#Whale Coast Village Mall - 35 000m2 - Hermanus

[musiccity]

The 35,000m² Whale Coast Village Mall, planned for Hermanus, will boost the local economy and create approximately 2,500 direct and indirect jobs for the local population. The new mall will introduce big city choices while embracing the village values of the charming seaside town.

Jannie Kruger, CEO of Retail Africa, says a major driver for the project team was to incorporate the strong heritage character of Hermanus. “The centre of Hermanus is characterised by beautiful, historical buildings that we have used as reference points in the design process. The mall will reflect the typical Cape vernacular, combining a fisherman’s village feel with elements drawn from the surrounding Hemel-en-Aarde winelands area,” says Kruger.

The Whale Coast Village Mall will be a high-quality, low-impact building that will harmonise with the scenic surrounds of Hermanus, similar to the way The Constantia Village in Cape Town complements the Constantia Valley winelands area.

Whales and other local elements will conceptually feature in the design, creating public art throughout the mall – a distinctive Retail Africa calling card – think Irene Village Mall with its unique bovine art.

“Whale sightings are a massive draw-card for Hermanus, so much so that the local authorities have begun to market the coastline and surrounding area as the Whale Coast. Furthermore, Retail Africa places a strong emphasis on “people’s places”, which are the softer, well-landscaped spaces that encourage shoppers to relax and enjoy some downtime,” says Kruger.

The Whale Coast Village Mall will serve a growing population of about 50,000 households in Hermanus, as well as tourists, weekend pleasure-seekers and communities from the surrounding Overstrand area – including Gansbaai, Kleinmond, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay, Botrivier and Caledon – as far as Bredasdorp.

Retail Africa commissioned three studies (Dirk Prinsloo, Fernridge and Doug Parker) to establish the need for a shopping mall in the area. Kruger says that the research showed the population in the Overstrand area grew by 14% per annum between 1996 and 2001, and then by between 7% and 8% per annum from 2001 to date.

Importantly, the mall will positively impact the local economy by reducing the flow of consumer spending out of the area to Somerset West. In addition, a development of this size will generate approximately R4.5 million in property tax for the area in the following 10 years. It will create about 600 temporary jobs during the construction phase and 1,000 permanent jobs in the mall itself. The development is expected to create approximately 2,500 direct and indirect jobs over time.

The Whale Coast Village Mall will be conveniently situated close to the intersection of the Hemel-en-Aarde Road and the R43 – the main feeder road from Cape Town.

Kruger says that the mall will be centrally located in the Hermanus catchment area with Hermanus, Voëlklip and Eastcliff to the east and Onrus, Vermont and Hawston to the west. The site received an 80% rating from the research consultants. “The Hermanus village-proper is too small and contained to accommodate a mall. There is a dearth of parking space and no legroom for national retailers or a cinema complex. The Whale Coast Village Mall will offer all of this, with the focus on comparative and high-end fashion,” he says.

The mall will accommodate about 100 tenants, including tenants such as Pick n Pay, Game, a cinema complex, various national fashion retailers – Woolworths, Truworths, Foschini, Edcon, Mr Price and Pepkor Groups – and various convenience and household goods stores. Two thousand open parking bays have been planned for the convenience of shoppers.

The zoning application for the Whale Coast Village Mall is being finalised and Retail Africa is hoping to start construction in early 2011 and possibly opening the mall in late 2012.

Source

[Lydon]

I hate the design formula locals tend to use for malls in small towns.

[musiccity]

Originally Posted by Lydon

I hate the design formula locals tend to use for malls in small towns.

Well, the mall will probably be better looking than the renders. Though, it seems that most malls in small towns seem to only have one floor.

[Andrew_za]

It's not bad, but I hate the entrance.

[musiccity]

Originally Posted by Andrew_za

Is not bad, but I hate the entrance.

The exterior doesnt look too good in the renders, but I really like the interior.

[Lydon]

The exterior was what I was referring to. All these small town malls seem to have these horrible peaked entrances for some reason.

[Awesome.e]

I think the overall design will fit the feel for Hermanus. It will fit in if its designed to be too city like.. I believe it will be two storeys if you look at the second picture.

[Marsupalami]

Originally Posted by Lydon

The exterior was what I was referring to. All these small town malls seem to have these horrible peaked entrances for some reason.

I guess this'll be a lot like Longbeach Mall in Fish Hoek - somewhere between Cape Cod/ Cap Vernacular. It not great, but I guess its our signature style, so gotta live with it lol

[Lydon]

Originally Posted by Marsupalami

I guess this'll be a lot like Longbeach Mall in Fish Hoek - somewhere between Cape Cod/ Cap Vernacular. It not great, but I guess its our signature style, so gotta live with it lol

Still far better than the abomination that is Longbeach Mall though!

[annman]

Has anybody been to Hermanus over the long weekends? Anyone with news on this new shopping centre? Damn curious... also heard they're upgrading the R43 entering Hermanus, is this true?

[Eduan]

Originally Posted by annman

Has anybody been to Hermanus over the long weekends? Anyone with news on this new shopping centre?

I drove past the site and couldn't see any sign of any activity yet.

... also heard they're upgrading the R43 entering Hermanus, is this true?

Yes, the the main road is being turned into dual carriageway from the Hemel en Aarde/Sandbaai robot up to the Gateway centre robot. It seems to be progressing nicely. They are apparently also adding extra turning lanes at the Onrus and Vermont turnoffs.

The other exciting news (for the locals) from that area is that the tarring of the R320 Hemel en Aarde Road between Hermanus and Caledon (partially a gravel road) is finally happening, after many years of waiting.

[cthighflyer]

This mall is really needed, im just not a fan of the location though.
Should of thought big and made this a development in the decaying town centre, fixed up the roads and included some of the surrounding buildings.
Something like the Cape Quarter.

[musiccity]

This Retail Africa seems really incompetant, none of their projects have been really happening and if they do it's really slow. The Kalahari Mall project in Upington is taking forever..

[Pule]

if only they could move away from the Mall concept and participate in turning the CBDs into lively places...

[Awesome.e]

I like street shopping as well but getting shopping under one roof has its own advantages.