#Durban Beachfront Redevelopment - Mixed Use - Durban | Under Construction

[dysan1]

The Durban beachfront redevelopment is focussed on redesigning the public spaces of the beachfront from Ushaka in the south, to Country club beach in the north. It's a mamouth project spread over 4.5km.

There will be key focus nodes namely:

Addington
South Beach
New Pier
Diary beach
And the area around Mini town

Lets take a look at each...

Thanx to Durbsboi for the initial find of all this info!!

The overview of the whole development is below and a high res version can be found at the following link: http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/disc...eachfront-plan

[dysan1]

From DB...

South Beach plans

Originally Posted by Durbsboi

Durban Central Beachfront Upgrade

The eThekwini Municipality proposes to upgrade the Durban Central Beachfront in preparation for the 2010 FIFA Football World CupTM. The proposal includes plans to extend the Central Beachfront promenade from uShaka Beach to Country Club Beach and to redevelop facilities at Addington Beach, New Beach, Dairy Beach and the area around the existing XL Restaurant as well as to upgrade the Mini-town facility.

The upgrade and extension needs environmental authorisation from the KZN Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs through a Basic Assessment process. Sustainable Development Projects has been appointed to run the Basic Assessment Process and ERM has been appointed to manage the public participation process.

Become Involved
• Register as an Interested and Affected Party
• Request a Copy of the Background Information Document
• Send us any Comments you have by 22 January 2009
• Attend a Public Meeting on 22 January 2009 at 17:00 at The Blue Waters Hotel, 175 Snell Parade.

More Information
Please contact Junaid Yusuf on 031 767 2080 (tel), 031 764 3643 (fax), or junaid.yusuf@erm.com for more information, to register as an interested and affected party, and to comment on the proposals. Information will also be made available on the City’s website (www.durban.gov.za) or at the Ocean Sports Centre from 3 December 2008.

Notice is given of a Public Participation Process & the intention to apply for Environmental Authorisation in terms of the EIA Regulations of 21 April 2006 under the NEMA (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended. The proposed activity triggers Activity 2, 3, 5, 6, 14, 15, and 20 of Regulation Notice R386. DAEA Reference Number: DM 0172.08





















http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/disc...upgrade-1/view

I got the other nodes, Dairy beach looks impressive, will post tomorrow

[Luf]

Looks great but i dont want to be negative, but ill believe when i start seeing it. These has been claims of redevelopment since 2003/2004 and still nothing.

[dysan1]

the first half of the above redevelopment has already been completed. the promenade has been widened here as per the renders and old structures demolished. Its just the next phase development for this node.

On the skepticism i not surprised, but i have little to doubt this current thing wont go ahead

[romanSA]

I like this a lot. Very sylish and classy.

I also have faith that this will go ahead as the main FIFA fan park has been moved here (was initially supposed to take place at Blue Lagoon). As such, this area has to undergo a major refurbishment. I also think the city is committed to extending the promenade from Ushaka to Suncoast. I jogged from Ushaka to Suncoast and back on Sunday and noticed that parts of the old wall that borders the parking lot in front of Addington and the beach is being destroyed. Also, grass has been planted in many places that it wasn't on before. I was wondering then if this was related to possible upgrades and now I think it likely is.

From what I can gather from the above, it seems as if the paddling pools will be removed, which will be great. This will help "de-crowd" the central beachfront area during peak periods (crowds don't spread out across the entire beachfront during busy periods but congregate around the paddling pools for some reasons, resulting in massive "clots" of crowds in certain areas only). This will also help reduce maintenance costs re: pools.

[romanSA]

Oh, and it also looks like the amusement park will be going too. If so, that will really help open up the whole promenade. Currently, the hotels are cut off from the beach because of the amusement park and the paddling pools. Opening up these areas will give a nice open space feeling for the area.

[dysan1]

totally agree... we need to load the other sections of the upgrade now as well

[dysan1]

The Dairy Beach upgrade

The current Ocean Action centre is being demolished and more public space is to replace it, as well as this stylish cafe/bar complex with surf store...personally love it!

[romanSA]

Thanks for posting. Was going to do the same now. Only Addington plans to post now, as well as the overall grand scheme.

[dysan1]

got grand scheme in first post... addington not downloading for me for some reason, can someone else post it?

All in all it is very appealing on the eye...and the LONG 4km promenade will be fantastic and help to get people from the stadium easily to all the beachfront nodes on foot. will have a super atmosphere in 2010 time

[Durbsboi]

Addington Beach Node

[romanSA]

Thanks for posting, DB. For some reason I can't access my photobucket account.

[romanSA]

All in all, I think this will be fantastic for Durban. You'll notice that a lot of current old and tired buildings are going to be demolished, which is great. The new proposed buildings are all stunning and I hope they come to fruition.

I have been to dozens of countries and I can say with confidence that if these changes are implemented, it will propel Durban's beachfront into the top tier of beach cities worldwide. Even the world's most famous beach cities, Rio and Honolulu, don't have anything like this.

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by romanSA

All in all, I think this will be fantastic for Durban. You'll notice that a lot of current old and tired buildings are going to be demolished, which is great. The new proposed buildings are all stunning and I hope they come to fruition.

I have been to dozens of countries and I can say with confidence that if these changes are implemented, it will propel Durban's beachfront into the top tier of beach cities worldwide. Even the world's most famous beach cities, Rio and Honolulu, don't have anything like this.

Yeah they are stunning. I really want to see the changes for the Mini town area, the promenade from the beach up to the stadium with the bridges over MY avenue...will be a super walk

[GregPz]

All looks great!! Hopefully all the bright yellow signage and lighting will be replaced with something more contemporary. Any idea when they plan to have all this complete?

[romanSA]

I am wondering the same thing re: completion date. If they want to get this done by June 2010 they have to start asap. Not sure how long EIA study will take but they will have to get cracking as soon as that's over. There's a lot of wqork to be done. Am also curious re: cost. No mention has been made of that yet nut I suspect it will run into the hundreds of millions. However, given that the Golden Mile is the face of the city, I'll say it's well worth it.

[romanSA]

Originally Posted by dysan1

Yeah they are stunning. I really want to see the changes for the Mini town area, the promenade from the beach up to the stadium with the bridges over MY avenue...will be a super walk

Am also curious to see what they have planned for minitown. That spot is too prime to be just minitown. I hope they move it (not close it down as a provides a valuable source of income to the quadroplegic society) and open up cafes / restaurants there instead.

[dysan1]

indeed, restaurants/a few shops would be good there.

Also they said they wanted to open one more beach cafe on the sand on North beach.

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by GregPz

All looks great!! Hopefully all the bright yellow signage and lighting will be replaced with something more contemporary. Any idea when they plan to have all this complete?

Yes i do hope that all goes!! something more sleek would surely be in the plans. The entire redevelopment is being done by Michael Tod Arichitects, and they are no slouches, so it should be a complete overall package.

Regards completion, it is on the website as a key 2010 plan, so i would imagine it would need to be fully completed at least a month or two before the event

[Jakes1]

My first holidays in SA where at Durban Spa on the Marine Parade (OR Tambo Parade). I have such fond memories of this golden mile. And I am so glad to see it get the love and attention that it deserves.