...Port Elizabeth *Discussion*

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by Lydon

Why's that weird?

i get pools but a lake unless it is because it is on a fresh water stream or river that ends in the ocean just seems weird. like why?

[waltjie]

Port Elizabeth Central is set to be transformed into a thriving mixed-use property node with the launch of Oh!41 creative hub at Havelock Square.

With eight years of experience in rejuvenating inner city properties, the company will breathe new life into this historic, but neglected part of town.

“Our strategy has always been to invest in communities around our buildings to revitalise areas,” says AIP chief executive officer, Richard Rubin.

Rubin says the mixed retail and residential development planned for Port Elizabeth Central will help attract young people back to live, relax and shop in the area.

At the heart of its revival strategy is converting historic Victorian buildings into stylish and affordable student accommodation.

An agreement with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to help address the shortage of student accommodation, perfectly positions Aengus to kick-start the urban renewal.

The company currently owns six buildings in the Central precinct, including four buildings on Havelock Street.

These buildings have been completely renovated and offer students 350 beds with gyms, laundry, security and entertainment services.

“Students are looking for affordable, safe, convenient accommodation with all the mod-cons, such as wireless internet and organised transport to and from campus,” says Rubin.

“Port Elizabeth Central is situated close to universities and colleges and is an ideal place for students to study and stay in style.”

Aengus has built its reputation on buying, upgrading and managing inner city properties in other major cities.

The company has 4 student accommodation buildings in Johannesburg with 400 beds as well as three buildings in Durban with 200 beds.

The Oh!41 Creative Hub is the next step in taking its urban renewal strategy forward, with Phase 1 launching on 6 October.

Already the retail component is fully let, with photographers, dress designers, comic illustrators as well as coffee shops and bakeries taking up space.

Tenants are offered space for four months rent-free and thereafter pay just R48 per square metre, with a rent free period to allow for easy trade.

“We want to help entrepreneurs get on their feet and support the growth of local small businesses in the area,” says Rubin.

“Oh!41 will comprise spaces which encourage creative thinking, curiosity and communication, an exciting step towards revitalising Port Elizabeth Central.”

Havelock Square will also host the Local Market on the last Saturday of every month with farm stalls selling organic produce, gourmet merchants, artists displaying their work and visitors enjoying fresh food and coffee while being entertained.

Already the project has inspired guerrilla gardening, and soon artists will transform the park near Havelock Square by installing sculptures to beautify the surrounds.

“What we’re seeing is an interactive and collaborative approach to sustainable neighbourhood planning and development,” says Rubin.

He says this recognises innovation and creativity and is sensitive to an area’s history, while emphasising the people living and working there.

A neighbourhood is only sustainable when its economic, social and physical systems work together.

Rubin believes the Creative Hub will not only be the catalyst for making the area safe and beautiful again, but will also attract visitors from outside the geographical area.

“We hope that this integrated approach to urban renewal will lead to a revolution in property development across other towns in South Africa,” he adds.

property24.com

[Marsupalami]

excellent ! begin yesterday already!!

[Awesome.e]

I think PE CBD is the most runned down CBD (between the major cities) in SA. Its good that they are doing something about it!

[waltjie]

Originally Posted by Awesome.e

I think PE CBD is the most runned down CBD (between the major cities) in SA. Its good that they are doing something about it!

It certainly is. It's very dirty, and very dodgy as well. The area mentioned in the article above ie "Central" actually doesn't refer to the "CBD" itself. Keep in mind that the Port Elizabeth CBD is not really that big compared to, say, Cape Town, and in this case "Central" refers to an area situated more up the hill towards Greenacres. It actually overlooks the CBD itself.

[dysan1]

I did not feel the cbd was terrible like you all refer. Walking from the donkin hill down into the main square and along the drag of cbd shops was actually rather plesant with some great buildings and I felt in most instances well maintained. It actually looked much better than most of the areas surrounding it and certainly netter than the strip around the stadium.

[waltjie]

Originally Posted by dysan1

I did not feel the cbd was terrible like you all refer. Walking from the donkin hill down into the main square and along the drag of cbd shops was actually rather plesant with some great buildings and I felt in most instances well maintained. It actually looked much better than most of the areas surrounding it and certainly netter than the strip around the stadium.

You know what, I actually thought about it after I had posted, and you are right. It really is only the area closest to the station that I think needs some attention, but the rest of the city centre is actually not that bad at all.

[musiccity]

From what I've seen on street view (I know not really a good judge) the PE CBD is a little run down but there are certainly worse in SA.

[Caisson Boy]

Absolutely - PE CBD is much cleaner and less run-down than Durban, East London and parts of Johannesburg. And, though small, creates a better impression (in my opinion) than Pretoria and Bloemfontein. But it ain't no Cape Town....

[waltjie]

AFTER massive performance improvements by Eastern Cape container terminals, the province is poised to receive multimillion rand investments in the next six years.

That is according to Transnet’s port terminals manager, Siya Mhlaluka, after Transnet’s Eastern Cape container terminals division ended 2012 by achieving new performance records last month.

The Ngqura container terminal achieved an increase of 66% in its container handling rate since opening in 2009, while the neighbouring Port Elizabeth container terminal showed a 27% improvement in its average performance during the same period.

"Sustained performance improvements are resulting in growing volumes, as shipping lines and their customers gain confidence in South Africa’s ability to handle cargo efficiently to ensure goods reach the end user as quickly and cost-effectively as possible,” Mhlaluka said.

He said year-on-year figures showed strong growth in container handling at both Eastern Cape terminals.

Mhlaluka said the province was therefore poised to benefit from several multimillion rand port investments in the next few years through the government’s renewed focus on growing the regional economy.

"Transnet’s R300-billion Market Demand Strategy [MDS] will see the port operator invest R33-billion in South Africa’s ports between 2012 and 2019.”

Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber chief executive Kevin Hustler agreed that these improvements would have a positive impact on the area.

"Increased handling capacities and improved efficiencies pave the way to position Nelson Mandela Bay as a transshipment hub and a gateway for container traffic into Southern Africa,” Hustler said.

Mhlaluka said the reason for these improvements was due to implementing innovative technology and programmes.

He said Transnet introduced some of the best technology and systems available at any African port and that the port operator was also addressing productivity challenges through staff programmes that encouraged motivation and accountability.

"The Eastern Cape has been a star performer in terms of operational performance at the ports. In the container sector alone, Transnet’s Eastern Cape terminals have seen handling norms improve every year, showing that our various interventions are bearing fruit.”

In its three years of operation, the Ngqura container terminal has employed more than 400 operational staff.

Transnet port terminal chief executive Karl Socikwa said the company’s operations offered a number of benefits for the province, the country and the sub-Saharan African region.

He said the port operator remained committed to encouraging infrastructure development and job creation by localising procurement in its management of the ports.

Herald.

[musiccity]

Good boost for the economy!

[waltjie]

I am utterly delighted to say the least! Driving past it on the Settlers Highway on Sunday, I saw that the old Campanile Hotel, which has fallen into a very sad state of neglect, has scaffolding all around and that to me signals that someone is finally doing something about restoring this beautiful building!! Here she is:

[waltjie]

A PEDESTRIAN barrier aimed at making it nearly impossible to scale the railings of the Van Stadens Bridge will be erected on the notorious landmark in a multimillion- rand effort to stop suicides. Construction on the barrier starts today.

In the 41 years since the bridge was built, 87 people have jumped to their deaths.

The Friends of Van Stadens Bridge Trust, a voluntary organisation which includes Lifeline, the police and community organisation Lions, estimates that an average of two lives are lost annually.

The trust's chief executive, Cliff Rose, said: "The new barrier will make it very difficult to climb over and the number of suicides and attempted suicides will decrease.

"Most jumpers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both.

"I feel that most suicides happen by accident on the bridge because it is so easy to get over the barrier," Rose said.

He said the trust started analysing the way people accessed the bridge when they committed suicide in 2011 and studied the footage taken on the bridge. They then drew up a proposal for the South African Roads Agency (Sanral) motivating why the bridge needed a pedestrian barrier.

"Over the past two years more than a R100000 worth of equipment has been installed to assist police on the bridge as a result of donations received in the form of new equipment and cash," Rose said.

"The barrier will take eight months to be completed and during this time the slow lane on the bridge will be closed at times."

Sanral Port Elizabeth construction manager Mike Kaiser said: "Ibhayi Contracting will be carrying out some repairs to the bridge before the steel barrier is erected.

"The contract value is approximately R10.6-million."

The 2.7m high barrier consists of an epoxy-coated, closely spaced steel mesh that will not impair the view of the Van Stadens gorge from the bridge.

The barrier was designed to ensure that it would still be possible for technical teams to inspect and access the bridge for maintenance.

Kaiser said that the barrier would also be curved back towards the road to make it even more difficult for people to scale.

Thornhill police officer Morne Bradley said: "This will be a big bonus for the Thornhill police station as the number of calls to the bridge will be much less.

"This will also remove the stigma about the bridge being a hotspot for suicide."

Lifeline director Susan Potgieter welcomed the construction of the barrier and said the structure would help "save more lives".

She said people considering suicide called in daily and the organisation received three or more suicide-related calls a day between October and December.

[musiccity]

Hey waltjie are you Firefly? I read the Port Elizabeth Daily Photo Blog occasionally and I was wondering if that was you

[waltjie]

Originally Posted by musiccity

Hey waltjie are you Firefly? I read the Port Elizabeth Daily Photo Blog occasionally and I was wondering if that was you

Hey.

No. Firefly is Jonker Fourie.

[insulting-dutchman]

so the van stadens bridge has only had 87 suicides so far? and it has camera's and everything..? what a waste of money! it cant even be close to the amount of injuries/deaths caused on the n2 to the north.

[waltjie]

Originally Posted by insulting-dutchman

so the van stadens bridge has only had 87 suicides so far? and it has camera's and everything..? what a waste of money! it cant even be close to the amount of injuries/deaths caused on the n2 to the north.

Exactly my thoughts! What a bloody waste of money!