#Somerset and City Hospital Precinct - Mixed Use - Green Point | Concept

[Mo Rush]

The Project Challenge / Brief
The purpose of the project was fourfold:

* To retain Somerset Hospital as a 260 bed public health facility
* To generate and maximise capital from some portions of the sites to be able to upgrade the hospital and provide associated facilities e.g. medical staff accommodation;
* To find appropriate accommodation for the National Health Laboratory Services;
* To introduce a mixed use component on the precinct so as to use the site optimally and ensure that the proposed new Hospital is surrounded by compatible urban development.


Principles

* Efficiency and Access – Designing for human scale inner city environments where opportunities for a full range of operators could be unlocked.
* Social justice – Integrating people, space and opportunity in well located environments.
* Diversity – Providing for a range of incomes, people of different cultures and backgrounds to encourage an inclusive society.
* Quality of Space – Developing a range of spaces focusing on positive mixed use public places centred on a mix of private and public facilities while ensuring a secure environment for the Somerset Hospital.

Somerset and City Hospital Precinct PlanningSomerset and City Hospital Precinct PlanningSomerset and City Hospital Precinct Planning

Proposals

Key spatial principles explored related to this critically located and strategic land parcel and included integration, accessibility and permeability, efficiency and optimization and establishing an ‘active’ environment. In this regard the urban design framework sought to consolidate the Somerset Hospital into a new hospital facility for which a positive spatial structure was defined. The framework established an active ground plane to the street level of developments and also a range of residential development, including affordable housing.

The primary urban design structuring elements proposed included the establishment of qualitatively landscaped gateways to Green Point and the V&A Waterfront; the creation of a prominent public streetscape that is defined by a pedestrian and active ground plane; the introduction of significant green spaces that support improved accessibility; and the establishment of key public assets including a Health Hub associated with the Hospital and Clinic, a Heritage Hub through the conservation of key heritage buildings and lastly, a Recreational Hub in the enhancement of the adjoining Commonage and Stadium precinct.

[Mo Rush]

Crunch time for 2010's Cape projects

image hosted on flickr

Somerset Precinct, top right of image


While deadlines for World Cup projects looming, the province is facing a crunch time, with its 2010 project director, Denis Lillie, having resigned.

Lillie is from the UK and has been one of the province's top planners for the tournament.

He ended his contract with the department of transport and public works at the end of December and is joining construction giant Murray and Roberts as managing director in February.

Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for Transport and Public Works MEC Marius Fransman, said Lillie's successor was to be announced on Thursday.

Lillie said he had left the department after being offered a "long-term" job opportunity by Murray and Roberts.

He said most of the planning for the soccer event was "pretty much complete".

Lillie has been responsible for the planning of such 2010 projects as the Somerset Hospital precinct development, which is to see the building of a R2-billion, 240-bed hospital.

His other projects have included the R20-million upgrade of the Philippi stadium and the formalisation of Kosovo informal settlement, which is to bring more economic opportunities into the area.

The development of 10 provincial fan parks, recruitment of 3 000 drivers for 2010's luxury buses, an accommodation strategy and a visitor survey have also been among the projects Lillie has headed in the 18 months he has worked for the province.

Lillie is leaving the department at a crucial time, but reiterates that Cape Town is ready to host the World Cup.

"I've left the department where the integrated transport plans for 2010 for the city and the province are pretty much complete," he said.

"We have managed to bring a team of experts from America who will take the plans further and look at the implementation phase.

"About 27 specialised consultants will be joining the department they will be looking at the acquiring of vehicles from suppliers, funding, implementation of projects and giving advice on procurement processes."

Although the province and city were in a state of readiness, challenges remained, among them the state of public transport and the quality of infrastructure.

There was a need for more investment in public transport vehicles as most were not in a good state, Lillie said.

[Mo Rush]

Description

Somerset Hospital Precinct Erf 1559 and unregistered Erf 1955, a Portion of Erf 1056 Green Point, Cape Town. Interested parties are invited to submit a Request for Qualification for the development of the prime Somerset Hospital Precinct.The Provincial Government of the Western Cape has designed an innovative process to allow for BEE participation. Interested parties can choose to participate in the disposal and subsequent development of the under mentioned properties either as Lead Developer or as the Empowerment Partner with the successful Lead Developer, but not as both and not as member of more than one entity. The successful Lead Developer and Empowerment Partner will be required to form a single legal person as developer and leaseholder. Request for Qualification are invited from interested parties as Lead Developer or as Empowerment Partner to the Lead Developer, to acquire and develop two portions of Erf 1559, Green Point, Cape Town together measuring approximately 6.7ha in extent and portion of unregistered Erf 1955, a Portion of Erf 1056, Green Point, Cape Town measuring approximately 0.64ha in extent which will be disposed of by way of leasehold, in return for developing, constructing and equipping (Medical Equipment) the remainder of unregistered Erf 1955, a Portion of Erf 1056, Green Point, Cape Town measuring approximately 2.82ha in extent, as a minimum, the hospital, community health centre, residential accommodation and other facilities.

[Mo Rush]

Objective:

The Provincial Government desires to have a portion of the subject properties developed to provide, as a minimum, for a 260-bed Regional Hospital, Community Health Centre, a minimum of 200 residential accommodation units and other facilities outlined in the briefing documents.

It is an objective that the Hospital be completed and functional, where feasible, by 31 December 2009 as part of the 2010
World Cup Health and Safety strategy, with priority given to the functionality of the trauma centre. The hospital, community
Health Centre and residential accommodation, together with the land on which it is to be erected will not form part of that
portion of the properties disposed of by way of leasehold.
The disposal of the properties to the successful Lead Developer and the Empowerment Partner selected to partner it in the
development of the precinct will be by way of leasehold rights up to a maximum period of ninety-nine (99) years, taking into
account the proclamation and widening of certain roads. It is envisaged that the development of the property to be disposed of
by the grant of leasehold rights will mainly comprise, but not be limited to, buildings for commercial use.
Every interested party is required to submit a Development Concept with its Request for Qualification.
The Provincial Government will compile a short-list of possible Empowerment Partners and a separate short-list of
possible Lead Developers. Only the short-listed parties will be invited to submit formal proposals for Empowerment Partner
participation and Lead Developer participation in the overall acquisition and subsequent development of the precinct. Parties
not short-listed may not participate further in the process, not even as part of the consortium.

[Mo Rush]

Somerset developments could be ready by 2010

By Anél Powell

While the provincial transport department is confident the first phase of the controversial Somerset Hospital development may be ready in time for 2010, details of the tender process and adjudication of the bid remain unclear.

DA MPL Robin Carlisle said the legislature had waited "close to three months" to be told who the bidders were for the R1 billion development.

The development, which will include a new hospital, housing and retail units, was due to be completed by the end of 2009.

But Eric Ntabazalila, spokeman for the former Public Works MEC Marius Fransman, said the tender had not yet been advertised.

Carlisle said it was clear that the 2009 construction target would not be met.

He said it was hoped that a cabinet reshuffle could lift the lid on how the bid would be awarded.

Carlisle said the DA would call, as Brown's first order of business, for a full disclosure of the status and processes relating to the Somerset Hospital deal.

However, the province's Transport and Public Works department was confident construction would start towards the end of next year, with the new trauma unit being ready in time for the 2010 World Cup.

Recently the head of the public works and transport department, Thami Manyathi, was hauled before the province's finance standing committee when he refused to reveal the names and details of the bidding companies for a smart card tender.

Their details have now been divulged and department spokesman Al-Ameen Kafaar said the companies were the Gelerman Trust, the Zoey Trust, and the Transfin Trust.

The three shareholding entities have shares in Traffic Management Technologies (TMT), which has a 49% share in the smart card bid.

The main shareholder for the bid at 51% is Matemeku Investments, headed by Moss Mashishi. He is also the chair of TMT. Matemeku Investments is involved in a joint venture with Sol Kerzner to build a luxury six-star hotel at the V&A Waterfront.

Although the intention was to sell the Somerset Hospital site, the government later decided it would be awarded on a 99-year lease to a bidder with a significant black economic empowerment component.

Ntabazalila said black empowerment "was and would remain" a requirement on the proposed disposal and development of the precinct.

Published on the web by Cape Times on August 4, 2008. © Cape Times 2008. All rights reserved.

[Caisson Boy]

I hope they're not thinking of demolishing that beautiful old Somerset Hospital???

[annman]

In Cape Town?! Doubt that will happen, CT's good about preserving buildings of heritage. It'll probably be a typical CBD type development, where historic facades are restored, and the "new flashy stuff" is done towards the inside.

[Caisson Boy]

Jong, I've heard horror stories about so-called preservation of historic buildings in Cape Town... like the case of a beautiful, historic building in Queen Victoria Street that was recently demolished, virtually overnight. Apparently the owner/developer couldn't get permission to tear it down, so he removed some sections of the roof to deliberately allow water ingress. The building was deemed structurally unsound, and was demolished in one fell swoop!!

[annman]

Don't think we need to worry too much, the V&A Waterfront has been pretty sensitive about preserving the historic buildings in the area and have developed new ones to suit the environment. They know the "working harbour", historic look in the area is the goose that lays the golden eggs. I think they will keep this in mind when developing the site, whether it is the Province or the Waterfront Company/DubaiWorld themselves.

[Mo Rush]

Bidders get final chance to present Somerset Site proposals
By Aziz Hartley

Premier Lynne Brown has scrapped the entire tender process for the controversial development of the prime Somerset Hospital site between the new 2010 stadium and the V&A Waterfront, and the process will begin again.

The development, estimated to cost R1-billion, has been shrouded by secrecy surrounding the successful bidders as well as former transport and public works MEC Marius Fransman's accusation that provincial treasury officials were racist because they opposed the development being put to an open tender with a 33 percent black economic empowerment (BEE) component.

The development included a new hospital and about 200 mixed-income housing units.

Brown said on Thursday the decision to terminate the current process comes after criticism from various quarters and consideration of all the facts. She said current bidders would get an opportunity to argue why the bidding process should not be started afresh.

"The provincial government proposes that the redevelopment of the Somerset Hospital Precinct be re-conceived, probably in the form of a public-private partnership involving the provincial department of transport and public works, and the national and provincial treasuries.

"It is foreseen that a new process would take into consideration all contributory work already carried out by the private and public sector, as well as further feasibility, social and economic impact analyses.

"In addition, future development will not necessarily take place with the hospital redesign as its central tenet, but seek to achieve the best overall redevelopment proposal," Brown said.

"This is a difficult decision for the province, but I am confident that it is the correct one. In the final analysis our decision will be informed by what is in the best interests of citizens, particularly the poor, and good governance companies or consortia that responded would be urged to re-submit proposals in a new, inclusive and open bidding process," Brown said.

Democratic Alliance provincial spokesperson on corruption Robin Carlisle congratulated Brown for the decision, which he called a triumph for political oversight and clean, open government.

He said: "In doing so (the premier) took into account very serious reservations expressed by the DA and members of the ANC about the veracity, integrity and openness of the bid for this extremely valuable land.

"Not only was this process fatally-flawed from the outset, but also the secrecy which shrouded it gave rise to fears that certain parties were being favoured by the previous ANC (provincial) Cabinet.

"Members from both sides of the legislature objected from the outset and its scrapping is a triumph for legislative oversight over the excesses of the (previous) executive. A fully inclusive and open approach, which seeks to maximise the best possible monetary, environmental, economic and social returns, is certainly the right way to go," Carlisle said.

[Mo Rush]

The new bids could come in at close to R1.5 billion but the climate might see it staying at R1 billion

Fresh bids to be sought for Somerset Hospital site



By Staff Writer

THE bidding battle for the R1-billion contract to redevelop the Somerset Hospital precinct will have to begin afresh as the Western Cape government has formally terminated the redevelopment process.

Development proposals are to have to be presented as a public-private partnership process.

The provincial executive said the redevelopment of the Somerset Hospital precinct, a critical node in Cape Town, had to be part of a "broader strategic property development plan that encompasses the City Bowl".

Premier Lynne Brown's office said the termination of the process had been communicated to the bidders.

The province had given bidders 21 days to convince it that the request for qualification process for the site should not be scrapped.

After a "comprehensive review", the province had decided to discontinue the process.

In a statement, the premier's office said that plans for the precinct would be subject to a "proper feasibility process" that precluded the retention the hospital redesign as central to the redevelopment of the site.

A suitable model, designed with the national and provincial treasuries, should make the most of the potential social, spatial, environmental and economic returns from government-owned properties in the city, the statement said.

The proposed redevelopment of the Somerset Hospital precinct has been dogged by controversy, with the Democratic Alliance claiming that then-premier Ebrahim Rasool offered the prime site to Dubai World, new owners of the V&A Waterfront.

Opposition parties asked whether financial promises had been made to Dubai World in the event that it bought the land.

Rasool denied this.

He said the deal would be concluded in a transparent process and that it would include a nine-year lease and a 33% broad-based black economic empowerment component.

The development was initially intended to comprise a 260-bed public hospital and a residential development.

It was also intended that it would be up and running by 2010.

It was delayed, however, by confusion over the bidding process and whether the development should be put to tender or managed by a public-private partnership.

In May, the province's standing committee on finance and economic development called for a full review of the Somerset Hospital tender and its redesign.

Somerset Hospital was placed back on the agenda when Brown took over as premier of the Western Cape earlier this year.

Published on the web by Cape Times on December 17, 2008.

[dysan1]

when i read this awhile back i was relieved. That previous process sounded corrupt to the core

[Mo Rush]

Originally Posted by dysan1

when i read this awhile back i was relieved. That previous process sounded corrupt to the core

and corruption leads to more corruption.

[dysan1]

exactly. good to see they starting afresh, with hopefully a clearer outlook and what the development should be about

[Mo Rush]

BBC selects Somerset Hospital site

The Western Cape government is set to start negotiations with the British Broadcast Corporation soon on setting up its studios for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Cape Town.


Despite Johannesburg hosting the official 2010 media centre, the British broadcaster has decided it wants its presentation and production studios set up in the mother city.


Finance and Economic Development MEC Garth Strachan says it was all made possible by the Cape Film Commission.

“Even though the contractual negotiations are yet to be finalised we are pleased to offer this full support of the provincial government of the Western Cape to the BBC. This includes negotiations for the BBC to use sections of Somerset Hospital for its studio," says Strachan.


The MEC says it is an opportunity the city cannot afford to miss.

[annman]

Not going to make Jo'burg City Council or the 2010LOC very happy.

[Mo Rush]

As 6000.co.za said...has anybody bothered asking the media where they want to be located?

[annman]

Originally Posted by Mo Rush

As 6000.co.za said...has anybody bothered asking the media where they want to be located?

They probably didn't ask, because they didn't really want to hear the answer...

[Mo Rush]

Somerset Hospital: Enabling works for FIFA World Cup 2010

CLIENT: Western Cape Provincial Government: Department of Transport & Public Works
LOCATION: Green Point, Cape Town
PROJECT VALUE: R40 million
AREA: 700m²
STATUS: Planning Stage, due March 2010
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The enabling works for the FIFA World Cup 2010 entails the upgrading of the Emergency Unit, alterations and demolition of various buildings at the Somerset Hospital in Green Point, Cape Town.

Msingi is responsible for project management.

[Mo Rush]

Somerset Hospital Enabling Works for FIFA World Cup 2010

This project comprises complex, multiple building alterations and additions to the Somerset Hospital in Green Point. This is a fast track project forming part of the Western Cape’s preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. With its close proximity to the Green Point Stadium the Somerset Hospital, its trauma unit in particular, will play a strategic role during the tournament with Cape Town residents enjoying the benefits of this long overdue upgrade for many years to come.
The project is scheduled for completion in March 2010 wihtin a very tight programme.

• Location: Green Point
• Client: Department of Transport and Public Works
• Contract Value: R22,4 million
• Project Duration: 10 months
• Completion Date: March 2010