Well done with that email Pule. So often its the small things which make a difference.

Also great to see the China Town project starting to move. Savage + Dodd have been working on this thing for ages! I believe that little pockets of cultural diversity can add exceptional value to a city if they are managed right: Oriental Plaza etc. And honestly the only decent Chinese food in Joburg is found in the 2 Chinese communities - this one and the one in Cyrildene / Bruma.

Hi guys, interesting news. The Lindsay Saker site in Rosebank (where a worker died during the demolition) will be a construction site soon. 4 towers, 15floors each.

^^ great news Jakes, but is it Standard Bank as said before?

Last i heard it was Standard Bank - which is a pitty in a way, it would be nice to see something other than banks with nice big buildings (but i suppose they the ones with the money to do so). I drive past the site very often, as soon as any progress happens ill let you know. Rosebank buy the end of year will be a completely different place!

I drove past the building which was earmarked for a boutique hotel (Cnr Bath and Oxford) the other night, and it seems as if it is operating?? Does anyone know... looked mighty good at night I must admit!

^^ Yip it looks open for bussiness - The Gautrain construction site well over shadows it but once it's all said and done, it will look amazing.

Hi Guys. Here are the names and contacts of JDA staff for any enquiries and questions we may have for them.

Name Title Telephone


Adam Goldsmith Company Secretary (011) 688 7829



Alice Moloto Assistant Marketing Manager (011) 688-7854



Bekezela Mhlanga IT & Systems Manager (011) 688 7852



Brian Herd Construction Specialist (011) 688 7891



Celestine Mouton Development Manager (011) 688-7834



Claudia Mahlaule Development Manager (011) 688-7807



Garry Mmulutsi Development Manager (011) 688 7812



Jabulile Malongete Contracts and Procurement Officer (011) 688-7842



Janison Muller Facilities Manager (011) 688 7851



Joselyne Davids Assistant Development Manager (011) 688-7830



Joy Jacobs Development Manager (011) 688-7828



Junior Litelu Development Coordinator (011) 688 7840



Kgositsile Sidumedi Assistant Development Manager (011) 688 7823



Kirsten Harrison Executive Manager: Planning & Strategy (011) 688 7841



Kopano Ngesi Procurement & Contracts Coordinator (011) 688 7813



Lael Bethlehem Chief Executive Officer (011) 688-7850



Lebowa Letsoalo Development Manager (011) 688-7858



Maggie Tsehla Projects Accountant (011) 688-7831



Mandla Ndlovu Development Manager (011) 688 7865



Mbali Ntusi IT and Systems Specialist (011) 688 7833



Moliane Nyakane Development Coordinator (011) 688 7812



Morena Mthimkulu Receptionist (011) 688 7851



Mpho Seoposengwe Development Coordinator (011) 688-7802



Natasha Francis Fixed Assets Officer (011) 688-7852



Neels Reyneke Human Resources & Office Manager (011) 688 7881



Ngcebo Nkwanyana Development Manager (011) 688-7846



Nkosinathi Manzana Senior Development Manager (011) 688 7837


Nokuthula Sibiya Assistant Development Manager (011) 688 7868



Nomalizo Xabana Development Coordinator (011) 688 7817



Ntombi Kgabanyane Accounts Payable Reconciliation Officer (011) 688 7819



Nyiko Gudlhuza Senior Development Manager (011) 688 7839



Orapeleng Moseneke Development Manager (011) 688 7849



Paul Arnott-Job Development Manager (011) 688-7877



Rhoda Damba Coordinator: Planning and Strategy (011) 688-7820



Rooksana Moola Executive Director: Finance & Support Services (011) 688-7870


Refiloe Modise Development Coordinator (011) 011 688 7832



Sammy Mafu Executive Manager: Marketing & Communications (011) 688-7856



Seipati More Development Manager (011) 688 7860



Serufe Sefiri Executive PA to CEO (011) 688 7853



Simanathi Ngwenya Operations Coordinator (011)688 7836



Sizakele Mgidi Accounts Payable Officer (011) 688-7805



Sophia Ndlovu Development Coordinator (011) 688 7861



Susan Monyai Marketing Coordinator (011) 688-7867



Tebogo Seshibe Development Manager (011) 688 7893



Thanduxolo Mendrew Executive Manager : Risk, Compliance & HR (011) 688 7878



Tshepo Molepo Development Coordinator (011) 688 7890


Tiyiselani Tshuketana IT & Systems Support Officer (011) 688 7833



Vuyile Sitwayi Senior Development Manager (011) 688 7857


Vuyiswa Voyi Development Manager (011) 011 688 7869



Vuyisile Vena Contracts and Procurement Manager (011) 688 7889



Yanda Tolobisa Assistant Development Manager (011) 688 7884


Zama Nkosi PA to Executive Director: Finance & Support Services (011) 688-7880



Zandile Mafata
Finance Manager (011) 688 7879



Zimkhita Jacobs Development Coordinator (011) 688 7882


Zwakele Magagula Development Manager (011) 688 7857

Joburg kids are also benefitting from Shova Kalula

Bikes to get kids to school on time
Written by Thabiso Mphelo
Tuesday, 17 February 2009

http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stories/2009/feb/cycles_top.jpg

Schoolchildren in Region G are the latest to benefit from the Shova Kalula project, which is handing out bicycles to ensure learners get to school on time.

HUNDREDS of region G residents gathered at the Finetown multipurpose centre in Finetown for the Shova Kalula bicycle handover on Saturday, 14 February.

Shova Kalula, which means "push easily", is a Department of Transport project that started in 2005. It is aimed at schoolchildren who walk more than three kilometres to school, those who come from child-headed families and those whose family income is not more than R1 500 a month.

Just 12 children got bicycles on Saturday; the rest will be handed out during the week. In all, 350 learners from 12 schools in Region G will benefit, among them Protea Primary, Finetown Primary, Lehota Primary and Ahathuto Secondary.

Speaking at the handover, the department's Wity Maphakela said the aim of the project was to address challenges in rural areas and townships. According to statistics, several million children walked to school every day. "We want to encourage cycling ... as it is a low-cost transport system.

"However, we know that infrastructure in these areas is a problem, hence we would like to encourage municipalities to have a budget for cycling tracks so that children can travel safely to school," Maphakela said.

Rehana Moosajee, the member of the Joburg mayoral council for transport, said the government cared for and loved its people.

"Learners should realise their potential. If children can get to school educators should be there to teach them. The government is working hard to improve the quality of what they give every child and one thing that will help children who come from underprivileged families to get out of the poverty trap is education. The City also believes that every child deserves a better life."

People should acknowledge their problems so that plans could be made to resolve them. "Walking to school was one challenge that the Transport Department realised and dealt with by giving out bicycles to these children. If people work together so much more can be done and we hope that today will change someone's life and future."

Safety
Maphakela also encouraged parents to be aware of their children's safety. "They should make sure that their children are wearing helmets when riding the bicycles.

"As we have a signed agreement with the schools, they should take charge of the bicycles and make sure that they are in good condition and are kept safe if not in use. We urge municipalities to provide a safe place for them as we want them to continue with this project on their own by 2012."

The day was not only about speeches - there was also plenty of entertainment from Pedestrian Angel, Finetown and Protea primary schools. The children danced and sang, getting a lot of applause from their proud parents.

Pedestrian Angel, the City's transport mascot, gave entertaining lessons on road safety, speaking about how children should take care of themselves when they are on the road.

Thabang Mofokeng, a Grade 12 leaner from Ahathuto Secondary School, said the bicycle would help him to get to school on time. "I walk three kilometres to school every day and very happy that I won't be walking anymore."

Lebo Moemisi shared Mofokeng's sentiments; he too was happy not to be walking to school anymore. Moemisi, who is in Grade 6 at Pohopedi Primary School, said he wanted to be a soldier when he grew up.

Jacob Ledingo, a teacher at Lehota Secondary, said that he hoped that things would change as children used to complain about getting to school. "Some children walk more than 10 kilometres every day to get to school and get to school tired and weak. We also hope that things will change during exams as well."

The deputy principal at Langa Libalele Dube Primary, Modiegi Sabisa, was delighted with the project. "We face a lot of challenges with these children, including absentism. Some go to the shops on their way to school and end up not coming to school, and some go back home if they think they are too late."

A parent whose child received a bicycle, Dorah Sibasa, was happy that her son would not be walking to school. "I am so happy for him. We did not get such opportunities when we were growing up."

Thanks for that Ruls.

Very useful little directory that. Thanks Rulani! We've almost got our own little development watchdog organization happening here. Good stuff.

wrt the article about the bicycles, i've always thought bicycles are a great form of transport: they're cheap (comparatively), they're compact, they're environmentally friendly and they're good exercise. Unfortunately they're also really easy to steal and there are very few dedicated bicycle lanes and paths. It would be great to see more facilities and infrastructure provided for cyclists.

^^ The only problem is that many cyclists think they own the road. In my area there are bicycling lanes but cyclists just ignore them and block the road like a bunch of fools.

Very useful little directory that. Thanks Rulani! We've almost got our own little development watchdog organization happening here. Good stuff.

wrt the article about the bicycles, i've always thought bicycles are a great form of transport: they're cheap (comparatively), they're compact, they're environmentally friendly and they're good exercise. Unfortunately they're also really easy to steal and there are very few dedicated bicycle lanes and paths. It would be great to see more facilities and infrastructure provided for cyclists.

Flood, just wait until Joburg population is more like in Hongkong. everybody is going to run for Bicycles and motorbikes.

The only scary thing about driving bicycles is taxi drivers.

and getting bikejacked. they are a great alternative form of transport, and bicycle infrastructure should be developed in conjunction with BRT and Gautrain stations. it's unfortunate that there is an emphasis with Gautrain stations on parking lots for cars. I think that Gautrain should in fact have a PR/media campaign regarding the importance of cycling to a station, rather than driving there.

i ride my bike here all over the place in Bonn, and it's so easy because the roads and pavements are designed for them. i think they should in fact be given precedence over cars because they are 100x more environmentally friendly and accordingly should be given many more benefits than car drivers.

Another big difference between most European cities and eg Joburg, is that they are actually quite flat...... ;-) Not many hills around. Joburg has got MANY hills.

yes yes this is a most valid point. :)

Yeah - there are always cons to balance the pros i suppose. I just wish we had a more balanced spread when it came to transport. We desperately need public transport and walking/cycling to replace a large part of the the minibus taxi / every-man-has-their-own-private-vehicle culture that dominates our transport scene at the moment.

Come on Rea Vaya / Gautrain, do your stuff!

I believe that cycling will be intergrated at a later stage on both Rea Vaya and Gautrain as at the current moment we still have to deal with Taxi drivers and reckless Joburg drivers.

Yeah - there are always cons to balance the pros i suppose. I just wish we had a more balanced spread when it came to transport. We desperately need public transport and walking/cycling to replace a large part of the the minibus taxi / every-man-has-their-own-private-vehicle culture that dominates our transport scene at the moment.

Come on Rea Vaya / Gautrain, do your stuff!

The problem with Johannesburg in terms of public transport is that it is hot, hilly and low-density. No one wants to walk too far, up and down hills, and get all hot and sweaty when going to a meeting or trying to get to work. In this city walking and cycling are just not going to cut it because of this. To get people out of their personal cars Johannesburg needs to:

Have a great, air-conditioned, trunkline train network (an expanded Gautrain network)
Support this with air-conditioned buses in dedicated lanes (with big concrete barriers to prevent taxi's from driving in the lanes), stopping ever 500m (Basically super Rea Vaya)
Encourage massive densification around key nodes, such as Sandton & Rosebank, and, critically, prevent further de-centralisation by zoning only 2 storey buildings outside of these nodes (this would prevent further FNB Fairlands from popping up)
Encourage and support licensed, cheap taxi cab companies supported with call centres and dedicated waiting facilities at Gautrain stations
Build park and ride facilities on the outskirts of the city where there is no Gautrain station
Implement congestion charges!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There has to be a push and pull side to this all. Pull from great, dedicated public transport and push from congestion charges and pure difficulty in accessing work in a private car. As long as the council lets companies build massive offices on the outskirts of the city and upgrades the roads without making communters pay for SOV's (Single Occupant Vehciles) Johannesburg is destined to become like LA where everyone spends 4hrs a day in their car due to no viable public transport.

Cycling in Johannesburg is only for those of us that don't mind getting to work soggy and hot. Imagine cycling from Killarney to Melville! Only 7km, but going up 9th ave will be like doing the tour de france! Returning in the afternoon will be a breeze though.

Aparently this is another thing for the Gautrain. Trains in Europe don't really have that much of a gradient to deal with. But the Gautrain will decend from Johannesburg into Pretoria, and it will be uphill all the way back. This is also a bonus though, the train will generate electricity when going downhill - it uses less power, and the braking system stores the heat generated through the brakes, converting it back to electricity (this is all stored at a substation dedicated to the Gautrain). this would mean that the Gautrain will generate a large part of its own electricity needs, thanks to our up and down terrain.

Forgive my non-analytical and no-engineering knowledge explanation!

People also rant about Sandton not having pedestrians. It is just too bloody hilly! To walk up Maude from Village walk to Sandton city is quite a feat, especially in the heat. Great to have the guys in red though, their has been virtually no muggings in the central area since they were deployed.

Electricity cannot be stored (unless if using batteries, which can be very expensive). You produce it as you consume or need it. Thus if Gautrain is using regenerative braking, the electricity generated will be fed into the grid, where anyone can use it. In times when it needs power, it will pull it from the grid (then's Eskom's generators will just have to produce more at that instant). Sub-stations only convert voltages carried by the cables.

Electricity cannot be stored (unless if using batteries, which can be very expensive). You produce it as you consume or need it. Thus if Gautrain is using regenerative braking, the electricity generated will be fed into the grid, where anyone can use it. In times when it needs power, it will pull it from the grid (then's Eskom's generators will just have to produce more at that instant). Sub-stations only convert voltages carried by the cables.

Makes sense, like I said my explanation is not very savvy technologically. But the electricity generated will feed into the Gautrain grid (and with other trains running at the same time, I guess they will benefit). I also read that the Gautrain will have its own small powerstation... It will not really be dependent on Eskom.

Johannesburg - Gauteng's rapid rail link will generate enough electricity to power a shopping centre the size of Eastgate Mall, and talks are planned to add this capacity to Eskom's national grid.

"When the train brakes, the heat generated [will] be able to produce electricity capable of powering a shopping centre as big as the Eastgate Mall," said Jack van der Merwe, the chief executive of the Gautrain Management Agency.

He was addressing a meeting of Gauteng MECs to elaborate on key government programmes announced by Premier Mbhazima Shilowa in his State of the Province speech to the provincial legislature on 18 February.

Mr van der Merwe was responding to questions about the effects of the electricity crisis on the construction of the rapid rail link.

The Gautrain will not only alleviate congestion on Johannesburg's roads but could serve as an electricity generator for Eskom, the city said on its official website.

Mr van der Merwe said the agency would hold talks with the national electricity supplier on how the Gautrain could feed the electricity it would generate back to the national grid. When braking, the train would be able to generate about 25 percent of electricity it would use to accelerate.

Good to know - at least when we have a load-shedding episode we can just push the trains downhill. :lol:

Im so much happy about how this thread is alive. Thanks to all of you guys. your contribution is encouraging all of us including people like me: Bo mafikizolo (new comers).

Change has come to City Deep Hostel
Written by Ndaba Dlamini
Wednesday, 18 February 2009


http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stories/2009/feb/city_deep_hostel_top.jpg

Where once was squalor and isolation, deprivation and darkness, there is now brightness and joy. The City Deep Hostel is in the final stages of refurbishment into decent family homes.

http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stories/2009/feb/city_deep_hostel1.jpg
Home to more than 200 families

THE change at City Deep Hostel is striking. The once uninhabitable and murky compound has been converted into an attractive family space, complete with play grounds for children.

The former men-only hostel, located a few kilometres southeast of Johannesburg's city centre, is now a brightly coloured home to more than 200 families. Even though work to convert two remaining blocks is still in progress, the change is breathtaking.

Originally designed to contain and isolate a single-sex labour force, in the late 1970s the old hostel became the home of hundreds of municipal workers. These municipal workers, predominantly men, lived in squalid conditions and the hostel became a health hazard in dire need of repair.

Then, the City of Johannesburg, through the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco), stepped in in 2005.

The compound offered a potentially large supply of high-density, low-income rental housing stock, which is in very short supply in the city. In a drive to eradicate its housing backlog and as part of the national government's Hostels Redevelopment Programme, Joshco embarked on a comprehensive facelift of the complex by converting dormitories into comfortable living units suitable for families.

Refurbishments involved replacing the roofs, paving around the buildings, constructing and cleaning storm water drains and replacing the old industrial windows with residential windows.

At the start of the project, Joshco chief executive Rory Gallocher said Joshco intended giving City Deep a comprehensive facelift by converting dormitories which were designed for containment into comfortable living units suitable for families.

"Not only will the hostel building itself be converted into family units, but we will also build new units on vacant land adjacent to the hostel," he said.

Phase one
The first phase involved an investment of R6-million to develop 123 units. The units were completed in 2006 and opened amid much excitement from the families who occupied them.

http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stories/2009/feb/city_deep_hostel2.jpg
The compound has been converted into an attractive family space

"First preference was given to City staff who had been staying at the hostel for a very long time and had tolerated all the inconveniences of staying in a hostel," says Sydney Seema, Joshco's housing supervisor.

Allocation of units also rests on a points system and documentation that clearly spells out the affordability and requirements of the families. The single- and double-bedroomed units in the first phase have been priced to cater for City staff hostel dwellers who earn up to R4 000 a month.

According to Joshco's allocations policy, suitable tenants must:

Be South African citizens;
Qualify for a state housing subsidy;
Be registered on the project waiting list; and
Be able to afford rental payments, which must not exceed 25 percent of gross monthly income.

Phase two
Phase two of the project has recently been completed, with 92 families allocated their units. This phase involved renovating the four-storey A and B blocks into bachelor, one-, two- and three-bedroomed units.

"Each unit comprises a bathroom and toilet, kitchen and bedrooms, and has running hot and cold water," says Seema.

An inner courtyard flanked by brightly coloured two- and three-bedroomed flats is being developed. Seema says the courtyard will turned into a playground for children complete with swings. There is already a children's playground on the western side of City Deep Hostel.

He says phase three of the project, to be completed by the end of February, will yield 60 units. Additional units will be constructed as a greenfield project to the north of the hostel to cater for those people who cannot be accommodated in the refurbished complex.

Project end
By project end, which Seema envisages will be June, a total of 654 units as well as roads, pedestrian walkways, gardens and amenities will have been constructed. Plans for a crèche and a sports hall are also in the pipeline.

http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stories/2009/feb/city_deep_hostel3.jpg
A place to play
Joshco also plans to build a retail outlet on the western side of the hostel. At present, residents have to commute to town to buy essentials like bread, says Seema.

The company has also implemented an intensive tenant training programme to ensure tenants take responsibility for their new homes. The training includes learning how to interpret the contents of lease agreements, how and why rent is payable, how to maintain their homes and what to do in the event of a problem.

"We are planning to set up an office that will offer social services where a social worker will be stationed to provide counselling to men. We have a situation at City Deep where men have been staying alone for 20 years or more, hundreds of kilometres from their families. They now have to bring their families to stay with them, completely altering their lifestyle."

There are already difficulties that Joshco is trying to reign in, with Seema speaking about a problem of "illegal residents".

"We have a situation where a bachelor flat is occupied by more than two people. Ideally, a one-bedroom flat should be occupied by a couple and a child. But we have encountered a situation where we have found a family of five living in a one-bedroomed unit."

As a way to solve this problem, Seema says a security system has been devised in which each resident is supposed to register for an access card to enter and leave the premises.

"We want City Deep to be a secure place where people can live without fear of any criminal activity."

Lanseria to get R35bn 'city'
Feb 18 2009 15:46

Joan Muller

Johannesburg - Plans to develop a massive mixed-use precinct at Lanseria International Airport, which is to be at least three times the size of the Sandton central business district, were unveiled in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Cradle City, as the project is known, will comprise about 10 million m² of development bulk which will be worth an estimated R35bn when completed. That makes it the biggest single property development ever earmarked for Gauteng.

Cradle City will be developed by Amari Land, a private property company formed in 2007 by US real estate developer Preston Haskell, African mining entrepreneur Mike Nunn and land planning and rezoning specialist Andre van Wyk.

Amari Land has already assembled more than 900 hectares of undeveloped land to the north and south of Lanseria. "The idea is to create a complete city centre around Lanseria" which will embrace "new urban design principles" by integrating living, working, playing, trade and travel, according to Amari development director Markus Kaps.

Kaps says Amari has received planning and zoning approval in principle for the first phase, while the Cradle City master plan is expected be adopted by local government within the next few months.

"The development is aligned with the Gauteng government's growth and development strategy and enjoys the highest level of provincial and local government support."

Earthworks on the first phase of the 912ha Cradle City precinct is set to kick off in May 2009. It will comprise a 450 000m² business park combining industrial, office, retail and hotel components. It will also include a restored wetland area.

The second phase will be a mixed use area of about 178ha including medium- and high-density housing as well as commercial and retail opportunities. Plans for a 60 000m² regional shopping centre are also in the pipeline.

Cradle City will comprise six phases in total, which are expected to be rolled out over the next seven years.

- Fin24.com

Hmmm? Sounds like a great development. The project signs and a sales office have actually been around for a while. But it doesn't sound so great for Lanseria Airport.

If Lanseria want to seriously position themselves in contention with ORTIA they'll need to lengthen their current runway quite seriously and i wonder if this isn't going to seriously limit their options to do this. I've already heard rumours that the current owners are trying to sell it because of the lack of future growth potential.

Airport based Cradle City aims to be Gauteng’s green city of the future
18 Feb 2009 - eProp - Amari

Intro
Cradle City is set to form an innovative, sustainable green-driven development situated on substantial 912ha of land surrounding Lanseria International Airport, north of Johannesburg

The development, which will comprise a vibrant mix of residential, commercial, office, retail, hotel, resort, entertainment, warehousing and other elements, is being undertaken by Amari Land. The vision for Cradle City is to create an unparalleled mixed-use precinct which will provide the opportunity to live, work, play and travel, in an integrated environment which embraces new-urban design and green building principles.

“Cradle City will realise the ideal of a cost-effective urban plan comprising different precincts designed to become a healthy, thriving city over a 25 year period and beyond,” says Amari’s Preston Haskell.

Amari Land was founded in early 2007 by highly respected international property developer Preston Haskell, African mining entrepreneur Mike Nunn and MD of Amari Land, Andre van Wyk, a specialist in the planning and re-zoning of land. The Amari team consists of professionals with vast African and international experience covering the many disciplines of property development in Africa. Amari Land is also developing Luano City, a 380ha mixed use development in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Amari Group focuses on identifying high economic growth regions in sub-Saharan Africa situated around pre-existing economic drivers such as airports, and developing in line with established global standards and applications.

Cradle City surrounds Lanseria International Airport, Gauteng’s second largest international airport which is situated in a designated major economic growth node of Gauteng’s north western corridor, located within the urban edge. It is located in Africa’s fasted growing regional economy, generating more than 10% of Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (DGP).

Lanseria International Airport is an economic driver for Cradle City’s current and future development and growth. Strong residential increases in the surrounding areas, the enhancement of existing roads, the convenient location of Lanseria -- especially for travellers from Pretoria, the West Rand and the northern suburbs of Johannesburg – and the development of new roads, are all creating a growing demand for the services of Lanseria airport.

Currently Kulula is the only national passenger carrier flying from Lanseria, however it is expected that, at a later stage, other passenger carriers will use the Lanseria International Airport for some of their flights.

This will have a major impact on the number of departing passengers, which are expected to increase from 300,000 to almost 7 million in 2017. It is anticipated that the total scheduled flights will increase from 1,100 flights per annum to close to 4,000 flights in 10 years time. The airport will also increase the total freight from 5,000 tons to 20,000 tons by the year 2017.

“In addition to a unique location with Lanseria International Airport as the catalyst for the development, we are in an extraordinary position to build a city from inception. This provides an exciting opportunity to optimise the mix of uses, facilities and amenities,” says Amari Director of Development Markus Kaps.

Ensuring the best mix of uses, Cradle City is aligned with government’s Gauteng Growth and Development Strategy and enjoys the highest level of provincial and local government support.

Cradle City’s full landholding has received mayoral committee recommendation for development master plan approval for a potential 7.7 million sqm bulk to be developed. This is envisaged to comprise some 3.2 million sqm residential, 2.2 million sqm of offices, 1,14 sqm million of industrial, 700,000 sqm of retail, 208,000 sqm of tourism and leisure attraction and nearly 260ha reserved for environmental elements.

The development will comprise six phases, with the northern elements of the precinct being developed first. The first phase will be Cradle City Business Park, with the second phase being a mixed-use area of some 178ha including medium - and high-density housing, commercial and retail opportunities and public facilities.

A destination business tourism gateway will draw on the value of the Cradle of Humankind as the development proceeds northwards, with the northernmost portion comprising medium- to lower-density residential homes to link flawlessly with the low-density housing developments of Blair Athol and Monaghan Farms.

The northern precinct is termed the Green Coast as it enjoys magnificent views towards the Magaliesburg and has exceptional natural features including both the Crocodile River and the Jukskei River.

A dynamic ‘city centre’ will be created in the southern precinct, linked seamlessly with the key elements of the development, and will include a large, regional retail centre with offices, apartments and other elements for this vibrant urban living centre.

“Cradle City will become a complete destination, with everything required for quality, everyday living right on its doorstep in a vibrant, sustainable environment which integrates with the amenities in its surrounding areas with ease,” says Sherry Seward, MD of Cradle City Sales.

A ‘natural selection’ approach, which can adapt with the times, has been applied to the design framework to be flexible enough to manage growth elegantly, while an availability of cost-effective bulk services is supported by infrastructure delivery through private/public partnership.

“Sustainability demands that urban development is more compact, avoiding the urban sprawl that has been prevalent in South Africa and establishing a quality living and working environment,” says Kaps. “There has been a move towards intensification and an increase in mixed land-use and mixed residential densities, to make urban environments more liveable and reducing environmental impact.”

This approach is supported in the Spatial Development Frameworks of the affected local authorities of Johannesburg and Mogale.

Brian Roberts, Divisional Director of financiers Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, says that Nedbank is pleased to be involved in this exciting project. "This unique development is the first of its kind in South Africa, offering occupiers the opportunity to live, work and fly from the same locality. The precinct is anchored by the top-class Lanseria International Airport and is one of the prime emerging nodes in the country, with development strongly supported by the local authorities and government. The shareholders in the development are high profile, highly qualified individuals backed by a strong professional team."

The first phase, Cradle City Business Park, will be located on a 78.9ha site and include a mix of some 300,000 sqm of light industrial, warehousing and distribution space, between 5,000 sqm and 10,000 sqm of retail space, in excess of 140,000 sqm of office and business space and hotel developments exceeding 10,000 sqm. It will also include a restored wetland area.

Situated as a gateway to the airport, the integrated yet self-sustained first phase is within walking distance to the airport terminal and serviced by a mini-transport system between the airport and the park.

The AAA grade mixed-use business park, with individual freehold zoned and serviced sites, provides a full spread of development, investment and rental options. “Cradle City Business Park offers an estimated average developed yield of approximately 10.5%. The first phase construction is expected to be complete and transfers to begin by mid-2010,” notes Seward.

In addition to its location to nearby tourism venues, conservation areas, schools and accessibility through significant existing infrastructure with major new and planned road and public transport infrastructure, the architectural framework provides environmental stability and quality design criteria.

Furthermore, the developers are intent on ensuring that Cradle City’s energy and utilities consumption are significantly less than existing developments. In fact, this green team is aiming to provide the infrastructure and foundation that which will secure the first level of the Green Building Council of South Africa’s Green Star rating points as part of the land purchase.

Through innovative design, the developers have a vision of creating a city that uses 40% of the electricity of an existing city of the same composition and size, 50% of the potable water, 50% of the sewerage, 50% of the storm water, 60% of the solid waste and a mere 35% of the CO2 emissions from vehicles.

Where the hell is Hsark? The last time he posted was on the 16th of Jan. does anyone know?

Wish that R35 billion could be going into existing cities in Joburg.

Where the hell is Hsark? The last time he posted was on the 16th of Jan. does anyone know?

hey i'm still alive haha, just haven't had time to access the net busy working on a residential building for client + another competition for varsity but its all gud seems like u guys r happy :-)

hey i'm still alive haha, just haven't had time to access the net busy working on a residential building for client + another competition for varsity but its all gud seems like u guys r happy :-)

Nice to hear you are still fine. we miss you Baba.

URBAN SCENOGRAPHIES: JOHANNESBURG
14 February - 15 March 2009


URBAN SCENOGRAPHIES JOHANNESBURG brings together more than 30 artists, writers and performers from Africa and the continent in the inner city of Johannesburg over a period of a month. The residency will culminate in a four day series of interventions and presentations within the project boundaries.
Artists will live in the inner city and are asked to develop site-specific projects in response to the curatorial frame of the residency, which is informed by the context of the inner city of Johannesburg and its global linkages. It proposes four key parameters, each of which issues a metaphor and a method through which the inner city context and its dynamics can be understood and engaged with. These parameters are:
The field of play
The ground of battle
The space of the stage
The place of the market

Ideally, artists will engage with a specific location (interior or exterior) and the people that inhabit/use/pass through at specific times. Projects could take the form of performances, radio interviews, video-projections, collaborations with local businesses, object-driven production or public interventions. Potential sites for intervention include a variety of streets, a disused cinema, pavements and traders stalls, an open square, a basketball playground, a communal taxi rank, a heritage site, an Eritrean coffee house and local bars. Each intervention will begin to construct a specific audience around itself. A team of assistants who are familiar with the context will work with the artists and act as facilitators or guides. The ‘territory’ of the project is the eastern part of the inner city (Joubert Park and Doornfontein). The artists’ living quarters are the Drill Hall, the Lister Medical Building and August House. These locations offervery divergent "stages" for the realisation of their works.

The Drill Hall will serve as a work and meeting space for the project, as well as a context in which some of the projects might be realised.

The project will also be represented at the JOHANNESBURG ART FAIR in April 2009 through a series of multimedia performances and sales on the trade ground at the Sandton Convention Centre, curated by JPP/Malcomess/Scu2.
Urban Scenographies was initiated by the French collective (SCu)2. So far it has taken place in Douala, Alexandria and Kinshasa. The project in Johannesburg is realised in partnership with the Joubert Park Project, an artists collective based at the Drill Hall in the inner city. For more information visit www.urbanscenographies.wordpress.com or www.eternalnetwork.org/urbanscenographies.
A festival of presentations of the artists’ completed works will take place from March 11 to March 15.

PUBLIC ART SURVIVOR, JOHANNESBURG
February 16 – March 1 2009

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Public Art Survivor is a collaborative public art project convened by the Visual Arts Network of South Africa together with three of Johannesburg’s leading public art organisations, Art at Work, Trinity Session and the Joubert Park Project. These partners have been brought together around a shared commitment to:
• develop new public art talent in South Africa and Across the continent
• promote greater connection and networking in the public art field across the continent
• raise the profile of public art in the public imagination
• promote debate and discussion around critical issues in public art practice among public artists, curators, managers, clients and writers

The project has been planned in such a way that participants will participate in ‘live’ public art projects happening within three very different situations:
• a precinct development project in an historic part of Soweto, South Africa’s largest township
• a district management programme in Sandton, financed by property owners in “Africa’s richest square mile”
• an independently developed public art project in one of Johannesburg’s most chaotic inner city neighbourhoods, Joubert Park

Each location has an associated brief related to real projects with which each of the three partner organisations are currently involved. The project will require artists to develop and realise public works in each of these three locations working under extreme constraints of time and resources and working in a team with people they have not met before. Their creativity, character and stamina will be put to the test.

Artists will move between the three locations, but will have a work base at the Drill Hall in Joubert Park. The realisation of each team’s work will take place on February 27 and 28 in Soweto, Sandton and the Inner City. There will be a feedback, evaluation and ‘prizegiving’ session on the morning of the last day of the project, Sunday March 1.

Great news for the arts in the city.:applause:

yup, the more art the better!

From the JDA website. Its a couple of weeks old but i don't think its been posted:

Major art work
to honour Sisulus

22 January 2009

By Lucille Davie

WANT to pay an arty tribute to anti-apartheid and ANC stalwarts Walter and Albertina Sisulu? Take your chances with a submission to do a major new work of art that is to be erected to honour the two famous Sisulus.

The call for proposals for the public art comes from Art Bank Joburg; it is to be placed in Loveday Street in Braamfontein, close to the Metro Centre.

"Under the guidance of Art Bank Joburg, in co-operation with the City of Johannesburg, the process is under way to create a major new art work as a tribute to Walter and Albertina Sisulu," says Antoinette Murdoch, the chief executive of the art bank.

"The art work will commemorate an enduring political love story, expressing the political values of solidarity and comradeship, while at the same time supporting the family values of caring."

Murdoch says the work will serve to enhance the experience of visiting the City's civic precinct, adding to the growing collection of public art in Braamfontein, which includes the 16 metal trees and the huge concrete eland in the suburb.

Dynamic pairing
"Artists are encouraged to do research about this dynamic pairing and their impact on the history of democracy ... Conceptual emphasis should be placed on the relationship between the two and the values that they represent. Proposals of sculptural work including the realistic representation of the couple will be favoured."

The idea for the art work came from the department of community development, with various departments and agencies making contributions to the cost: the department of arts, culture and heritage has contributed R53 000; Civic Theatre R20 000; the Johannesburg Development Agency R50 000; Joburg Housing Company R10 000; the Joburg Zoo R10 000; the Joburg Fresh Produce Market R20 000; City Parks R20 000; environmental management R10 000; the department of development planning and urban management R16 000; Region F R25 000, and the largest contribution so far of R100 000 is from City Power.

Any medium may be used for the work, but Murdoch says the artists should carefully consider that an outdoor artwork should be robust, and must meet safety requirements.

Proposals will be adjudicated by an advisory committee composed of prominent curators, artists, art administrators and officials from the City.

Only artists with experience in three-dimensional work and artists working in Joburg will be considered. Over the next two months information sessions will be held at the site in Braamfontein, and artists need to submit their email addresses so as to be informed of these sessions.

Requirements
They need to supply the following in their submissions: a detailed breakdown of costs of materials and labour, up to a maximum of R600 000; their current resume, which should include information about their exhibition history, awards, grants or residencies, and photographs of work previously completed; references, with names, addresses and telephone numbers of two people who are familiar with their work; a short essay outlining the proposal; not more than five images of the proposed work; and lastly, an image script, which includes the title, date, materials, dimensions, and a brief description of the work.

This information supplied in hard copy should not be larger than A3-size; digital files should not be larger than 3MB. Original artwork and videotapes should not be submitted. The artist's name, address and telephone number must be indicated on all material.

The deadline for proposals is 20 February. By 24 February five finalists will be chosen and given R1 000 to construct a 3D model of their design. The deadline for this model is 20 March; the winner will be announced on 24 March.

The site will be prepared in April, and the art work will be installed in May and unveiled at the end of June.

Completed proposals must be received at the Art Bank Joburg offices at 2 President Street, Newtown or emailed to antoinette@artbankjoburg.co.za by 5pm on Friday, 20 February. No late entries will be accepted.

For more information, contact Antoinette Murdoch on 011 838 6266

Great news for the arts in the city.:applause:


I was invited by JPP to a function at Medical Building in Jeppe Street yesterday and was very interesting to hear how people look at our city. They love it and believe that it respresent the true South Africa. They spoke about the city having to introduce the art/cultural route and they said that the Rea Vaya's route was chosen with art in mind. Every BRT station will have a poem inside and there's gonna be a tour in May where all cultural/art places will be visited. I hope you guys will tag along.

The guys are also busy with the city tourists guide which they will complete in September.

I was invited by JPP to a function at Medical Building in Jeppe Street yesterday and was very interesting to hear how people look at our city. They love it and believe that it respresent the true South Africa. They spoke about the city having to introduce the art/cultural route and they said that the Rea Vaya's route was chosen with art in mind. Every BRT station will have a poem inside and there's gonna be a tour in May where all cultural/art places will be visited. I hope you guys will tag along.

The guys are also busy with the city tourists guide which they will complete in September.

Great! wish i was there to go with you.

^^ not a problem Ruls, we will have to do Rea Vaya next week.

Joburg inner city gets first cricket oval


By: Christy van der Merwe
20th February 2009

Johannesburg inner city would have its first cricket oval by June this year, as the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) continued to invest in Bertrams. east of the central business district.

JDA CEO Lael Bethlehem explained that the decision to build the cricket oval came after cricket enthusiasts brought to the JDA’s attention that there were few public facilities for cricket, particularly if one lived outside of the leafy suburbs of northern Johannesburg.

While soccer and rugby received much attention, cricket was somewhat sidelined.

The facility was worth about R2-million, would be standard pitch size, and would also include seating, parking, and the planting of trees. It was situated next to the Bertrams recreation centre.

The contractor responsible for the job was Rainbow Construction.

Bertrams has become a bustle of activity with the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit set to make its way through the area, and significant construction taking place on the streets.

The area borders on the Ellis Park precinct, and has received much attention from the JDA. A number of historical mine houses near the recreation centre would also be upgraded, along with the improvements to the recreation centre.

In 2007, the JDA spent some R26-million on buying a city block, incorporating 24 properties, in Bertrams, bordered by Liddle Street and Bertrams, Berea and Gordon roads.

The block was a mix of two-storey blocks of flats, some of them in the art deco style of the 1930s and 40s, single storey houses dating back to the 1920s, a modern face-brick structure and three vacant plots, and the goal was to create decent rent and bonded accommodation in the area.

So anyone go for the A1? got any pics???

I never went but only watched the 1st race yesterday and honestly I was not impressed. There was never a proper bird's eye view of Kyalami and the surroundings unlike the one wich was hosted in Durbs, which really showcased the city.

Hey guys, My Mom and my cuz went yesterday and they were extremely impressed with the A1 and Kyalami as a whole. The said that with out a doubt Kyalami would be able host one of the most successful F1 events.

I'm sorry but I just didn't like it. It seemed so...dead...compared to when Durban hosted it. My mom even commented that she was taken by surprise when she saw it on TV as there was far more noise made about the event when Durban hosted it.

From the Engineering News website. Nice to see the plans for the Potato Sheds starting to become reality:

JDA efforts attract private sector investment into Joburg inner city

By: Christy van der Merwe
20th February 2009

The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) said that the City’s investment into public environment upgrades in the inner city was paying off, and acted as a platform for significant private sector investment in the central business district (CBD).

Research has shown that the JDA spent a total of R392,6-million between 2001 and 2007 upgrading the areas of Newtown, greater Ellis Park, Braamfontein, the Fashion District, Jewel City and the High Court precinct.

This was bolstered by R7,5-billion in property investment from the private sector in the five intervention areas since 2001.

“There is clear evidence that the tide has turned,” said JDA CEO Lael Bethlehem, noting that rentals in the inner city have increased over the last five years, and vacancy rates have dropped.

Investment in the inner city, from the public and private sectors was continuing, and there were exciting new inner city developments taking place

POTATO SHEDS

The first new retail development in the inner city, worth some R900-million was to be undertaken by Atterbury Properties, and was set to start with construction in June.

The old potato sheds, found between Carr street and Museum Africa and the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown have been derelict for some 30 years.

The 2-ha site would be redeveloped into a mixed-use development including a hotel, some 7 000 m2 of office space, and 40 000 m2 of retail space.

The potato sheds, near to the Market Theatre, were so named because the space formed part of the old markets in Johannesburg.

Atterbury Properties Johannesburg developments director Coenie Bezuidenhout said that the response from the market regarding the development has been good.

“Business wants to come back to the CBD and retailers have showed an amazing response. The development has already been almost 100% subscribed by retailers,” Bezuidenhout added.

Initially, the development was going to comprise retail space less than 40 000 m2, however, the demand spurred an increase in the retail space.

“The potato shed development is a direct result of City investment. If it was not for the City upgrade, we would not have been interested in this property.

Atterbury has been working closely with the South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) , considering the cultural importance of the site, and would be incorporating some of the remaining elements of the sheds.

Having received the required Sahra approvals, the company has started clearing the site, and hoped to start construction in June. It was expected that the hotel section of the development would be completed in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

ABSA CAMPUS

Banking giant Absa was also involved in a significant project, worth some R1,2-billion in Marshalltown, in the inner city, as the company developed and extended its facilities there.

The upgrades would not only include new buildings and building upgrades, involving eight buildings, but also the development of the surrounding built environment.

The new campus would include an energy centre, ensuring that the facility could operate independently of the City’s electricity grid, and would also include a number of elements of green building.

“This is possibly the biggest construction site in the inner city since the development of the Carlton Centre,” said JDA development manager Paul Arnott-Job, of the Absa campus developments which covered three city blocks.

FIRST NEW BUILD
Short-term insurance company Zurich South Africa was also currently constructing its new head office in central Johannesburg, opposite the Magistrates Court.

This was the first new-build office block in the city centre, and construction, contracted to Rainbow Construction, was in full swing.

Edited by: Mariaan Webb

http://llnw.creamermedia.co.za/articles/images/resized/58609_resized_jhb-inner-city-01_duane.jpg[IMG]
Work @ Ellis Park

[IMG]http://llnw.creamermedia.co.za/articles/images/resized/58610_resized_jhb-inner-city-absa_duane.jpg
ABSA Campus

http://llnw.creamermedia.co.za/articles/images/resized/58611_resized_jhb-inner-city-dance_duane.jpg
New studio for Moving into Dance

http://llnw.creamermedia.co.za/articles/images/resized/58612_resized_jhb-inner-city-potato-
Inside of Potato Sheds

http://http://llnw.creamermedia.co.za/articles/images/resized/58613_resized_jhb-inner-city-zurich-
Zurich development

Hey guys

I've relaunched my 2010 blog.
Have a look. Hope I keep it going.

http://picksandshovels.blogspot.com/

Good stuff Mo! Keep it up.

I'm sorry but I just didn't like it. It seemed so...dead...compared to when Durban hosted it. My mom even commented that she was taken by surprise when she saw it on TV as there was far more noise made about the event when Durban hosted it.
Cape Town needs to host

I'm sorry but I just didn't like it. It seemed so...dead...compared to when Durban hosted it. My mom even commented that she was taken by surprise when she saw it on TV as there was far more noise made about the event when Durban hosted it.

Your mom's an idiot.












Haha joking. I didn't even watch it :(

^^ You useless =P








I jest.

Two police reservists were among the 453 people arrested in a weekend operation in Hillbrow, Johannesburg police said today. They were caught receiving money in a police trap, said Inspector Kriban Naidoo, but he could not elaborate.

Police seized home affairs date stamps, South African identity documents, six South African passports, Zimbabwean international driver's licences, a fraudulent South African driver's licence, dollars, rands and counterfeit money in the operation.

Also seized were, among other things, crack cocaine pipes, loose dagga and dagga cigarettes, a pistol with 50 rounds of ammunition, a revolver with two magazines and ammunition, and liquor. Three unlicensed pistols were confiscated during the arrest of robbers wanted for an incident in Edenvale some time ago, said Naidoo.

Of the arrests, 280 were for loitering, he said. "We are trying to clean the streets up of vagrants. We're just picking them up," he said, adding that crimes such as mugging increased as pavements in the area became overcrowded.

Naidoo said 51 of the people arrested were illegal immigrants and they would be taken to Lindela repatriation centre, in Krugersdorp, for a decision by home affairs on whether to deport them or renew their documents. Other arrests were for crimes including intimidation, armed robbery, possession of stolen property, murder, bribery, dealing in dagga and business robbery. - Sapa

Excellent. Vang hulle!

^^ to leave Hillbrow hooligans free, they need to frequently perform those kind of operations. My problem is that everytime we here of operations, there are lots of people being caught and so that means between now and the next operation which might take place a year or 6 months later, there will be plenty of illegal immigrants who would have descended in that part of the city and plenty of crime would have taken place. So I will applaud the police if they do that frequently, but now I reserve my praise to them.

Before i comment, I would like you to please tell me what do you think of this guys.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm283/Nielsiej13/DSC02005.jpg

They are very proud of their nationality. Cant we do something like: I AM JOBUGER

^^ exactly my point, we have managed to get ideas from photos we see on the net without leaving the country and some people who flies around the world on fact finding mission cannot even advice jozi on things like these once while they get paid for providing ideas.

I do appriciate the effort of the city in regards and so far they have done a great work but we need a bit of colorful art in the CBD like the following -

Public art on display at Clarence Dock, Leeds, UK
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/af/Calrencedockpublicart.jpg/800px-Calrencedockpublicart.jpg


My favourate, Though it arrived years behind schedule, Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor immediately became a Chicago landmark.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c1/Cloud_Gate_%28The_Bean%29_from_east%27.jpg/800px-Cloud_Gate_%28The_Bean%29_from_east%27.jpg

Saw this on TV on this basket ball progremme. It was awsome

^^ exactly my point, we have managed to get ideas from photos we see on the net without leaving the country and some people who flies around the world on fact finding mission cannot even advice jozi on things like these once while they get paid for providing ideas.

Passion Pule Passion:)

This really shouldn't be an issue? Surely the failure to maintain building standards should be a criminal offense? There should simply be regular building inspectors, backed up by metro police, and failure to keep up your building (particularly if it houses a certain high number of people) should get you charged.

City of Joburg scared of slum lords
http://www.ewn.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=7253
Micel Schnehage | 1 Hour Ago

The City of Johannesburg has revealed it is extremely concerned about the shocking state of 45 inner city buildings.

Residents living in the unhygienic, overcrowded & dangerous buildings told Eyewitness News they have no choice but to live in the small rooms of the buildings.

A special Eyewitness News investigation revealed that as many as 20 people sleep in tiny rooms which were built to be offices.

Inside one of the rooms, three double beds occupy the limited space and immediately outside the room, large buckets stand in the corner filled with urine.

The only toilet on this floor is blocked and a man said they are forced to use toilet facilities in the city.

“Maybe you go to a public places like Carlton Centre and Park Station,” said one dweller.

Another man resigned himself to the squalour.

“Really I think I have to accept this situation that were in.”

The city council conceded it is a health hazard.

The authorities have been reluctant to enter the buildings, many of them run by slum lords and criminals exploiting the poor.

^^ Much to our concern:ohno: This is a worry. If the government fails us in such, then we are in for a big disappointment. Whats the good in rennovating a building, while your neighbouring one is a complete failure? Does it do any good to the city? will we see any difference? the conserned stakeholders should know that the nation and the whole world is watching. Idiots!!

^^ again ineffeciency. I specifically know one building which is run by Nigerian hooligans at Corner Twist and Hancock road. I showed the guys when we were on tour the other day but our officials, as said in the article, do not even go check these buildings. There are plenty of people who can actually appriciate to be dedicated to making sure that they report those kind of buildings to the city administrators but the problem is that they would want to give the job to their friends who wouldn't deliver as per their job spec.

Some of us LOVE this city dearly and would do anything possible to help curb the situation.

^^This is horrific and completely unacceptable. They should charge the owners of these buildings with mass abuse and exploitation! The problem is, where do they accommodate the people that are currently living in these buildings? They'll need thousands of beds somewhere if they want to climb in and sort these buildings out. Although this is a problem which should be sorted out immediately, I cannot see how they can.

The council should have bought buildings aroung Joubert Park/Park Station and renovated them and then rent it out. The other thing they can do is to buy and upgrade the whole city block like the one next to Rea Vaya Station in Twist Street and then sell it at no profit to the private sector. Investors wouldn't want to go buy one building in that area while the place is so shaddy but if the whole lots of buildings are upgrade and they got retail at the bottom, then people will definately comeby and thyerefore that means investor attraction.

^^This is horrific and completely unacceptable. They should charge the owners of these buildings with mass abuse and exploitation! The problem is, where do they accommodate the people that are currently living in these buildings? They'll need thousands of beds somewhere if they want to climb in and sort these buildings out. Although this is a problem which should be sorted out immediately, I cannot see how they can.

The approahc that the city is using to those owners is the same one that they use with the taxi guys, so again its up to us to bombard them with calls and email or even go there physially so that they can action on those bustards.

LET'S FACE ISSUES
The city council is f$@#in running the city like a little village its been over 10 years since these "slum lords" invaded buildings turning them into criminal havens, 10 years and you tell they havent come with some strategies to deal with the over influx of people in joburg?
some of the people who are now running our cities are just clowns who dont have interests in solving problems of our time, instead they enjoy seating in positions they can't handle.

i hate looking back and i hate putting issues of race into things, but at times we have to so that we can learn. the previous government had laws and people experienced enough to deal with a lot of these current issues. THEN after 1994 when new guys came in they were too arrogant to learn from previous guys. LACK OF EXPERIENCE. I guess when you didnt create something you wont be that passionate about it! :ohno:

Not to go off track, but many cities abroad have suffered from urban decay. One city that ussually pops up is Detroit, where there are vast areas that are still uninhabitated. Jo'burg went through crippling an age of urban sprawl in the 90's. Currently the smaller towns on South Africa are going through the same thing with all the malls popping up or under construction.

Although action would be welcomed from the council and the authorities w.r.t landlords whose buildings are dilapidated, let's put everything in context.

Your mom's an idiot.












Haha joking. I didn't even watch it :(


Gotta say i didnt even know it was on...how were the A1 ticket sales?

LET'S FACE ISSUES
The city council is f$@#in running the city like a little village its been over 10 years since these "slum lords" invaded buildings turning them into criminal havens, 10 years and you tell they havent come with some strategies to deal with the over influx of people in joburg?
some of the people who are now running our cities are just clowns who dont have interests in solving problems of our time, instead they enjoy seating in positions they can't handle.

i hate looking back and i hate putting issues of race into things, but at times we have to so that we can learn. the previous government had laws and people experienced enough to deal with a lot of these current issues. THEN after 1994 when new guys came in they were too arrogant to learn from previous guys. LACK OF EXPERIENCE. I guess when you didnt create something you wont be that passionate about it! :ohno:

I think you are generalizing just a bit. The city has a clear plan to deal with "sinkhole" buildings, but unfortunately you have to work within the confides of the constitution of the republic of south africa. This means you cannot evict people without providing them with alternatives. Now in Pretoria they did this by resettling people on the outskirts of the city. however, they tend to move back immediately because they need to be close to work. So the new trend is to move people into transitional housing. This is why buildings like BG Alexander etc were refurbished. When San Jose was emptied late last year, its occupants were moved to BG Alexander. San Jose will be upgraded (it had no sewer system, water or electricity).

New guys being too arrogant to learn? There are cases yes, but a lot of older guys remained on the payrole.

The CBDs problems started waaaaaaaaay before 1994. Actually the writing was on the wall in the 1970s with braamfontein's expansion, compounded by the disastrous 1980's with no investment in infrastructure. Building upkeep fell to the wayside, which meant that by 1990 it cost a fortune to repair the neglect of 20years on a building. Land value dropped as we decentralized even further - and your only option is slum.

The city has come a long way since 2000. And I give them credit for that. the 1990's were a dead decade. All focus was on the transition, and then on restorative justice (developing underdeveloped areas at the expense of the developed areas). Corruption is still a problem.

But there is a steady movement ahead, and not backwards. at least in the cbd

I think we need to have a bit of patience. This isn't going to happen overnight and thinking everything would be rosy come 2010 would have been naive.

I think we need to have a bit of patience. This isn't going to happen overnight and thinking everything would be rosy come 2010 would have been naive.

I agree with you on this. And positive naivity soon gives way to virulent pessimism.

^^ true the CBD problem started way before 1994 and I was watching Mapantsula yesterday which was filmed in 1988 and the city was in a sad state already but the inexperience of the new guys partnered with arrogance didn't do justice to the city. We were blessed to get the likes of Mr Masondo who kew how to deal with the sad state of the city and I must say that he did a great job even though I still sya there was a lot they needed to do.

I think we need to have a bit of patience. This isn't going to happen overnight and thinking everything would be rosy come 2010 would have been naive.

Being outspoken doesn't mean we not petient but we able to express how we feel. On that note we also have to look on the other side of the coin and give praise were deserved like investment that is taking place around the city. We cannot ignore the 2010 factor as I believe that it was supposed to be an accellerator of plenty of projects implementation like taxi holding areas and so forth.

But just remember - when you say "South African," most people do not think of our cities. I bet many of them aren't expecting anything spectacular. Chances are that we will blow them away.

^^^^true!

I agree Lydon, well may be I was expecting a lot. One other thing that we Joburgers have ignore is that we still got over a year to the 2010 SWC and plenty of projects haven't started or have jsut started like China Tow, Rissik Street upgrade, Retail Improvement District etc and as we were complaining about Durbs, things can change at any pointing time as the year is still starting. You definately eased my anger.

Me and Kulani will be going to the BRT talk today here in Sandton and we will give you guys updates tommorow.

This is what Neil Fraser said he was glad that it got removed, I honetly liked it.

http://www.newtown.co.za/images/galleries/general/large_newtown_car_statue.jpg

^^ What is that? lol

Those are cars buddy :lol: look carefully

duh....
sculptural installation i.e.art..
and i love it!

why did they have to remove it P?

Because it looks ghastly

:puke:

Art is nice, but eish! Lol

lol. it looks like lifeboats washed up in seaweed. in newtown.

I don't like it at all.

Looked like a mini scrap-yard.

I'm also very happy that it's gone! I've never liked it. Looked more like rubbish than art.

I liked it ...

I say they can move it provided they replace it with more art ...

Because it looks ghastly

:puke:

Art is nice, but eish! Lol

no, art is not always "nice" do you them to replace it with over sized cute kitten then?

no, art is not always "nice" do you them to replace it with over sized cute kitten then?

To be honest, I'd far rather have an oversized kitten than that...thing.

they should put a big hello kitty in the middle of newtown.would fit with newtown's pop art image :D

Haha classic.

:lol: you guys are mad, well I won't change my mind about it. I like it but a better sculpture will be welcomed.

Another tourist spot added to the CBD

Walk the ramparts of the Old Fort

Written by Lucille Davie
Thursday, 26 February 2009

http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stories/2009/feb/ramparts_top.jpg

The ramparts of the Old Fort, high on Constitution Hill, have been restored and paved. People can now walk them, keeping an eye on the old god rush town below.

Tours of the hill

Constitution Hill is open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 9am to 4pm.

Tours of the hill leave on the hour. The cost is R22, or R20 for groups of 10 or more. Students and pensioners are R15. Night tours are conducted by judges of the Constitutional Court, and cost R75.

Book tours on 011 381 3100.

THE ramparts of the Old Fort, last walked by soldiers in 1902 and prison guards in 1983, are now open for visitors to march - or stroll - along, and imagine a time when Joburgers were at war with one another.

Dating back to 1896, the ramparts were built when the original prison on the hill was converted into a fort by the Boers in the run-up to the Anglo Boer War of 1899 to 1902.

The shrubs and trees growing on the ramparts have been removed, and the path around the four sandy mounds has been paved. A bridge has been built across the northwest corner, and a new steel stairway, with a facility for the disabled, has been positioned where the original stairway used to be.

A series of tunnels running under the ramparts are almost restored, and are to be opened shortly, to be included in tours of Constitution Hill.

At a cost of R1,4-million, the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) has overseen the restoration process, part of the broader restoration of the Old Fort, which totals R7,5-million.

Originally a prison
The Old Fort was originally a prison, built in 1893 by the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek president, Paul Kruger, just seven years after the gold town sprung up from the dusty veld. Three years later, in 1896, suspicious and uneasy with the prospecting uitlanders so close to his capital, Pretoria, he turned the prison into a fort, building four high ramparts around the buildings, giving him a good view of the goings-on in the burgeoning town.

Kruger positioned two cannons on the ramparts - one on the southwest corner, facing the town, and the other on the northeast corner, facing Pretoria - against potential threat.

The JDA is investigating the possibility of replacing the cannons with replicas or getting similar cannons from a museum in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, says Lebowa Letsoalo, the development manager at the agency. But it depends on getting more funding.

In 1899, at the outbreak of the war, the Boers used the ramparts for vantage points, storing artillery in the storerooms built into its walls. In 1900, when the British took occupation of Johannesburg, the Boers handed over the keys to the Old Fort. Not a single shot had been fired from its ramparts.

When the war ended in 1902, the Public Works Department took control of the building, planning to use it as a temporary jail while plans were made for the construction of a new jail. The new jail took a lot longer than anyone expected - 81 years later, in 1983, prisoners were moved to Diepkloof Prison, outside Soweto.

Restoration of Governor's House
Sometimes a fire is not a bad thing, so long as no one gets injured. The fire at the Governor's House in February 2008 revealed to the restorers where the original windows and fireplaces were in the historic Edwardian house, used by the governor of the prison next door.

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The replaced latticework, in steel for durability

Architect Nabeel Essa of Office Twentyfourseven says the restoration of the Governor's House had started in October 2007, with a detailed report on the condition of the house, as well as an indication of the extent of the restoration.

At the time there were more than 50 squatters living in the house, in appalling conditions, says Essa. The JDA had started to relocate them, so most had already moved by the time of the fire. The fire destroyed the entire wooden floor, the wooden ceiling and the wooden latticework on the veranda.

The restoration has just been completed, at a cost of R1,695-million. The floor has been replaced with Oregon pine obtained from demolished old houses, while the latticework has been replaced with steel, for easy maintenance. The wood slated ceiling has also been replaced, to resemble how it would have looked originally.

The wooden windows were replaced with steel windows some time back, while some of the newer window spaces have been bricked up. The original window spaces were revealed when the plaster was chipped away. Wooden windows have replaced the steel windows.

Every room in the house - three lounges, a dining room, five bedrooms - had a fireplace, says Essa, but he has restored only one, as a memory of what they looked like. The interior walls have been re-plastered and painted white, while the exterior walls are a rich terracotta and a restful shade of grey, perfectly complemented by a red corrugated iron roof.

Several outside rooms have been restored, although Essa is not certain which rooms were part of the original house when it was built in 1908. He has been sensitive to the heritage value of the house, and has consulted with heritage consultant and architect Herbert Prins.

The Recreation Centre, originally the officers' mess or club, just north of the house, has also been restored.

Letsoalo says the City's department of community development is to take over the house and the recreation centre and use them for taking in street kids, and offering them and the immediate community workshop rooms, and life and computer skills courses.

Future plans
Letsoalo says there are great future possibilities for the Old Fort. A report, commissioned in 2007, talks of attracting tourists interested in military history and artefacts.

The single replaced fireplace, almost complete, in wood and metal So, if one of the Long Toms that were originally positioned on the ramparts could be traced - one exists in France - it would add considerably to the attraction of the Old Fort.

When the cannons were in place they used to signal 1pm every day, when one of the cannons was fired. This would be a memorable tradition to re-establish.

Having a changing of the guards ceremony at the entrance to the fort, to be used on special occasions, has been suggested in the report. This would go along with displays by military bands.

An exhibition of military uniforms worn by the British and the Boers, as well as rifles and ammunition, would also be a major attraction.

Great article, thanks pule!

The CBD is one big mess at this stage! I had to drive in for a meeting this afternoon. I bloody hope they make those bus lanes decent. At this stage the tar suface is patchy, the once your in a lane you cant get out. It is messy. It looks HORRIBLE. I know it is a construction site, but I just hope those lanes don't stay as patchy as they are currently, its like a quilt.

There is a building that seems to be undergoing demolishion in market street - the one next to the rand water building. I wonder what happened to the Eduardo Villa panels that graced this building?!

69 president street is under serious reconstruction. The woolies is up and running in Harrison. Vida seems to be closed - think they opened in the wrong place (the other places seem to be doing well). The Library hotel is being gutted, ready for redevelopment.

FNBs new parkade is going up.

ABSAs one big building site. And many of the decripit dumps surrounding this one is getting a lift.

A derelict 22floor block on the corner of delvers and pritchard is being renovated (next to fashion lofts).

Zurich's new building is looking spiffy, although the area around it is iffi, to say the least.

The HUGE Consolidated building renovation in Commissioner street will be amazing for that part of the city. And maybe it will push urban ocean to do something with shakespear house, directly opposite.

All in all, a lot going on. Renovations everywhere. But during midday the city is a challenge. Some areas look disgusting. Pedestrians do not obey the rules of the road (WHY DO WE HAVE A PEDESTRIAN DOWN EVERY DAY? BECAUSE THEY ARE CRAZY!).

Capellos in pritchard battle it out with about 11 port-a-potties in front of the methodist church (can't add to the ambiance now, can it?).

And the areas around bree street mall look revolting. I want to catch these rubbish dumping assholes and throw them in a septic tank, so that they can truly wallow in filth.

Joburg's pretty busy then. Shame about the filth all over. Are there no bins around or something or people just ignore them and dump stuff wherever?

Great article, thanks pule!

The CBD is one big mess at this stage! I had to drive in for a meeting this afternoon. I bloody hope they make those bus lanes decent. At this stage the tar suface is patchy, the once your in a lane you cant get out. It is messy. It looks HORRIBLE. I know it is a construction site, but I just hope those lanes don't stay as patchy as they are currently, its like a quilt.

There is a building that seems to be undergoing demolishion in market street - the one next to the rand water building. I wonder what happened to the Eduardo Villa panels that graced this building?!

69 president street is under serious reconstruction. The woolies is up and running in Harrison. Vida seems to be closed - think they opened in the wrong place (the other places seem to be doing well). The Library hotel is being gutted, ready for redevelopment.

FNBs new parkade is going up.

ABSAs one big building site. And many of the decripit dumps surrounding this one is getting a lift.

A derelict 22floor block on the corner of delvers and pritchard is being renovated (next to fashion lofts).

Zurich's new building is looking spiffy, although the area around it is iffi, to say the least.

The HUGE Consolidated building renovation in Commissioner street will be amazing for that part of the city. And maybe it will push urban ocean to do something with shakespear house, directly opposite.

All in all, a lot going on. Renovations everywhere. But during midday the city is a challenge. Some areas look disgusting. Pedestrians do not obey the rules of the road (WHY DO WE HAVE A PEDESTRIAN DOWN EVERY DAY? BECAUSE THEY ARE CRAZY!).

Capellos in pritchard battle it out with about 11 port-a-potties in front of the methodist church (can't add to the ambiance now, can it?).

And the areas around bree street mall look revolting. I want to catch these rubbish dumping assholes and throw them in a septic tank, so that they can truly wallow in filth.

I'm not sure which building is that Jakes but will try walk that side and chec it out.

Yes the city is currently a mes and I had passed a message before that driving or even walking in the CBD at the moment is not adviceble at the moment as there's construction and dust all over the place. I was asking myself as to how is Vida and Kofifi operating under these circumstances because the dust in commisioner street in unbearable but in few months time, things will be looking lekker. I hope Vida closed temporarily.

It's amazing to see how many buildings are being renovated in the CBD and having to think of it, upgrades to the RID, Kerk Street etc will be a big plus to the City and it will definately increase foot traffic and reputable crowd.

Methodist Church is not doing justice at all not just to Capello and Pritchard Street but to the whole CBD. I'm not against them having to host Zimbabweans but I think they now overdoing it and they do not care at all about businesses operating in that area. They should move them to areas outside of the CBD :ohno:

I didn't know ehere to post this, so I guess Joburg thead will be the best option so far

South Africa : Cradle City set to be Gauteng's Green City of the Future
February 22, 2009 - 01:27 — AA Network

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Cradle City, the first planned city situated around an airport in South Africa, is set to form an innovative, sustainable green-driven development situated on substantial 912ha of land surrounding Lanseria International Airport, north of Johannesburg.

The development, which will comprise a vibrant mix of residential, commercial, office, retail, hotel, resort, entertainment, warehousing and other elements, is being undertaken by Amari Land. The vision for Cradle City is to create an unparalleled mixed-use precinct which will provide the opportunity to live, work, play and travel, in an integrated environment which embraces new-urban design and green building principles.

"Cradle City will realise the ideal of a cost-effective urban plan comprising different precincts designed to become a healthy, thriving city over a 25 year period and beyond," says Amari's Preston Haskell.

Amari Land was founded in early 2007 by highly respected international property developer Preston Haskell, African mining entrepreneur Mike Nunn and MD of Amari Land, Andre van Wyk, a specialist in the planning and re-zoning of land. The Amari team consists of professionals with vast African and international experience covering the many disciplines of property development in Africa. Amari Land is also developing Luano City, a 380ha mixed use development in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Amari Group focuses on identifying high economic growth regions in sub-Saharan Africa situated around pre-existing economic drivers such as airports, and developing in line with established global standards and applications.

Cradle City surrounds Lanseria International Airport, Gauteng's second largest international airport which is situated in a designated major economic growth node of Gauteng's north western corridor, located within the urban edge. It is located in Africa's fasted growing regional economy, generating more than 10% of Africa's Gross Domestic Product (DGP).

Lanseria International Airport is an economic driver for Cradle City's current and future development and growth. Strong residential increases in the surrounding areas, the enhancement of existing roads, the convenient location of Lanseria -- especially for travellers from Pretoria, the West Rand and the northern suburbs of Johannesburg - and the development of new roads, are all creating a growing demand for the services of Lanseria airport.

Currently Kulula is the only national passenger carrier flying from Lanseria, however it is expected that, at a later stage, other passenger carriers will use the Lanseria International Airport for some of their flights.

This will have a major impact on the number of departing passengers, which are expected to increase from 300,000 to almost 7 million in 2017. It is anticipated that the total scheduled flights will increase from 1,100 flights per annum to close to 4,000 flights in 10 years time. The airport will also increase the total freight from 5,000 tons to 20,000 tons by the year 2017.

"In addition to a unique location with Lanseria International Airport as the catalyst for the development, we are in an extraordinary position to build a city from inception. This provides an exciting opportunity to optimise the mix of uses, facilities and amenities," says Amari Director of Development Markus Kaps.

Ensuring the best mix of uses, Cradle City is aligned with government's Gauteng Growth and Development Strategy and enjoys the highest level of provincial and local government support.

Cradle City's full landholding has received mayoral committee recommendation for development master plan approval for a potential 7.7 million sqm bulk to be developed. This is envisaged to comprise some 3.2 million sqm residential, 2.2 million sqm of offices, 1,14 sqm million of industrial, 700,000 sqm of retail, 208,000 sqm of tourism and leisure attraction and nearly 260ha reserved for environmental elements.


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The development will comprise six phases, with the northern elements of the precinct being developed first. The first phase will be Cradle City Business Park, with the second phase being a mixed-use area of some 178ha including medium - and high-density housing, commercial and retail opportunities and public facilities.

A destination business tourism gateway will draw on the value of the Cradle of Humankind as the development proceeds northwards, with the northernmost portion comprising medium- to lower-density residential homes to link flawlessly with the low-density housing developments of Blair Athol and Monaghan Farms.

The northern precinct is termed the Green Coast as it enjoys magnificent views towards the Magaliesburg and has exceptional natural features including both the Crocodile River and the Jukskei River.

A dynamic 'city centre' will be created in the southern precinct, linked seamlessly with the key elements of the development, and will include a large, regional retail centre with offices, apartments and other elements for this vibrant urban living centre.

"Cradle City will become a complete destination, with everything required for quality, everyday living right on its doorstep in a vibrant, sustainable environment which integrates with the amenities in its surrounding areas with ease," says Sherry Seward, MD of Cradle City Sales.

A 'natural selection' approach, which can adapt with the times, has been applied to the design framework to be flexible enough to manage growth elegantly, while an availability of cost-effective bulk services is supported by infrastructure delivery through private/public partnership.

"Sustainability demands that urban development is more compact, avoiding the urban sprawl that has been prevalent in South Africa and establishing a quality living and working environment," says Kaps. "There has been a move towards intensification and an increase in mixed land-use and mixed residential densities, to make urban environments more liveable and reducing environmental impact."

This approach is supported in the Spatial Development Frameworks of the affected local authorities of Johannesburg and Mogale.

Brian Roberts, Divisional Director of financiers Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, says that Nedbank is pleased to be involved in this exciting project. "This unique development is the first of its kind in South Africa, offering occupiers the opportunity to live, work and fly from the same locality. The precinct is anchored by the top-class Lanseria International Airport and is one of the prime emerging nodes in the country, with development strongly supported by the local authorities and government. The shareholders in the development are high profile, highly qualified individuals backed by a strong professional team."

The first phase, Cradle City Business Park, will be located on a 78.9ha site and include a mix of some 300,000 sqm of light industrial, warehousing and distribution space, between 5,000 sqm and 10,000 sqm of retail space, in excess of 140,000 sqm of office and business space and hotel developments exceeding 10,000 sqm. It will also include a restored wetland area.

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Situated as a gateway to the airport, the integrated yet self-sustained first phase is within walking distance to the airport terminal and serviced by a mini-transport system between the airport and the park.

The AAA grade mixed-use business park, with individual freehold zoned and serviced sites, provides a full spread of development, investment and rental options. "Cradle City Business Park offers an estimated average developed yield of approximately 10.5%. The first phase construction is expected to be complete and transfers to begin by mid-2010," notes Seward.

In addition to its location to nearby tourism venues, conservation areas, schools and accessibility through significant existing infrastructure with major new and planned road and public transport infrastructure, the architectural framework provides environmental stability and quality design criteria.

Furthermore, the developers are intent on ensuring that Cradle City's energy and utilities consumption are significantly less than existing developments. In fact, this green team is aiming to provide the infrastructure and foundation that which will secure the first level of the Green Building Council of South Africa's Green Star rating points as part of the land purchase.

Through innovative design, the developers have a vision of creating a city that uses 40% of the electricity of an existing city of the same composition and size, 50% of the potable water, 50% of the sewerage, 50% of the storm water, 60% of the solid waste and a mere 35% of the CO2 emissions from vehicles.

Guys, is the Johannesburg Road Agency in charge of managing the M1? It is an absolute disgrace - overgrown with weeds, stolen metal covers on the sides, graffiti. I wrote a looooooooooong angry email. They are upgrading all of the main highways, yet this main arterial route is just allowed to self-implode?

sorry dont if i asked this already but any new pics of the swiss re building"in the cbd" its rising quickly and looking fab. there adding the glass panels now