaces become more competitive.

In 2007, 50% of the world population resided in urban areas. It is estimated that by 2050, 75% of the world population will be living in cities. Already in 2005, urbanisation due to migration alone in Cape Town happened at a rate of approximately 38 525 persons per annum, implying that urban space will become more and more prime.

Left unchecked this competition will relegate the poor to the periphery of Cape Town away from urban opportunities and exacerbating urban expansion into the surrounding hinterland.

The question the Cape Town Partnership is asking is how to make Cape Town a residential hub that caters for the needs of both rich and poor.

Cape Town can draw on the lessons from Johannesburg, where derelict buildings have been converted into value for money units that offer a range of housing options for different pockets. Some buildings offer a room with shared ablution facilities, others a self-contained unit. The bulk of these units have been provided by not-for-profit organisations in partnership with the city council and the private sector.

Taffy Adler of the Johannesburg Housing Company said breaking through this barrier required:

A "can do" attitude from all stakeholders.

Access to free or very cheap land.

Access to sufficient and appropriate grant input, either in the form of direct grants or cross subsidies.

Long-term view of investment and returns on capital investment.

Commitment to robust and well made units that can accommodate the transient market.

A firm management approach while building trust with tenants and not making promises that cannot be honoured.

While Cape Town does not particularly have the problem and opportunity of derelict buildings, other opportunities exist. The Partnership has identified four key actions.

Firstly, there is a need for public education around the different forms of housing and the associated costs. Affordable housing is not profitable in the short term and therefore requires a long-term view of investment and returns on capital. Secondly, there is a need to identify and prioritise available public land for housing provision. Where possible this land needs to be clustered geographically to allow for economies. These need to be agreed on and protected from sale as part of government's efforts to raise funds.

Thirdly, Cape Town needs to unlock the projects currently on the books. The workshop heard that a number of affordable housing projects are in "progress" in Cape Town but are struggling to address the issues of this market at scale.

An overview of the policy context with respect to affordable housing in good urban locations demonstrates that some commitment on the part of the government to social housing exists in urban areas throughout the country.

Yet, this commitment is, among others, complicated by political pressure impacting on the allocation of funds earmarked by government's Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). Institutional delays in giving effect to agreements, delays in the release and planning of public land earmarked for affordable housing and affordability levels of prospective beneficiaries.

Fourthly, incentives need to be used to encourage higher densities and mixed use and income developments. Land use management tools are used across the world to encourage inner city revitalisation, urban development and densification. Cities such as Barcelona, Curitiba and Dublin come to mind.

In Cape Town the draft Integrated Zoning Scheme (IZS), the impending Central City Development Strategy (CCDS), the Urban Development Zone (UDZ) and the Densification Strategy for Cape Town provide policies and mechanisms through which the affordable housing agenda can be promoted.

Linked to the issue of incentives is the need to unlock the red tape that currently holds up developments. Here proposals included consideration of an agency that can assist the City to fast track planning and building approvals.

Boraine is the chief executive of the Cape Town Partnership, which hosted an Affordable Housing Workshop recently in a bid to find solutions to the challenges in the city.

Mo Rush

August 21st, 2008, 10:22 PM

Foreshore

Three Towers Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=648715)
Foreshore: CTICC Expansion and hotel (R730m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441384)
Foreshore: Roggebaai Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=599301)
Foreshore: SA Reit Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=600124)
Foreshore: Harbour Bridge, Roggebaai (R180m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=392685)
Foreshore: Canal Quay, Roggebaai (R220m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=409565)
Foreshore: Desmond Tutu Peace Centre (R140m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=370846)
Erf 9 and 10, Jan Smuts, Foreshore

Foreshore: CT Harbour expansion (R4,5bn) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=528903)
Amway House site
Media City Upgrade (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=512594)

Green Point

Green & Sea Developments (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=648236)
Jarvis House, Green Point (R300m)
Green Point: Cape Quarter Expansion (R100m)
(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=532082)
Green Point: Cape Royale Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242106)
Green Point: World Cup Stadium (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=503967)
Green Point: Green Point Sport and Urban Park (R160m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=554842)

Waterfront

V&A Gateway Buildings (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=669380)
Waterfront: V&A Waterfront expansion (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=393361)
Waterfront:One&Only Hotel - R900m (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=275923)
Waterfront: Somerset Hospital site - R1 billion
(http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=567857)
Central

Portside 34F Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=656514)
Pepper Club (R360 million) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=662688)
Central: #4 Church Square (R20m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=454948)
Central:Piazza on the Square (R70m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242101)
Central: Holiday Inn Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=593479)
Central: New Hotel, Buitengracht/Wale (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=372933)
Liebenberg and Stander Building
Cnr Riebeeck/Bree – two sites
The Pulse (R600m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=691640)
T1, Strand/Buitengracht
Central: Strand on Adderley (R2,2bn (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=466130))
Golden Acre upgrade (R475m)
11 Adderley (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=652993)
Central: Oscar Pearse Hotel (R220m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=354996)
Central: Taj Hotel (new - R500m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242013)
Central: 106 Adderley commercial/retail (R300m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=497974)
Central: Cape Sun upgrade (R56m)
Townhouse Hotel/Plein Park upgrade
Citroen Building (R90m)
Oval Institute (R12m)
Malgas/Brian Porter site
D6 Homecoming/Sacks Futeran (R30m)
Creative House, Church Square

Central: Four Seasons, Buitenkant (R100m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=282375)
Temple House, Buitenkant
Parliamentary extension (R750m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=533496)
Central: Parliamentary residential complex (R1,2bn) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=533496)

Central: CT Station, phase one (R300m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441508)
Company’s Gardens upgrade (R1m)

Gardens

Wembley Square extension, Lower Gardens
Gardens: Orangerie, Lower Gardens (R180m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=410315)
Gardens:15 on Orange Hotel, Lower Gardens (R500m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=460439)

East City Precinct

Upper East Side (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=420304)
East City Precinct: The District, Woodstock (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=557017)
East City Precinct: Boulevard, Woodstock -R750m (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=548969)
East City Precinct:The Edge (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=601422)
Red Brick Building (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=522090)
Six (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=604196&highlight=six)

Drill Hall/CT Library

East City Precinct: City Hall (R81m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=583099)
East City Precinct:Good Hope Centre (R50-75m)
Salt River Market (R1m)

Public Spaces

Granary Building (R35m)
Greenmarket Square (R4m)
St Andrew’s Square (R8m)
Pier Place (R2m)
Harrington Square
Grand Parade (R23,5m) (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=651751)

Mo Rush

September 12th, 2008, 07:27 AM

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mzaadnoordijk/SLQyg9aZCuI/AAAAAAAAGiY/yEdkiuqhE04/Picture%20158.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/mzaadnoordijk/SLQyiTjobvI/AAAAAAAAGio/3LOA3ZmXfXE/Picture%20161.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/mzaadnoordijk/SLQypxozANI/AAAAAAAAGkY/4qAF13rnNuQ/Picture%20190.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/mzaadnoordijk/SLQyq9qKweI/AAAAAAAAGkk/geUR8GhW1Ik/Picture%20194bw.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/mzaadnoordijk/SLQyIY81ZsI/AAAAAAAAGdc/2-5GRsBOQjk/Picture%20036.jpg

Mo Rush

September 21st, 2008, 05:38 AM

Why we need to go up in the world

By Lynnette Johns

A shortage of office and living space and the need to densify means high-rise buildings in Cape Town are necessary - as long as they are built in the right area of the CBD, says Andrew Boraine, head of the the Cape Town Partnership.

This week residents were up in arms after the council announced it had waived height restrictions for the Portside development, near the Waterfront, fearing high-rises would obliterate views and change the look and feel of the inner city.

When completed, Portside will be 150m high, equal to the Metlife Centre on the Foreshore but nowhere near the 223m of the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg.

Portside, which will consist of an office block and hotel and retail space, will be an environmentally friendly building. It should be completed by July 2011.

Demolition work has already started on the 3 500m2 property, the old Porter's Auto site at the foot of Bree Street between Hans Strijdom Avenue and Mechau Street.

Portside is a marker for the future development of the city, says Boraine. This will be appropriate development, rather than development at all costs. But he warns radical changes need to be made to realise a vision of a city where people live, work and play.

Simon Grindrod, the City of Cape Town's mayoral committee member for economic, social development and tourism, is excited at the thought that over the next 10 years more people will be able to move into the city to add to the growing vibrancy of the CBD. He says developments will have to be "higher and not wider" to make optimal use of the little available space.

Densification will also be a way of dealing with apartheid spatial planning to get people of all backgrounds and financial levels into the CBD.

City planner and heritage consultant Nicolas Boumann says it will be important to maintain the historic look and feel of Cape Town and to maintain the link between the sea and the mountain, but it is still important for the city to densify.

Boraine and Boumann say the city could see taller buildings in the future, but not of the order of the skyscrapers seen in cities like Chicago, New York and Dubai. Dubai will be home to the Burj Dubai, which when completed will stand at 818m, the highest building in the world.

Boraine says: "Cape Town has one of the lowest densities of any city on earth and this is not sustainable, either financially, environmentally or morally.

"We have to have a more compact city."

Both Boraine and Boumann anticipate the buildings, especially residential buildings, should not be higher than between 12 and 14 storeys. Boumann says residential buildings should be four- or five-storey walk-ups.

Every working day an estimated 360 000 people pour into the inner city, 120 000 using public transport and 240 000 by car. Only 55 000 live in the City Bowl area, which stretches from Green Point to Salt River and from the harbour to Higgovale.

The city and the partnership have divided the inner city into 20 suburbs, each with its unique features and historical background. Developments in each sector will have to be appropriate. But they are still working on how to have less expensive homes in the inner city.

Therefore building a high-rise in the heart of the old city - the Greenmarket Square area - would not happen, but a high-rise would get the go-ahead on the Foreshore, where most of the high-rises are.

Boraine says it would be foolhardy to mess with one of the world's best known skylines, Table Mountain, by indiscriminately putting up tall buildings.

Grindrod says he would like to see the private sector and government bodies hammer out plans and developments so middle-income families can afford to live in the city.

"One of the only ways to dismantle apartheid suburban planning is to set aside strategic development for the sole purpose of providing rent-to-buy apartments for working-class families. We in government need the courage to intervene in the market where necessary in terms of planning and development proposals to achieve social objectives."

Boraine agrees, saying in major cities planning laws have been changed to encourage mixed housing developments.

Mixed-use developments, with retail at ground level, offices higher up and residences on top, are one of the models the city favoured, say Boraine and Grindrod.

Mo Rush

October 19th, 2008, 02:06 PM

R34m building makeover

The building at 14 Loop Street in Cape Town is undergoing a R34 million refurbishment inside and out, which will turn it into an environmentally sustainable, upmarket office building.

The renovation is being undertaken by Vunani Properties, a BEE property developer, whose other recent commercial developments in Cape Town include The Decks on Greenmarket Square and 56 Shortmarket Street.

14 Loop Street is the last city block to be upgraded in this part of the CBD. It will be renovated with air-conditioning, a new foyer, refurbished lifts and a standby generator for use in the event of a power failure.

The top two levels can either be used as penthouse offices or residential space and will have a 250m2 roof garden with mountain views.

The parking ratio is 2.5 bays for 100m2 of office space, and rentals are expected to range from R95/m2 to R140/m2 depending on the finishes.

Green features at 14 Loop Street will include large double-glazed, tinted windows that can be opened and so require less air-conditioning.

Recycled materials were used in the renovation, power consumption will be reduced and water will be collected off the roof for reticulation into the building's grey water system.

The upgrading process started in September and the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Kane say the 2 350m² of retail and office space will be available in January.

cthighflyer

October 28th, 2008, 07:13 AM

I think that in 20-30 years time the cbd will stretch all the way from Wynberg to sea point when all the mini cbds converge with the main cbd to form a mega CBD ,thats when we will start seeing more highrises as there will be a lack of suitable land and the table mountain thing wont be such an issue on the other side of the mountain.

EduardSA

October 28th, 2008, 10:12 AM

If that dos happen, I would rather have the CBD stretch to Century, where the area is more appropriate for high rises, rather than Wynberg.

EduardSA

October 28th, 2008, 10:30 AM

Is the rejuvenation of the Cathedral Precinct still happening? (The area around St Georges Cathedral, the Slave Lodge, St Georges Mall where the Taj Hotel is, and Mandela Rhodes Place)

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/eduardm2/Cathedral%20Precinct/view_CG01_fs.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/eduardm2/Cathedral%20Precinct/view_CS01_fs.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/eduardm2/Cathedral%20Precinct/view_QV01_fs.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l103/eduardm2/Cathedral%20Precinct/wale_street_fs.jpg

cthighflyer

October 28th, 2008, 11:13 AM

please let this one happen.nice street level retail

Mo Rush

October 28th, 2008, 12:59 PM

Pule

October 28th, 2008, 01:04 PM

We got the guy from CT in our office today, he can't stop talking about his city. He's so pessionate about it and he said his soul will rest in CT.

EduardSA

October 28th, 2008, 02:42 PM

YAY! Do have you know when they will begin? Will it start at the same time with the BRT?

We got the guy from CT in our office today, he can't stop talking about his city. He's so pessionate about it and he said his soul will rest in CT.

Lol. Many Capetonians (and Western Capers) are like that. They consider themselves Capetonian first and South African second. I tell them it's the same thing but oh well lol.

briker

October 28th, 2008, 04:47 PM

I'm one of them. 100% Kapie :okay:
I'm a federalist and would ultimately prefer an independent Cape Republic. wishful thinking, I know...

herb21

October 28th, 2008, 05:19 PM

I'm one of them. 100% Kapie :okay:
I'm a federalist and would ultimately prefer an independent Cape Republic. wishful thinking, I know...

Well there is the republic of hout bay

EduardSA

October 28th, 2008, 05:51 PM

I'm one of them. 100% Kapie :okay:
I'm a federalist and would ultimately prefer an independent Cape Republic. wishful thinking, I know...

Hahaha quite a coincidence. Check out the thread I just made in the Shebeen:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=27256804#post27256804

Mo Rush

October 28th, 2008, 07:18 PM

Not proposed or planned or possible but happening!

Cape Town set for R30bn facelift

By Leila Samodien

The Cape Town Partnership has revealed its new R30-billion development plan that is intended to change the face of the city.

In its annual report, Cape Town Partnership head Andrew Boraine devoted his full chief executive's report to the Central City Development Strategy (CCDS), which is at present open for public comment.

The R30-billion plan, to be implemented over the next three to five years, would mostly include new developments in the city business district.

Boraine said the CCDS was designed around five outcomes, in the hope of developing a "measurable and realistic" delivery plan for a sustainable future for the central city.

Those outcomes were:

# To expand Cape Town's global reputation as a premier business location.

# Creating a high-quality urban environment that is sustainable.

# Entrench the city centre as the starting point of a greater Cape Town tourism experience.

# Become a leading centre for knowledge, innovation, creativity and culture in the context of Africa and the south.

# Bring all these factors together in a city where diversity is celebrated.

"This is a process to establish a shared vision for the central city and a preferred development path and implement- ation plan for the next 10 years," Boraine said.

"It supports private sector investment within a guiding framework that is consistent with public sector policies and planning."

The annual report, he added, had been drawn up after discussions with a wide range of stakeholders in the city centre.

The document went on to show financial statements, that showed the Cape Town Partnership had this year had a surplus of just over R1-million after covering all its operating expenses.

This figure was significantly higher than the last financial year's surplus, which had amounted to about R77 000.

The Partnership grossed about R7,8-million in revenue and R490 340 in other revenue this financial year, but had also incurred operating expenses of almost R7,3-million.

The financial statements were audited by independent auditor Steven Jennings, who found all the documents to be in order.

"We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion," the auditor said.

In the report, the Partnership also highlighted a number of its other activities, including smaller developments, the creation of business partnerships, events, tourism achievements and its role in the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

"We understand that people may still have preconceived notions about the central city," Boraine said in a note on the way forward.

"We will keep on challenging these through information and educational means, as well as one-on-one interactions …"

Mo Rush

October 28th, 2008, 07:19 PM

Cape Town Partnership Annual Report - Investment Highlights of the Year

28 Oct 2008 - eProp - CTP

Intro
While the world is currently in the grip of a financial crisis, the Central City has remained relatively unscathed to date with more than R1 billion of development has been completed or is under construction over the past year

In its ninth year of operation, the Cape Town Partnership is gearing towards celebrating its first decade, proactively planning the way forward. During this time, we have seen the Central City reverse years of urban flight and blight.

The Central City of today is a changed one – new developments rise into the sky, governed increasingly by factors such as sustainability and environmental awareness. People are returning to the Central City to live, work and play, safe in the knowledge that their safety and security is a priority.

Preparations to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup have accelerated many development plans. The biggest breakthrough is in public transport – the City of Cape Town has begun work on its Integrated Rapid Transport system. Linkages to the Central City have been prioritised, while movement within has been enhanced through various pedestrianisation initiatives and public space upgrades.

In the past year more than R1 billion of development has been completed or is under construction. While the world is currently in the grip of a financial crisis, the Central City has remained relatively unscathed to date. There has, however, been a slight contraction in retail; a situation we are monitoring closely and looking at ways to counteract.

Outline of Key Investments

During the past year, many private and public developments have been completed and many more are under construction. A few of the bigger projects are listed below:
• The development of the Convention Towers, adjacent to the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), was the first fully new AAA-grade commercial space built in the Central City in nearly 10 years. This R230 million development added 17 500m2 of commercial space to the Central City.
• Customs House, on the other side of the elevated freeways will soon make way for the extension of the highly successful Convention Centre. This development will almost double the size of the existing complex and is worth an estimated R1.3 billion. This pioneering business model of three spheres of government should generate an additional R1 billion annual economic spin-off for the Western Cape. The plan includes the construction of the first six-star rated green building in South Africa.
• The R345 million upgrading of 11 Adderley provides 28 000m2 of commercial space, including three floors of retail, while the refurbishing of the Liberty Life building in Long Street at a cost of R80 million upgraded commercial space with ground-floor retail.
• An emerging trend is the extension of the high-end commercial sector into Woodstock, as is seen in the completion of The District – a R260 million mixed-use centre, which includes a significant number of parking bays.
• Also in Woodstock, The Boulevard is slated for completion in early 2009. At a projected cost of R700 million, this mixed-use centre will add 38 000m2 of AAA-grade office space, 1 900 parking bays and retail.
• The cleverly designed Piazza on the Square links the newly renovated Church Square to Adderley Street. This R70 million upgrade hosts three floors of retail, commercial and residential space.
• The Decks, around the corner from Greenmarket Square, is an innovative development of R120 million clustering retail space, including a creative Jewellery Avenue, additional parking space and some residential units.
• The Four Seasons residential development in Buitenkant Street was completed at a cost of R100 million.
• St George’s Mall now houses Cape Town’s first Holiday Inn Express. This R100 million three-star hotel added 160 rooms to the Central City’s visitor economy.
• Meanwhile, at the upper end of St George’s Mall, Africa’s first Taj Palace Hotel will soon be one of the Central City’s biggest assets with completion scheduled for mid 2009. Adding 174 luxury rooms to the Central City’s five-star offering, this hotel will also include magnificent apartments.
• Under construction, the five-star Cape Coral Hotel is the first of its kind – a luxury hotel targeting Middle Eastern visitors. Situated on the corner of Wale and Buitengracht streets, the Coral will add 140 rooms and suites to the visitor bed pool, some of which are for sale under sectional title.
• Sol Kerzner’s One and Only is under construction at the V&A Waterfront at a cost of R650 million.
• The five-star 15 on Orange hotel development, worth R420 million is underway. Nearby, the Orangerie, an upscale residential development is being built on an erf measuring more than 8 000m2. This R230 million development will provide 100 apartments for those in search of inner city living.
• New creative spaces opened their doors this year. The historic Drill Hall, restored at a cost of R42 million is now known as a Centre of Excellence – or the new Central City Library, housing more than 200 000 books, a computer centre, children’s area, bookshop and coffee shop.
• The ground-breaking people’s theatre – the Space Theatre – was resurrected at its erstwhile location of 44 Long Street. Further down, 210 on Long provides space for the creative industries.
• Pier Place on the Foreshore was transformed from a barren, windswept area into a creative and inviting public space with the addition of quirky sculptures. St George’s Mall was enhanced with ambient lighting, contributing to a safer night-time experience, while daytime safety will be prioritised by the erection (most of it complete) of permanent and collapsible bollards to limit vehicular traffic in this public concourse.
• The restoration of St Andrew’s Square was completed at a cost of R8 million to honour the City’s slave legacy.
• The R21 million refurbishment of the Grand Parade has begun and continues apace in order to provide a safe and fitting venue for the official FIFA Fan Park in 2010.
• Of course no summation of the developmental highlights of the year would be complete without mentioning the match venue of the city’s 2010 Soccer World Cup games – Green Point stadium, which is rising into the air, changing the skyline. At a cost of R3.2 billion, the stadium will be one of the lasting legacies of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The adjacent R160 million Urban Park is also being planned.
• Two new green buildings have just been announced – the R1.2 mixed-use development, the Portside, which at a projected 150 metres, will challenge the LG Building and the Metropolitan building in height. A historic building located at 14 Loop Street will be upgraded into an upmarket office complex, while retaining its historic character.

Other Highlights: Making connections

During the past year, the Partnership:
• joined the World Business Districts Network for Sustainable Development;
• signed a knowledge-sharing agreement with Barcelona Activa, an organisation involved in strengthening Barcelona’s knowledge economy, entrepreneurship and small business growth;
• heard from Enrique Penelosa, a former Mayor of Bogata and internationally renowned authority on public transport solutions and Dave Wetzel, a former Deputy Director of Public Transport in the City of London about solving congestion and other transport-related problems; and
• underwent a peer review process – facilitated by local and international experts to help plan, define and refine the Partnership’s role for the next 10 years.

Mo Rush

October 28th, 2008, 07:23 PM

Planning for 2010 Soccer World Cup - Cape Town Central City

28 Oct 2008 - eProp - CTP

Intro
Given the location of the 2010 Stadium, Main Transport Hub, CT Station and official FIFA Fan Park, the proper coordination, functioning and management of the Cape Town Central City is essential for a successful World Cup

Following recent discussions, the Cape Town Partnership and the City of Cape Town have agreed to organise activities, spaces and places in the Central City so as to:
• Contribute to a well-organised, efficient and safe World Cup
• Provide a unique and authentic Cape Town experience for visitors
• Enhance involvement of Capetonians
• Maximise economic and social benefits for the poor
• Showcase public and private developments
• Showcase Cape Town’s heritage and culture
• Support branding and marketing of the City of Cape Town
• Contribute to a lasting legacy for the city.

The Partnership and the City of Cape Town are in the process of concluding an agreement for the Partnership to support the Host City in the following ways:
1. Organise, manage and promote the Central City area in such a way so as to complement and support the official FIFA Fan Park on Grand Parade, the proposed Fan Mile, the Main Transport Hub in Hertzog Boulevard and the Stadium.
2. Convene a 2010 Central City Partner’s Forum to communicate and consult with stakeholders and role-players in the Central City about activities, events and opportunities leading up to as well as during the World Cup.

Speaking at the Partnership’s AGM, Andrew Boraine said: “We have seen that many successful experiences for visitors during Germany in 2006 and Switzerland and Austria this year were organised in city centres. In the Cape Town Central City in 2010, we would like to create opportunities for local and international fans to meet in a historic urban setting, and experience local heritage and culture as well as some of the best bars, clubs, restaurants and coffee shops the city has to offer.”

Pieter Cronje of the City of Cape Town said: “In addition to the official FIFA Fan Park planned for the Grand Parade, we want to make use of other public squares such as Greenmarket Square, which will celebrate its 300th birthday in 2010. The City also wants to involve local stakeholders and partners as much as possible, in order to maximise economic and social benefits for Capetonians”.

The first meeting of the 2010 Central City Partner’s Forum will take place on 26 November 2008 at 09h00 at the Cape Sun Hotel. Organisations, businesses, traders and individuals wishing to attend can register with Aziza Patandin of the Cape Town Partnership on 021 419 1881, or online at www.capetownpartnership.co.za.

Mo Rush

October 28th, 2008, 07:31 PM

wow

http://www.capetownpartnership.co.za/images/fileuploads/CCDS%20POP%20DOC_opt.pdf

Diggerdog

October 29th, 2008, 04:49 AM

Mo Rush

October 29th, 2008, 10:41 AM

That vision for Cape Town is beautiful. Really focused on historical and natural strengths.

The extension of the canal (Roggebaai) is something I dream about. Does anyone know if that is, in fact, the plan - to have a navigable canal running through the city and joining with the Roggebaai canal?

thats what the urban designers of the green point stadium say. I think they are working on that too. he added it to his presentation at the green point stadium visitor centre.

its all about moving cape town forward but remembering its secrets, beauty and natural gifts i.e. focusing on the details not just table mountain.

annman

October 31st, 2008, 09:45 AM

http://vne-resource.iol.co.za/22/images/breakingnews/site_header_1.jpg
'Crime in Cape Town's CBD down'
31 October 2008, 08:17

By Anel Powell

Despite the past financial year being "one of the most difficult in its eight-year history", the Central City Improvement District (CCID) has managed to reduce crime by 28 percent, recycle 15 percent of collected waste and upgrade several public open spaces in Cape Town.

Speaking at Thursday's release of the district's annual report, CCID chair Theodore Yach said there was "huge optimism" about the future of the central city and the role it would play in the 2010 World Cup.

Yach said the CCID, with its partnership with the SA National Defence Force and J & M Cleansing, had successes in reaching its target of recycling 15 percent of its collected waste.

More than 1 000 tons of waste were collected in the past year, with 86 tons of glass, tins, paper and other recyclable waste being diverted from landfill.

J & M Cleansing removes about 100 tons of waste from the city each month.

The CCID has placed 50 cigarette bins and reinstalled more than 50 electrical pole covers. Its cleaning team have removed graffiti from public spaces more than 800 times in the past 12 months.

Yach attributed the CCID's achievements to solid partnerships with the SA Police Service, the CCTV control room, law enforcement, traffic and the Metro police.

He said crime had come down by more than 60 percent in the past five years and by 28 percent in the past year.

More than 200 CCID security officers patrol the CBD.

Chief operations officer Tasso Evangelinos said the CCID had made more than 9 500 arrests in the past year.

The CCID's social development partner Straatwerk has created more than 2 300 shifts for people to work, especially in the removal of graffiti, weeding, taking down illegal posters and the cleaning and sweeping of streets.

The CCID has worked with NGOs to take street children off the street. There are now only 14 children between the ages of 12 and 16 living on the streets, compared with 25 last year.

More than 50 children have been returned to their homes.

"Eight years ago our mandate was to make the central city clean and safe through sound urban management and effective security strategies. The underpinning premise was that if these attempts were successful, it would provide a sound foundation for investment and further development," said Evangelinos.

Yach said the CCID had to devote next year to preparations for the World Cup and beyond.

The CCID has been involved in the first phase of the Integrated Rapid Transit system by giving advice on what will be important for developments in the central city.

Yach said there had been several upgrades to public open spaces, including the R21-million Grand Parade project.

SA BOY

October 31st, 2008, 12:20 PM

the CBD is really a wonderful place now, I belive Joeys is heading in the same way and Durban still worries me but I hope to be proved wrong

SA BOY

October 31st, 2008, 12:21 PM

mO any chance of some random CBD shots likePule does showing normal lie in the CBD?

EduardSA

November 1st, 2008, 04:18 PM

Yep I said I'll start taking care of it soon when I'm free and when the weather is nice :)

Mo Rush

November 3rd, 2008, 01:38 PM

Central City Improvement District

Annual Report (http://www.capetownpartnership.co.za/images/fileuploads/CCID%20Annual%20Report%202008%20a_optimised.pdf)

Mo Rush

December 1st, 2008, 05:27 PM

City centre property market update
Company announcement
01 December 2008

What's on offer: lofts, flats.

The revamping of Central Cape Town has brought affordable properties into the market while attracting a range of buyers and investors, said Pam Golding Properties (PGP).

The central city area is home to over 30 residential developments, including apartments, townhouses, penthouses and smaller studios. According to PGP, Buyers include full-time city residents, Gauteng-based commuters and some foreigners resulting in a cosmopolitan atmosphere - the perfect place for young professionals to live, work and play.

PGP's area manager for the Atlantic Seaboard and City Bowl, Basil Moraitis, said entry level prices in the central city now stand at their most affordable level in years. PGP's lowest-priced apartment is R580 000, a 33m2 one-bedroom unit in the new Four Seasons complex.

A 48m2 one-bedroom apartment in Piazza a few minutes walk to Parliament, costs R775 000, and two bedroom apartments start at just over R1.2m.

"These prices represent great opportunities for young professionals wishing to live close to work and close to the buzzing city nightlife," said Moraitis. Moraitis said this is also a chance for investors to take advantage of the slowdown in the market and buy at affordable levels and cash in on rental income.

There is a strong and consistent demand for rental properties in the city, both on long- and short-term lets, and from a variety of sources. For example, we see parents of students seeking rentals (and purchases) in the affordable buildings close to the Cape University of Technology campus, while businesspeople tend to prefer the developments situated close to the Cape Town International Convention Centre and key office buildings. For tourists, proximity to the V&A Waterfront is a key factor, as well as ease of access to transport and other leading tourist attractions, added Moraitis.

Laurie Wener, PGP's managing director for Western Cape said in the past five years, crime in the CBD has dropped by 60 percent and the area has undergone a significant facelift.He said this and other projects to improve the city will have a significant impact on property.

Mo Rush

December 2nd, 2008, 01:03 PM

The hottest address in CT
Article By:
Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:21

There is no time like the present to invest in Cape Town city centre living. Due to a weak South African property market there are a number of extremely affordable options currently on the market in central Cape Town, ranging from studio apartments to luxurious penthouses. When the market turns, however, expect values in the Central Business District (CBD) to skyrocket.

Safe, clean city living

Cape Town's city centre has famously regenerated and offers an unparalleled lifestyle to its trendy residents. It is a very different story today from five years ago, says Pam Golding Properties MD for the Western Cape metro region, Laurie Wener. "In the past five years crime in the CBD has dropped by 60 percent and the area has undergone a significant facelift," she says. "Billions of Rands have been invested in residential densification and there have been huge improvements in the overall cleanliness of the city. Plans are now underway to improve the internal transport network within the Central City including the upgrade of Cape Town station, the introduction of the new Bus Rapid Transport System and decentralised multi-storey parking garages allowing for a park and ride system as well as investment in pedestrian and cycling zones throughout the city. Money is also being spent upgrading public spaces such as the Grand Parade and Church Square and updating the Golden Acre shopping centre.

"The chief executive of the Cape Town Partnership, Andrew Boraine, indicated late last year that there was between R28-billion and R30-billion worth of new private and public sector investments planned for the Central City over the next three to five years. All these projects will have a significant impact on the area and can only improve the prospects for capital growth for property owners."

Electric, cosmopolitan atmosphere

The Central City area is now home to over 30 residential developments including apartments, townhouses, penthouses and smaller studios. It also boasts an eclectic collection of fashionable restaurants, coffee shops, internet cafes and designer boutiques scattered among its modern office blocks and historical facades. Buyers in this area to date have included a mix of full-time city residents, Gauteng-based commuters and some foreigners and the result is a character-filled environment with an electric, cosmopolitan atmosphere – the perfect place for young professionals to live, work and play.

PGP’s area manager for the Atlantic Seaboard and City Bowl, Basil Moraitis, says entry level prices in the Central City now stand at their most affordable level in years. "Current prices represent great opportunities for young professionals wishing to live close to work and close to the buzzing city nightlife," says Moraitis, "and also for investors wishing to take advantage of the slowdown in the market and buy at the most affordable levels in years, then earn rental income. There is a strong and consistent demand for rental properties in the city, both on long- and short-term lets, and from a variety of sources. For example, we see parents of students seeking rentals (and purchases) in the affordable buildings close to the Cape University of Technology campus while businesspeople tend to prefer the developments situated close to the Cape Town International Convention Centre and key office buildings. For tourists, proximity to the V&A Waterfront is a key factor as well as ease of access to transport and other leading tourist attractions. Investment buyers can also opt to purchase an apartment and rent it out, furnished, on a daily basis via the many developments offering a rental pool such as Fountains Suites, Icon, Circa and Mandela Rhodes Place. Our City Centre rental agent is exceptionally busy at the moment letting both furnished and unfurnished apartments in the city, many of them to foreign visitors. With the depreciation of the Rand we are definitely seeing renewed foreign interest in this market."

Mo Rush

December 2nd, 2008, 05:55 PM

http://www.capetownpartnership.co.za/images/cms/2010_button.jpg

WHY THE FORUM?

To communicate and consult with stakeholders, role-players, organisations and businesses in the Central City about activities, events and opportunities leading up to as well as during the 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP.

ALSO...

To discuss ways in which the Central City area can be organised, managed and promoted so as to complement and support the official FIFA Fan Park on the Grand Parade, the proposed Fan Walks, the Main Transport Hub in Hertzog Boulevard, the Green Point Stadium, other 2010 sites, activities and events.

WHAT WE WANT TO HELP ACHIEVE:

• Organise a unique and authentic Cape Town experience for visitors
• Enhance involvement of Capetonians
• Contribute to a well-organised and efficient event
• Leave a lasting legacy
• Contribute to long-term branding and marketing of Cape Town

Mo Rush

December 7th, 2008, 10:48 AM

Olduvai sculpture at CTICC (warrenski at flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/3087819362_51d91019ae_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/3086983399_c2639b019e_b.jpg

briker

December 8th, 2008, 05:37 AM

why has his heart been ripped out? That's not a nice scuplture.

willayster

December 8th, 2008, 07:18 AM

^^ he had a hart of gold..

Lydon

December 8th, 2008, 07:20 AM

It's symbolising crime...hence the heart being stolen.

waltjie

December 8th, 2008, 02:03 PM

Diggerdog

December 9th, 2008, 04:40 AM

I think it is Lake Victoria (the 'heart'), as the sculpture is linked to the rift valley - and I think it is pretty cool.

Pule

December 9th, 2008, 08:27 AM

Olduvai sculpture at CTICC (warrenski at flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/3087819362_51d91019ae_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/3086983399_c2639b019e_b.jpg

Beautiful statue, I love the red colour.

briker

December 11th, 2008, 09:01 AM

nice red yes. Would have been more interesting with a big red erection!

Enigma_za

December 11th, 2008, 07:06 PM

LOL at Briker!!!!:lol:

SA BOY

December 12th, 2008, 03:55 PM

Enigma ZA oh no please lets not have another Enigma

annman

December 13th, 2008, 09:50 PM

Is it only me who noticed, but the engraving in the statue's body is the African Great Lakes, with Lake Victoria as his heart?

Mo Rush

December 23rd, 2008, 04:03 PM

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4PG7bheKTdo/SNpm0HDxGDI/AAAAAAAAAPM/HNyFUvtN6PY/s640/SOUTH%20AFRICA%20223.jpg

briker

December 24th, 2008, 01:24 AM

That's funky. I like.

Pule

December 24th, 2008, 07:40 AM

That's a beauty Mo, where in CT is that located?

annman

December 24th, 2008, 11:02 AM

That building is in the Bo-Kaap area above Buitengracht Street.

Lydon

December 24th, 2008, 02:10 PM

Me likes. They are beauties.

Mo Rush

January 23rd, 2009, 09:14 AM

CCID disbands its horse unit, mounts more cycle patrols

By Anél Powell

THE Central City Improvement District (CCID) has disbanded its horse unit, but will allocate the R100 000 spent monthly on its mounted patrols to other security services.

CCID chief operations officer Tasso Evangelinos said yesterday the monthly allocation for the horse unit would be spent on improving security and visibility in the city centre.

Although CCID officers mounted on horses will no longer be visible, the CCID would deploy five more officers on bicycles, increasing the bicycle squad to 10 during the day and five at night.

The horse unit has patrolled St George's Mall, Thibault Square, the Company's Garden, the Grand Parade, and around the Cape Town International Convention Centre and Cullinan Square Hotel for six years.

The eight horses have been stabled at the Green Point Common for the past two years, sharing the space with the SAPS's horses. But the stables were demolished last year for the construction of the Green Point stadium and the new urban park.

Evangelinos said the CCID spent three months considering stabling options for the horses. Temporary stabling was arranged in Durbanville, but Evangelinos said it was impractical and costly to transport the horses to the city daily. A suitable stable would have to be within 1.5km of the city centre.

The SAPS will move its horse unit to the military base in Tamboerskloof. Evangelinos said the CCID was unable to get tenure of the land, which is owned by the Department of Public Works. Residents in the area have complained about the proximity of the stables to houses and flats. The area would be too small to accommodate the CCID's animals and the SAPS's 20-odd horses.

Other options included the erection of a paddocks at the back of the Company's Garden, which would have proved too costly and would have required a lengthy approval process, and sites at the Castle.

There was not enough space for the CCID horses at the Culemborg stables where the Metro Police's unit is stabled.

Evangelinos said Good Hope sub-council chair JP Smith offered the Strand Street quarry area for a CCID stable, but the costs of preparing the site were "excessive".

"After reviewing the various options, the CCID board's decision to disband the unit was unanimous."

Of the eight CCID horses, five have been sold to the SAPS unit for patrols in the city centre. The other three have been sold to a breeder in Durbanville who will use them for therapeutic horse riding. "This is a sad story in the CCID's history, but it has had a positive outcome," Evangelinos said.

He said the reallocation of the money spent on the horse unit to improve security in the central city, and the successful sale of the horses was a "win-win" solution for the CCID.

anel.powell@inl.co.za

Published on the web by Cape Times on January 21, 2009.

Mo Rush

February 7th, 2009, 02:19 PM

Category 7: Stadium Precinct & CBD link Infrastructure

7.3.4 Grade Separated Pedestrian Crossing: Buitengraght
Cost: R 32 million

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/BuitengrachtBridge1.png
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Buiten9.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Buiten8.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Buiten7.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Buiten6.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Buiten5.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Buiten4.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Buiten3.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Buiten2.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/Buiten1.jpg

A permanent pedestrian bridge at the Coen Steytler intersection will carry pedestrians and cyclists across Buitengracht inbound, between North Wharf Square and the median island. This crossing was very hazardous with a lot of fatal accidents.

Because the intersection was a "gateway" to the city, architects were involved in the bridge's design. It would have a glass screen along the western edge to provide weather protection as well as act as a noise barrier for the adjacent hotel.

People in wheelchairs will be able to get onto the bridge via a lift. Security on the bridge and surrounding areas would be monitored with CCTV.

SA BOY

February 7th, 2009, 02:39 PM

Mo is this showing future completed flyovers?

Mo Rush

February 7th, 2009, 02:40 PM

Hertzog Boulevard
Main BRT Station, Main Transport Hub

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/MainTransportHubSmall.jpg

Mo Rush

February 7th, 2009, 02:41 PM

Mo is this showing future completed flyovers?

yes. not sure why because we won't be building more highways in cape town. more likely to demolish these.

Mo Rush

February 7th, 2009, 02:42 PM

Inner City BRT Services
Feeder and Trunk Routes

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/rfataar/BRTInnerCityServiceSmall.jpg

Mo Rush

March 30th, 2009, 08:03 PM

Pier Place Sculptures

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-HiyOCoJJu4/SLJ8lbWRkSI/AAAAAAAAALc/A1_5XGEHxp4/IMG_1631.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-HiyOCoJJu4/SLJ8UmdUIKI/AAAAAAAAAJE/7HuJSON80lI/s512/IMG_1558.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-HiyOCoJJu4/SLJ8TeghTZI/AAAAAAAAAI8/bAF-eZhrb0E/IMG_1104.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-HiyOCoJJu4/SLJ8gpUkJfI/AAAAAAAAAKs/TCuRQ5HPgJc/s512/IMG_1615.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-HiyOCoJJu4/SLJ8iTwmKjI/AAAAAAAAAK8/wJj55NjyAhA/s512/IMG_1623.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-HiyOCoJJu4/SLJ8kigDJJI/AAAAAAAAALU/42pzIO7avfg/IMG_1630.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-HiyOCoJJu4/SLJ8t1P_oUI/AAAAAAAAAMk/q0hbJ9fueOg/IMG_1672.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-HiyOCoJJu4/SLJ8u1cUduI/AAAAAAAAAMs/RO1Zi9li5EQ/s512/IMG_1674.JPG

Mo Rush

March 30th, 2009, 08:05 PM

Andrew Boraine(Currently in Barcelona) talks Central City!

KeEZuk41c70

mqQRybTPJew

Gulivar

March 31st, 2009, 08:49 AM

Weird and scary statues.

Mo Rush

April 24th, 2009, 09:02 AM

Somerset Road NMT

http://www.picamatic.com/show/2009/04/24/10/52/3388724_496x722.jpg

Mo Rush

May 5th, 2009, 08:53 AM

City Improvement Districts On The Rise

All in all, property owners in Cape Town's Central City Improvement District have contributed over R150 million towards the rejuvenation of Cape Town’s inner city, which in turn, has attracted billions of rands of investment and facilitated hundreds of new jobs.

This phenomenal success has led to the creation of another 15 City Improvement Districts (CIDs) in Cape Town, while applications for four others are being processed, and another 25 communities have expressed interest in establishing CIDs.

To address the growth in CIDs (also known as Special Rating Areas), the City of Cape Town has proposed amendments of its CID by-law to align it with the Municipal Property Rates Act and the Municipal Finance Management Act.

Gulivar

May 5th, 2009, 11:27 AM

Good news.

ilan

May 6th, 2009, 08:57 PM

___________________________

Gulivar

May 7th, 2009, 10:29 AM

The wires don't look intrusive at all to me. I think they look just fine.

Mo Rush

May 11th, 2009, 08:56 AM

One of the few developments to go bust in the CBD. The buildings remain partially demolished and an eyesore in De Waterkant area.

Prime Cape Town hotel site up for auction
Announcement
10 May 2009

Bankrupt developer had plans for R320m mixed-use development.

South Africa's leading asset sales and services company, Alliance Group, announces the upcoming auction of the city block on Strand Street which housed the famous 81-year old Phoenix Hotel. The site will be sold by auction on the 20th May 2008 after its developers went into liquidation last year.

The bankrupt developer, Goalpost Investments 1 (Pty) Ltd had plans for a R320 million mixed use development which included a 400 room hotel, 140 residential units and ground floor retail facing onto Chiappini and Hudson Streets. According to the auctioneers, this is the first time that a sizeable development has hit the wall in the heart of Cape Town's City Centre and presents a phenomenal opportunity to purchase prime real estate in the trendy De Waterkant quarter before 2010.

The Cape Town Central City is now regarded as one of the safest, cleanest and most successful CBDs in the country. Despite a slowdown in commercial market activity, private and public investment in the Central City continues unabated, with many new projects in the pipeline. The last three years has seen a strong revival of the commercial property market, with A-grade vacancies down to 4% and a shift from residential conversions to office space development, although a large number of residential and mixed-use developments continue.

The Foreshore has experienced a renaissance as a major financial, media, convention and business-related service centre, while the Central City as a whole has seen the emergence of a vibrant creative and cultural industries sector, particularly in the De Waterkant district.

At street level, a ground-floor retail revolution is underway and significant public space upgrading is taking place. Formal public/ private partnerships and a comprehensive urban management system are providing a secure environment for future Central City development.

Over the last few years, De Waterkant has gained massive popularity as a buzzing and trendy village area. The area, which borders the historic Bo-Kaap, has seen a multitude of residential and commercial property developments and is now an avant garde address for apartments, shops, restaurants, offices and entertainment. In addition to having close access to the Waterfront, it also has harbour, city and mountain views on offer - plus the area is close to the 2010 Green Point stadium and the Cape Quarter Piazza which opened in 2002. In keeping with the demand for further retail offerings, Cape Quarter will soon be launching an extension which will further enhance the De Waterkant area.

Spanning an entire block, the new extension will preserve the facades of the original buildings. The entrance into the new shopping centre will boast an atrium on entering the complex from Somerset Road, four volumes of shopping including a Gourmet Spar, and an exciting new 800m2 open-air piazza off Jarvis Street. Ample underground parking will allow shoppers to enjoy the relaxed environment and browse the decor, furniture, fashion, food, jewellery and other unique store offerings. Six new restaurants will leave visitors even more spoilt for choice, in an area that is already known for its great selection of cuisine.

The Phoenix Hotel site is spectacularly positioned with a strategic footprint as it borders three key roads, namely Strand, Hudson and Chiappini Streets. The various partially demolished buildings comprise a footprint of 1626m2. Plans were in place for a multi storey contemporary building comprising an 11,500 m2 lettable area and 255 parking bays. "Parking and office space is at an absolute premium in the CBD, and part of being committed to upgrading the aesthetic appeal of the city is to ensure key facilities are made available to the area", says Ryan Joffe.

Last year Alliance Commercial sold a city block for R72million to the Department of Public works which was a great shot in the arm for the local property market.

The property will be auctioned at 12pm on the 20th of May at the Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town.

Gulivar

May 12th, 2009, 12:51 PM

Ouch, a shame.

Mo Rush

May 15th, 2009, 08:56 AM

Greenmarket Square to receive facelift
Natasha Joseph

GREENMARKET Square's traders will spend the next six months selling their wares in Government Avenue in the Company's Garden as work gets under way on a massive revamp of the historic square.

The City of Cape Town will spend R4 million to lift, clean and re-lay the existing granite cobbles which line Greenmarket Square, to pave the existing sidewalks, to install more CCTV cameras and lighting for pedestrians, and to upgrade the existing toilet facilities.

Some traders complained yesterday that they wanted to remain closer to the square and did not believe they had been properly consulted. But a committee which was established to represent all 200 traders during negotiations with the city council said it was important to "stay calm, focus ourselves and … work together" to ensure that the move was a success.

The traders are due to move to the Company's Garden on Monday, and the City of Cape Town estimates that work on Greenmarket Square will be completed by the end of November, ahead of the busy festive season.

At a meeting of informal traders held in the centre of Greenmarket Square just before 2pm yesterday, trader and committee member Lucas Ashu said he and other committee members had visited the Company's Garden site with representatives from the city council yesterday morning.

There, they had discussed what facilities were needed, including toilets, and had received assurances from the city's representatives that proper signage advertising the market's temporary location would be made available, Ashu said.

They had also "drawn up a map … (of) what goes where", he said. Ashu said: "The city is complying with us. They're providing toilets, (advertising) boards and marketing (materials), and they're preparing a letter of guarantee (about the traders' return to the square once work is complete)."

Two traders, who both declined to be named fearing they would be barred from trading if they spoke to the media, said while they would be "happy" to see the square revamped, they had been given "no guarantees about our return".

One woman, who said she had been trading at the square for nearly 15 years, explained: "Nobody's happy about (the move). We're thinking about our livelihoods."

Another trader said she was worried that people would not know about the move and would not come to the new site in the Company's Garden.

Both said they had hoped they could stay in the vicinity of the square during its upgrade.

Councillor JP Smith, who is spearheading the upgrade of Greenmarket Square as part of the City of Cape Town's plans for the Fifa World Cup next year, said yesterday that he hoped work on the square would be completed by October, although it might stretch through to November.

Smith said the idea for upgrading Greenmarket Square and other public open spaces like St George's Mall and the Grand Parade had first been mooted in 2006.

This was part of the City of Cape Town's plan to create "vibrant, energetic spaces" which people could visit before moving to Green Point Stadium during the 2010 World Cup, he said.

"Greenmarket Square is long overdue for a facelift."

The square is nearly 300 years old and became a market during the 1980s.

It's been at the centre of some controversy over the past few years, serving as the battle ground when city councillor Badih Chaaban clashed with the City of Cape Town over unpaid rent and, later, when Chaaban refused to accept that his lease had been terminated.

At the end of December 2007, Chaaban relinquished control of the square.

Smith said the city council had consulted business owners about its plans and acknowledged that, although they would not have to be physically moved like the traders, there would be "an impact" on their businesses during the upgrade.

The decision had been taken to do the upgrade outside of the traditional tourist season so as to limit the negative impact on businesses, he said.

Smith said he was particularly interested in emphasising Greenmarket Square's historical elements, and was investigating the possibility of installing a swaaipomp (a traditional hand pump) which would contain run-off water from Table Mountain.

People could then come and collect their own water, and this process could be managed by a trader.

natasha.joseph@inl.co.za

mike2005

May 15th, 2009, 09:30 AM

The closure of Ribboville and the Showroom is a great shame! They were my two fave places to eat in town.

I am not sure how good an idea moving the market to government avenue is : I can see the avenue become a blocked up mess and it could spill over into the park. The lovely thing about that area is that it is a peaceful oasis in the city and that will now be lost. They should have moved the market to Grand Parade.

Mo Rush

May 15th, 2009, 09:43 AM

Grand Parade under construction

SA BOY

May 15th, 2009, 02:06 PM

Mo is that idiot Chaaban still around?

Mo Rush

May 15th, 2009, 02:50 PM

Mo is that idiot Chaaban still around?

City informs Badih Chabaan of his disqualification as councillor
MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 258/ 2009
30 APRIL 2009

The City Manager, Mr Achmat Ebrahim, today informed Mr Badih Chaban, that he had ceased to hold office in the City of Cape Town as a proportional representative of the National Peoples’ Party.

This was a legal consequence of Mr Chabaan having registered on the Drakenstein Municipality’s segment of the national common voters roll, with effect from the date that he registered himself.

Section27 (b) of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act, requires councillors to be registered as voters in the municipality, in which they hold elected office.

Achmat said Rev Courtney Sampson, Provincial Electoral Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission in the Western Cape had been informed that Mr Chabaan had ceased to hold office in the Cape Town Municipality from the date of his registration as a voter in the Drakenstein Municipality and that a proportional vacancy now existed in the City Council.

The City will now await the IEC’s confirmation of a new proportional representative of the New Peoples’ Party.

END

ISSUED BY:
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
TEL: 021 400 3719

MEDIA QUERIES:
KYLIE HATTON
MEDIA MANAGER
CELL: 082874 4605

ZATUGA

May 16th, 2009, 05:16 PM

Diggerdog

May 16th, 2009, 06:47 PM

I really like this art - it certainly provokes controversy, which is always good.

Like 'The Origin of the World' in the Musee d'Orsay in Paris - if you think museums are boring, go to d'Orsay - I tell you, those artists are insane...

Mo Rush

May 26th, 2009, 01:55 PM

http://www.ubuntu-wellness.co.za/Image/Picture%202%20small.jpg
http://www.ubuntu-wellness.co.za/Image/Slide2%20small.jpg

Diggerdog

May 26th, 2009, 02:55 PM

This is my favourite vision for the city - water in the heart of it. Imagine water transport right through the CBD, with associated cafe culture on the banks etc ... it would push our super unique city into the uber unique bracket.

Gulivar

May 26th, 2009, 06:13 PM

I agree. And no city in SA really has water running through it in any significant way.

Coolidge

May 27th, 2009, 11:15 AM

I agree. And no city in SA really has water running through it in any significant way.

I've got to agree as well, it'll be another great attraction in CT and will also put the city on the map in terms of green projects! When I studied there there were always water shortages in the summer and you'd think it was ludicrous considering the winter rains... alas they didn't have the ability back in the early days to handle and store the water running off the slopes and so sent them down the stormwater pipes...

Mo Rush

June 5th, 2009, 11:03 AM

Cape Town Central City Chosen as Downtown of the Month by international organisation

05 Jun 2009 - eProp - capetownpartnership

Intro
The International Downtown Association’s (IDA’s) – the world leader and champion for vital and liveable city centres -chose The Central City as the Downtown of the Month

The IDA was established in 1954 and has more than 650 member organisations in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. It is a guiding force in creating healthy and dynamic centres that anchor the interests of towns, cities and regions of the world.

“In many ways, being profiled as the Downtown of the Month is coming full circle,” says Andrew Boraine, Chief Executive of the Cape Town Partnership, the organisation founded in July 1999 to manage, promote and develop the Cape Town City Centre.

“The Partnership and the Central City Improvement District (CCID), together with our public and private sector partners, have achieved much over the past ten years, including urban management partnerships (90% reduction in serious crime, cleanest CBD in South Africa); innovative job creation schemes; investment attraction of between R14-18bn, with a further R20bn in the pipeline; redevelopment of over 170 buildings, many of which are heritage buildings; restoration of property values and municipal revenues; revitalisation of public spaces and pedestrian environments; and, the establishment of innovative cultural and energy efficiency programmes.” Boraine says.

CCID chairman Theodore Yach says: ‘It is wonderful that 10 years of hard work have now been recognised by such an important international organisation. This augurs well for the city centre’s future.”

Additional recognition for the Partnership and the CCID comes with the appointment of Andrew Boraine to the IDA Board from September 2009.

Pule

June 5th, 2009, 12:49 PM

... redevelopment of over 170 buildings, many of which are heritage buildings ...

Wish I could say the same about Jozi, well done to CT but we getting there. My only worry abpout Jozi is that the Council do not put stringent measures to make sure that heritage buidings are being taken care of.

SA BOY

June 5th, 2009, 12:53 PM

Gulivar

June 6th, 2009, 03:45 AM

They only have Downtown of the month.

Jeffahn

June 6th, 2009, 11:48 PM

I took some pix of the Greenmarket Square redevelopment earlier this evening. They've sectioned off about a third of the square at the north edge and are apparently relaying the cobblestone paving amongst other upgrades.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SiriFuxemxI/AAAAAAAAB-w/BrUKkkL2WEc/s800/IMG_5049.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SiriJ2HS9zI/AAAAAAAAB-0/T87xI5OofWM/s800/IMG_5050.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SiriOIKH1kI/AAAAAAAAB-4/dlY6A_nfomA/s800/IMG_5051.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SiriQ6LQ9nI/AAAAAAAAB-8/oKXa5PU0uVs/s640/IMG_5052.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SiriVSD-dBI/AAAAAAAAB_A/E__EzB8pQFA/s800/IMG_5053.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SiriZfxSQ-I/AAAAAAAAB_E/wnGXYN5Mz2k/s800/IMG_5054.JPG

Andrew_za

June 7th, 2009, 09:17 AM

Those buildings look beautiful

Lydon

June 7th, 2009, 05:14 PM

Thanks for the photos Jeffahn.

Mo Rush

June 7th, 2009, 05:33 PM

The square always seemed fine to me.

Andrew_za

June 7th, 2009, 06:14 PM

i also think so, just needed a bit of a clean and some more lighting

Mo Rush

June 10th, 2009, 01:32 PM

Green Market Square upgrade on track

By Sasha Forbes
10 June 2009

The City of Cape Town is proud to announce that the upgrading of Green Market Square is on track.

The City of Cape Town’s Economic Development Co-ordinator Emlyn Hammond said that they did run into some problems due to the weather.

“But we have managed to work around those challenges as best we can and so for now we are certainly on track,” said Hammond

The upgrading of Greenmarket Square however will be split into two phases- Phase one and Phase two.

The first phase includes:

· Installing additional CCTV cameras and pedestrian lights.
· Lifting the existing granite cobbles, cleaning them and relaying the cobbles at new levels to accommodate the restaurants on the perimeter of the square.
· Installing new bollards, benches and interpretive signage and paving the existing sidewalks.

The second phase includes:

· Upgrading the existing ablution facility.
· A stage, to accommodate special events like lunch time concerts, which will replace the existing roof of the ablution bloc

Mo Rush

June 10th, 2009, 02:50 PM

Cape Town heads for Barcelona to boost economic ties

MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 351/ 2009
09 JUNE 2009

The City of Cape Town will lead a delegation of local business leaders to attend the World Innovation Summit in Spain from 15-19 June and develop economic ties with the City of Barcelona.

Mansoor Mohamed, the City’s Executive Director: Economic, Social Development and Tourism, who will lead the delegation on behalf of the City of Cape Town, said: “The delegation aims to engage in bilateral economic talks with the Barcelona City Council and negotiate a deal to set-up an entrepreneurship ecosystem in Cape Town on similar principles to those employed so successfully by the City of Barcelona.”

“With proper planning and foresight, the City of Barcelona was able to accelerate its own development by using the Olympic Games of 1992 to enhance its global positioning. The benefits of the games are still being felt today and it has been widely accepted that the City of Barcelona, through the Olympic Games, achieved ‘100 years of development within ten years’. Entrepreneurship is a significant enabler of economic growth and job creation and the City of Barcelona has demonstrated proven ability in this area. We are looking forward to making progress on entrepreneurship. Urban regeneration, direct economic and higher education linkages and municipal markets are also on the agenda,” says Mohamed.

The delegation will include representatives from the Cape Town Partnership, Accelerate Cape Town and the Cape Higher Education Consortium.

“The City of Cape Town is facing similar challenges to the ones faced by the City of Barcelona just prior to the 1992 Olympics. These challenges included the decline of their manufacturing sector, high unemployment and being reduced to ‘second city’ status after Madrid,” says Alderman Felicity Purchase, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development and Tourism.

According to Andrew Boraine, CEO of the Cape Town Partnership, the City of Barcelona has recently implemented a regeneration strategy that has useful lessons for Cape Town. “Barcelona has been successful in redeveloping an obsolete inner-city industrial area into an innovative district offering modern spaces for knowledge-based activities.”

mandana

June 11th, 2009, 07:33 AM

why are they removing the cobble stones in GMS? thats gonna take so much away from the look n feel of the place... sad

Mo Rush

June 11th, 2009, 08:49 AM

they are relaying the cobbles

Jeffahn

June 26th, 2009, 11:50 PM

Greenmarket Square Update (pics taken Friday afternoon):

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SkVAvwIe3RI/AAAAAAAACFY/hILvNuA86xM/s800/IMG_5374.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SkVA11xAstI/AAAAAAAACFc/BO5ekugukU8/s800/IMG_5375.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SkVA62JANGI/AAAAAAAACFg/N-Ntl-I3w0I/s640/IMG_5376.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SkVBCjhS4nI/AAAAAAAACFk/Yh2RI9_f5_Y/s800/IMG_5377.JPG

Andrew_za

July 23rd, 2009, 06:47 PM

walked past today, things are looking good, glad to see such progress

Andrew_za

July 23rd, 2009, 06:53 PM

JULY 23rd 2009
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2649/3749553384_fa992e3720.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2425/3748772043_243d7243df.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/3748767567_6da3977908.jpg?v=0http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2587/3748770251_462a04c848.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3533/3748769731_139cf53bf8.jpg?v=0http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/3749556380_e7ab2ce8bc.jpg?v=0

Jeffahn

July 24th, 2009, 01:44 AM

Grand Parade Gallery:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/Smjvem8blMI/AAAAAAAACVA/Mh1II4o3y_M/s800/IMG_5429.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/Smjv6FlHE-I/AAAAAAAACVY/nGY0yUgn2ds/s800/IMG_5435.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SmjvkA_k5UI/AAAAAAAACVE/Ob4vK7rzQrw/s800/IMG_5430.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SmjvpMo8wHI/AAAAAAAACVI/eHzpoNPtKKI/s800/IMG_5431.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SmjvuJG1TDI/AAAAAAAACVM/VmQSdbbKn_k/s800/IMG_5432.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SmjvyFEYTmI/AAAAAAAACVQ/LlsPWqZpnxo/s800/IMG_5433.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/Smjv3T-4NeI/AAAAAAAACVU/OX10euThlTk/s800/IMG_5434.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/SmjwBcCRhAI/AAAAAAAACVg/kfQY77rqHEg/s800/IMG_5437.JPG

Dunno why they're planting conifers?

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_No8r2V6Gk24/Smjv-P21w3I/AAAAAAAACVc/6ZGenMoZ9mc/s640/IMG_5436.JPG

Andrew_za

July 24th, 2009, 03:35 PM

Nice pictures of the city hall. SO much detail

SA BOY

July 24th, 2009, 05:55 PM

Pine trees but they wont survive as they need tall support whilst juvinile trees and should have drip irrigation to survive the hot dry cape summers. Pine are sensitive to excessive dryness

SA BOY

July 24th, 2009, 05:56 PM

love the european feel of the new green market paving

Andrew_za

July 24th, 2009, 08:24 PM

They seem to be surviving, we have had a few storms, and they still there. Im quite surprised myself

Mo Rush

July 24th, 2009, 08:56 PM

love the european feel of the new green market paving
waste of money

Andrew_za

July 24th, 2009, 09:10 PM

They could have added a fountain or something....The area is quite bland, i guess it will look better when the trees grow

SA BOY

July 25th, 2009, 10:59 AM

waste of money

why?

Mo Rush

July 25th, 2009, 11:32 AM

why?

there was nothing wrong with the previous paving/blocks

annman

July 26th, 2009, 10:28 AM

there was nothing wrong with the previous paving/blocks

I see huge piles of the old dug-up paving next to the new paved sections, but almost no new palates of new paving stones... Aren't they digging up the old paving and repaving the square more neatly and evenly with the old pavers?

Seems like they're not wasting to me and actually reusing?

PS. On the Pinus species being used for Grand Parade... They actually do not need much water once established and only require much support when younger... they will survive perfectly. They are Stone Pines, naturally occurring from Spain to Croatia along the Med. They are very used to our type of climate (wet winters/dry summers). They are so successful here in fact, they are categorised as Category 2 Invader Species, thus stating they can invade natural areas quite easily.

Trust me, they WILL live well, in SA they almost do so too well.

Gulivar

July 26th, 2009, 11:48 AM

I'm happy with the choice of trees, pines rather than the usual palms.

SA BOY

July 26th, 2009, 12:09 PM

I see huge piles of the old dug-up paving next to the new paved sections, but almost no new palates of new paving stones... Aren't they digging up the old paving and repaving the square more neatly and evenly with the old pavers?

Seems like they're not wasting to me and actually reusing?

PS. On the Pinus species being used for Grand Parade... They actually do not need much water once established and only require much support when younger... they will survive perfectly. They are Stone Pines, naturally occurring from Spain to Croatia along the Med. They are very used to our type of climate (wet winters/dry summers). They are so successful here in fact, they are categorised as Category 2 Invader Species, thus stating they can invade natural areas quite easily.

Trust me, they WILL live well, in SA they almost do so too well.

if they are invader ie not indigenoius then why were they planted? Stand corrected on the irrigation issue but any cverimonial tree in CT should have drip irrigation for summer as natural surrounding enviroment is paved and not allowing moisture absorbtion

annman

July 26th, 2009, 12:34 PM

if they are invader ie not indigenoius then why were they planted? Stand corrected on the irrigation issue but any cverimonial tree in CT should have drip irrigation for summer as natural surrounding enviroment is paved and not allowing moisture absorbtion

There are many contentious issues when it comes to plating exotics. I also could not quite understand the planting of an invader specie, however, the planting comes down to history. In the Cape one however cannot escape this historical planting of certain N.Hemisphere species that are part and parcel to the Cape aesthetic (Oaks, Maples, Pines, Poplars, Liquidambars... although most are not invasive). There are actually very few indigenous tree species in the Cape that attain any great height and are not well suited for urban/street planting. Most indigenous vegetation is low-growing Fynbos.

There were originally Stone Pines planted near the castle and around the Grand Parade, so although they were declared invaders in recent years, they decided to keep with the historical planting of the area. I guess it's not too big an issue, as environmentally, there is no risk of the pines seeding into natural fynbos from that location.

I also pretty mush now approve of the pines. I'm not happy with the planting of Acacias in Cape Town, which many areas have done. They are completely out of sync with the Cape aesthetic, the Cape's Mediterranean climate and there are in fact NO locally indigenous acacia species. They only occur as far west as Robertson (and that's the Acacia Karroo only).

What few people realise is even Pretoria's famous Jacarandas are declared Category 3 Invasive!

Yes, they will require irrigation initially, as you're right, there is little ground seepage in the paved area.

SA BOY

July 26th, 2009, 01:03 PM

annman

July 26th, 2009, 01:11 PM

i supose im also guilty as on the farm we have bought 400 Cupressu Semperivens Stricta (Italian grave yard cyprus) up the drive way and recently around 200 popolars along the road frontage. Not exactly eco friendly to plat such, well I supose with 15 000 foreign Olive trees a few more foreigners wont hurt

Environmentalists place too much of a guilt on property owners and city councils in the Western Cape... nothing majorly wrong with what you've done. I'm currently planting the first 1000 trees of the 15000 tree project in the western Breede River Valley. Certain areas are indigenous zones (like near rivers, near canals/waterways and near mountains and outcrops). Certain areas are exotic aesthetic zones (farm entrances, around cellars, near homesteads and along roadways [for aveneus]). As long as one looks at sensitive areas versus aesthetic areas, there's nothing wrong with a number of oaks, poplars, cypress, maples etc. It actually suits the Cape Winelands aesthetic very well. :)

Exotics I use:
Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple)
Acer rubrum (Scarlet Maple)
Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)
Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple)
Ginkgo Biloba (Maidenhair Tree)
Lagerstroemia indica (Crape Myrtle)
Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum/Liquidamber)
Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip Poplar)
Parottia persica (Persian Ironwood)
Prunus serrulata (Kanzan Flowering Cherry)
Pyrus calleryana (Flowering Callery Pear)
Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak)
Quercus acitissima (Sawtooth Oak)
Quercus palustris (Pin Oak)
Quercus rubor (English Oak)
Quercus suber (Cork Oak)
Zelkova serrata (Japanese Elm)

Most are beautiful autumn colour trees and many have spring blooms. And not one is invasive. Just maybe a suggestion! :)

Anyways, enough of my horticultural babble.

SA BOY

July 26th, 2009, 01:18 PM

fanfuckingtastic looking foward to meeting you one day when I eventually get back to Paarl

Mo Rush

July 30th, 2009, 09:39 AM

Old Granary revamp will boost East City profile

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3043572630_257968edc5.jpg?v=0

July 30, 2009 Edition 1
ANÉL LEWIS
A NEW, R25 million investment in the restoration of the 200-year-old Old Granary on Buitenkant Street will be the catalyst for further "much-needed" redevelopment in the city's East precinct, says CCID chairman Theodore Yach.

"This is a crucial project. Development in the East City has lagged behind that of the central city, mainly because of (delays) with the redevelopment of District Six."

Plans to redevelop District Six needed to be finalised "sooner rather than later" as this would lead to development in Woodstock and Salt River, he said.
The Cape Town Heritage Trust (CTHT), which has been granted the long lease of the Old Granary from the city council, has called for preliminary expressions of interest from people or organisations interested in being tenants in the building once it is restored.

CTHT director Laura Robinson said office tenants would not be considered unless they were part of a creative industry. The East City has been identified as a possible hub of creative industry in the city.
Yach said there were already about 800 tenants in the East City involved in creative industries.

Robinson said the restoration would "kickstart development".

She said work was already being done on restoring the outside of the neo-classical building, but the inside was a "wreck". The Old Granary has been standing empty for 10 years and will need a full restoration to get it back to its former glory.

The building was originally the customs house for the Cape Colony during British rule. Although the council has agreed to lease the building to the CTHT, the trust will have to fund the restoration.
The front of the building on Buitenkant Street contains the Old Granary building. As it is a provincial heritage site, a recognised heritage architect will have to manage the restoration.
Any alterations will therefore be closely monitored.

The trust will release plans with areas available for rental once applications have been received.
Tomorrow is the deadline for submissions.
anel.lewis@inl.co.za

Mo Rush

July 30th, 2009, 09:46 AM

Its all coming full circle, with 2010 as the big reward for all their hard work.

Cape Town Partnership Celebrates Tenth Birthday

“An anniversary is a time to pause, reflect, celebrate, to give thanks and plan ahead. The tenth anniversary of the Cape Town Partnership is such a moment. It represents not the conclusion of our work in the Cape Town Central City, for there is much still to be done, but a significant milestone along the way.” So said Andrew Boraine, Chief Executive of the Cape Town Partnership at a dinner for 300 of its closest partners and friends at the Westin Grand last night to celebrate its tenth year of operation.

The Partnership is a development facilitation agency tasked to manage, promote and develop Cape Town’s Central City. Crucial ten years ago, when businesses were relocating to outlying suburbs, people were afraid to walk around by day and by night and streets were filthy with few public spaces.

All this has changed thanks to the dynamic partnerships the organisation has fostered during the past ten years. The Partnership is renowned for bringing people with divergent interests around the same table and last night was no different with guests from the private, public and non-profit sectors all enjoying the celebrations.
The Partnership is also renowned for its access to and the support of key decision makers – in the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Provincial Cabinet. It was therefore no surprise that Premier of the Western Cape Helen Zille and Executive Mayor of Cape Town Dan Plato were among the guests.
Lonely Dave Ferguson entertained the guests on arrival and prior to the dinner. The evening’s festivities kicked off with a play specially written about a son reintroducing his father to the Central City. City Diva Denay Willie performed a special song from an elevated platform. The Amy Biehl Foundation Dancers and the Out of Africa Dancers had guests entranced while Street Talent, Alen Abrahamse and The Rockets had guests on their feet and on the dance floor into the early hours – belting out classics like Frank Sinatra’s My Way and Taliep Peterson and David Kramer’s My Broertjie My Bra.

In his speech, Boraine paid tribute to the many people who have given the Partnership cause to celebrate – the unsung heroes and heroines behind the scenes who work around the clock to make Cape Town’s Central City the amazing place it is. The Partnership will further mark its tenth year with a two-day urban regeneration conference to be held from 18-19 August.

Mo Rush

July 30th, 2009, 09:53 AM

Read the Cape Town Partnership story (http://www.capetownpartnership.co.za/images/fileuploads/HISTORY%20OF%20THE%20CAPE%20TOWN%20PARTNERSHIP%20for%20web.pdf). A 10 year journey to transform Central Cape Town.

A timeline of the last 10 years: http://www.capetownpartnership.co.za/images/ctptimeline.swf

SA BOY

July 30th, 2009, 12:51 PM

is this just up the hill from the Cape Sun?

Lydon

July 30th, 2009, 01:12 PM

Quick question - does anyone know anything with regards to the two towers are going to be built on top of the Golden Acre (or something of that sort)? Wondering if they're still going ahead, when etc.

annman

July 30th, 2009, 02:26 PM

^^ They are the Stand-Adderley Towers, and I believe they are on the western side of Adderley, adjacent to the Golden Acre, not on it.

Nope, there has been little news of that development in recent months. There was some preliminary urban planning studies of the area by CnDV, but not much else. It's all still very hush-hush, so I assume is still in the planning/approval phase.

We probably will not hear more of this till 2011, when the Cape Town CBD rental demand and property shortfall increases after the recession abates.

Lydon

July 30th, 2009, 02:32 PM

Thanks :) I hope they go ahead...the looked rather sexy.

Mo Rush

August 3rd, 2009, 01:47 PM

Jozi could learn from mother city http://www.joburg.org.za/images/M_images/printButton.png (http://www.joburg.org.za/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4156&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=58) http://www.joburg.org.za/images/M_images/emailButton.png (http://www.joburg.org.za/index2.php?option=com_content&task=emailform&id=4156&itemid=58) Written by Neil Fraser Monday, 03 August 2009 A trip to Cape Town has brought into focus the need for a greater focus on historic preservation in the city of gold.
http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stories/neilfraser.jpgIN my new life I was going to keep Citichats down to once a month but some things happen that literally force you back to the keyboard!

Last week, I experienced just how good a city can get when everyone works together, how pride can be re-engendered and, at the other end of the scale, how indifference and disinterest can set a city back.

Since moving to Montagu in late February, I have driven to Cape Town airport en route to Jozi and back (2,5 hours driving, one hour waiting if you're lucky, two hours flying in each direction) six times and for a week a time - so let no-one think my passion for Jozi has lessened. In that time I have been to Cape Town and back four times, three of which have been to attend a meeting and return immediately after.

The fourth, on Tuesday, 28 July, was to attend the Cape Town Partnership's 10th anniversary party and I stayed overnight. What I saw in driving through the "inner city" was huge change - a city teeming with people day and night - in winter! Driving to my B&B in Kloof Nek at about 11pm on Tuesday night appeared little different to when I had driven that way earlier in the afternoon. The place was jumping! The city's buildings are all great again - the historic buildings painted a rainbow of colours and, certainly from the outside, in good nick. There is a renewed sense of place and a sense of pride that I certainly haven't experienced in the iKapi inner city for years.
Leaving on Wednesday morning, I passed a "squadron" of horse-mounted security ambling down Kloof Street, providing a highly visible presence. Sure, there are still problems, but nothing to outdo this feeling of things on the move and on the boil.

A decade ago

Ten years ago I was very critical of the way the Cape Town Partnership was structured but there can be little doubt that it has been responsible, to a very large measure, for the turn around of the inner city. And there is equally little doubt in my mind that the partnership's success has been due to Andrew Boraine, its chief executive, and his ability to inspire confidence from the council, the community and business. The list of those attending the 10th anniversary celebrations reflected this clearly, as did the two-minute speech from Boraine thanking the countless people from the provincial and council elite to the security guards, parking attendants and street cleaners for what they had achieved, no names singled out.

And his speech was preceded by a board marked "APO" - "all protocols observed" so we didn't have to listen to dozens of names arranged in the pecking order that would have started from the premier down! Great light entertainment - they know how to party down there, and a most enjoyable evening celebrating a decade of great achievements.
Then back to the reality of municipal workers trashing the streets of all our cities - great TV viewing for those thinking about visiting the country for 2010! The Joburg "event" looked the worst and the behaviour of the union members was disgusting and could have won them no friends.
Barbican

But it struck me that their behaviour was probably no worse than those responsible for the other disasters we have on our hands in relation to two of the "grand dames" of Jozi - the Barbican and the Rissik Street Post Office (and quite a few others besides). I wrote about the disgraceful attitude of Old Mutual last week (http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/4110/58/) - since then the building has been plundered. I received a copy of this email from an architect that simply sets out the sequence of events:

"On a visit to the city on 1 July 2009, I noticed that the glazed roof at the top of the building was missing, along with one of the steel French doors to the 8th floor balcony.
"I assumed that the glazed roof and the French door had simply caved in, due to the years of complete neglect by Old Mutual, the owners of the building. The Barbican is protected in terms of section 34 of the National Heritage Resources Act of 1999.

"However, when I visited the city yesterday, I was absolutely shocked by what seems to be the systematic and deliberate gutting of the building. All the French doors and balcony railings have been stolen - apparently by vandals, leaving gaping holes in the façade of this once beautiful building. The Barbican has literally been doomed to demolition through the complete and indifferent neglect of Old Mutual. What is left of the building looks like a gutted shell, stripped out and awaiting the demolisher's hammer.

"The building was mothballed sometime in the early 1990s. It was subsequently illegally occupied, and most of the interior fittings were stripped out. Once the illegal occupants were removed (early 2000s?), the building was bricked up to prevent further vandalism occurring. When I visited the Barbican for a university project in 2003, it was very well secured, and an alarm system had been installed to ensure that further occupation or looting would not occur.

mike2005

August 3rd, 2009, 02:28 PM

I see Joburg's greatest enthusiast has moved to the Cape :-)

SA BOY

August 4th, 2009, 02:05 PM

he saw the light like a lot of us have

Jakes1

August 5th, 2009, 01:37 PM

he saw the light like a lot of us have

Retired in a small town in the Western Cape. Yes, the western cape. A good place to grow old and die.

Lydon

August 5th, 2009, 01:45 PM

If you don't get shot whilst boarding your plane to Cape Town first ;)

*cackles and runs*

Foxyman

August 5th, 2009, 06:04 PM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/3792586756_c258989ebf.jpg

As for cultural heritage, the neoclassic building in Buitenkant Street known as the Granary is finally receiving much-needed maintenance and restoration work. It started off as a customs house and is considered one of the most important architectural buildings in the city: It was designed by French-born South African architect and engineer Louis Michel Thibault and was one of the last buildings in which he collaborated with architect Herman Shutte and sculptor Anton Anreith. The City has signed an 18 year lease with the Cape Town Heritage Trust for redevelopment and management of this important building. The Granary will house creative and cultural industries and form part of the East City Design Initiative.

City Hall

For years the fate of the beautiful old Italian Renaissance-style City Hall has also been in the balance, its interior increasingly worn. Now a report has been submitted, and approved by Council, to begin consulting the public on its preferred use. This public participation process should take six to seven months and the next phase of the process should start around March next year, depending on public input.

Andrew_za

August 5th, 2009, 06:12 PM

That city hall freaks me out! Its beautiful, but walk around that place at night... Anyway glad something is finally being done to maintain the hall. However I have heard of other plans of usage for the hall. The outside is looking great at night

SA BOY

August 5th, 2009, 06:32 PM

Retired in a small town in the Western Cape. Yes, the western cape. A good place to grow old and die.

exactly except Im retiring at 40 so I have a good 60 years in the cape

annman

August 5th, 2009, 07:40 PM

Retired in a small town in the Western Cape. Yes, the western cape. A good place to grow old and die.
If we have the lifestyle and environment you guys slave away for 40years to get to... and we got it when we're in our 20's till we grow old... yipee for us! I'm RETIRED!!! :lol: Jo'burg is a good place to age you, so you're old and can come die somewhere pleasant.

Not in a Cape Town thread Jakes, it's like handing us a gun with bullets and saying, "shoot me!" :)

mike2005

August 6th, 2009, 12:06 PM

Well everyone in Joburg is desperately trying to earn enough money so they can move somewhere else. Cant say I blame them when they realise what they are missing by not living in the Cape.

:-)

Jakes1

August 6th, 2009, 12:08 PM

If you don't get shot whilst boarding your plane to Cape Town first ;)

*cackles and runs*

cheap shot. hehe

Lydon

August 6th, 2009, 12:14 PM

Good times :)

Mo Rush

August 6th, 2009, 01:09 PM

Mo Rush

August 6th, 2009, 01:10 PM

Some policemen on horses.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2640/3758759388_53e1dcefe8.jpg

Andrew_za

August 6th, 2009, 04:31 PM

That buildings is often used as a studio.

Jakes1

August 6th, 2009, 06:05 PM

If we have the lifestyle and environment you guys slave away for 40years to get to... and we got it when we're in our 20's till we grow old... yipee for us! I'm RETIRED!!! :lol: Jo'burg is a good place to age you, so you're old and can come die somewhere pleasant.

Not in a Cape Town thread Jakes, it's like handing us a gun with bullets and saying, "shoot me!" :)

It is difficult to age when you only see 5days of sunshine a year... OK, lets call a truce. You can love your blonde bimbo and I will love my complicated "lady of the night."

Its not as if I hate Cape Town. In fact, I will again be in good ol kaap for 2weeks this august. However, I find her a bit... mmm... not for me. Pretty and all that - but Jozi has soul (for me). I find Cape Town utterly gloomy and bland beyond the City Centre (I would strangle myself slowly if I lived in Belville or Durbanville or Windville or Vlaktesonderhoopville).

Give me Jozi's great weather, the trees, the birds, the thunderous storms, the sunny bright mornings. She is good to me. And if we all left to earn mediocre salaries in Kaapcity the entire economy would come crashing down. And really, do I want to deal with arrogant Vaalies every December? nah.

To each his own. I love to visit Cape Town. Would never want to live or retire there. There are many other much more magical places in the country. Would seem to surprize people, but there is more to SA than just Cape Town. You have the mountains of the Freestate, the green hills of natal, you have the intoxicating Bushveld with its magnificent sunsets - the desolate Karoo.

Capetonians should think of spending less time dissing other cities, and maybe exploring a bit beyond their own backyard. Your murder rate is higher than ours by far, btw. Oh, but that is only in the slummy areas where you never go. Because no-one should ever face reality or leave "pleasantville."

ooh, Im sounding a tad bitter. But I hope I make my point in a rational, behaved fashion. If I offended anyone, I am sorry. Just a bit Gautvol of people dissing my city without even understanding anything about her.

Peace.

Foxyman

August 6th, 2009, 06:37 PM

Guys. Please ask Zuma to give me some money to buy these buildings.This is Francis Street, behind the Main Road between District Six and Woodstock.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/3793988311_1f1982e406.jpg.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/3794806502_2e5bc992b0.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3567/3794806142_ec5e7060bd.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2590/3794806920_e5a204808d.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3794807296_23cb64315e.jpg

These buildings ('The Armoury') are part of Buchanan Square which is being redeveloped and sold off by Redefine so I would assume that at a point they will be restoring them

http://www.buchanansquare.co.za/html/hillsarmoury.html

Lydon

August 6th, 2009, 06:40 PM

You source of information you.

annman

August 6th, 2009, 06:44 PM

Foxyman

August 6th, 2009, 06:48 PM

and the buildings are cheap to, R7k per square metre...

Jakes1

August 6th, 2009, 06:57 PM

^^ We weren't dissing your city unprovoked! You came to a CT thread and said "Retired is a town in the Western Cape, good to grow old and die." So, please don't slam us for standing up to our piece of heaven, as we perceive it. I would expect the same reaction towards me, if I said "Joburg is full of mine dumps and great for a good hijacking," in a Jozi thread...

That's were the peace comes in, as you put it.

Bottom line is, both cities are night and day, Joburg is Los Angeles minus an ocean, Cape Town is San Francisco... both cities have their merits, both cities have their positive points and their drawbacks. Some people like one element, some people like other elements, just the way it works.

What you guys from Joburg just do not understand, is if you tell a Capetonian Jozi is great and Cape Town is sleepy, rainy, boring... it doesn't sink in... it just conjures up mocking and dissing from us.

I'll try to explain why...

I live on a wine estate... I wake up to glorious mountains everyday and vineyards at my feet. When I drive anywhere, the views, the roads are breath-taking! The towns, historic, glorious churches, cafés and boutiques everywhere, Victorian and Cape Dutch grand ol'dames of buildings everywhere, not to mention almost every town and city centre in the WC is spotless and relatively safe. When I have a business meeting, whether in the Winelands or Cape Town, more often then not, there's a glass of wine involved, a gorgeous view etc. In the evenings, we sit at our entertainment, braai area, open another bottle of the estate's best and light a fire and watch the sun set (very late as it does here) over the peaks. Weekends, in winter, involve going to Ceres to play in snow... or drive to Cape Town to party in a secure CBD, or wine tasting tours (Wacky Wine of Robertson; Whale Festival of Hermanus; Bien Donne of Franschhoek etc. etc.)... sometimes a mountain climb or even theatre. Then, in summer, there's anything your heart desires, except the snow... as the weather is warm and sunny non-stop for 6months. No rain interruptions at all.

I travel a crap load around SA. I love this country... but for someone to tell me it's better to sit in a flat in Sandton surrounded by security, versus what I have above....

BAAA! But, maybe it's just me that thinks our lifestyle's kinda cool. :)

1. I did not diss cape town. It was started by saying that another joziboy comes to his senses and move to wonderful amazing fault-free fatfree wholesome cape town - go back to the posts right after Neil Fraser's article was posted. That is what got me going.
2. We don't all live in Sandton. I live in Killarney, a good 10km from Sandton (closer to the CBD). This means I live in a 70year old art deco heritage building. I walk to the shops. I jog to Zoo Lake. Comeon - we all know the entire cape town is not winelands and butterfly farms and cape dutch hoohaha. Every city has a real side. And to reduce the entire expanse that is joburg into Sandton? Really? We have fordsburg, parkhurst, norwood, orange grove, observatory, greenside, forest town, sandringham, westcliff, mellville, millpark, parktown, rosebank, illovo, melrose, fairways - each of these neighbourhoods distinct. We don't all cower in fear of death. your reductionist argument would be similar to me saying cape town is the cape flats and tygerberg and nothing more.
3. I am glad you love where you live. I am sure it is amazing and perfect. I love where I live. I don't want to move to Cape Town or anywhere else for the time being. Jozi has an energy that we understand. It is not perfect. But it is my home. So unprovoked statements in a totally unrelated thread does get my blood boiling a bit. I don't mind some of the jokes made by other capetonians. I do get irritated by this sentiment that cape town is above all and most holy. It is not. There are a many other amazing spots. Joburg (in my opinion at least) is one of them.

And now get on with discussing your CBD.