#Destiny Africa Ecosphere project - Mixed Use - George, Western Cape

[annman]

Originally Posted by poephol

Are my eyes deceiving me or do i see a light rail of some sorts in those pictures?

Your eyes are working perfectly... Seems there is a light rail line running from Destiny Africa, via Garden Route Mall... I would imagine then it would continue to St.Geroges Square, up Courtenay Street all the way to the George CBD at Courtenay and York.

My hypothesis!

[willayster]

the light rail will connect the develoment with the airport.

[ZATUGA]

I really hope this project goes ahead, it would certainly develope that area. I think that area Knysna-George-Mossel Bay has so much potencial.
This thread should be in the General South Africa forum and not in the Capetown forum.

[Lydon]

Already a thread, lol

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=999325

[dysan1]

the 2 threads have been merged now.

Seems a large scale project like the two announced last year in on the KZN coast north of Durban. Personally i do not like these dream projects. Suddenly George will become the place all these businesses want to be? i dunno...

I do like the planning though and if they take it slow it may reach some level of this potential in time. lets see if anything happens though. We are far too used to these grand plans that amount to nought.

[Mo Rush]

Part of the team includes some architects and developers who ensured the tygerwaterfront area went from nothing to 25+ apartment blocks in a few years.

Gives me more faith that this is more than just a roller coaster theme park based in a fantasy world.

[Lydon]

I, too, have more faith in this materialising than some of the previous projects announced.

Of course, it's a very large-scale project, and there is every likelihood that it may not happen, but if they approach it logically and from a sustainable phase-based point-of-view, it could very well work out as planned. The fact that Helen Zille is on-board also gives me a little more faith in the project as a whole.

I also think it's about high-time that the Western Cape develops another significant city rather than a large number of small towns. Cape Town unfortunately can't be everything

[annman]

Big Mamma: Cape Town! George, Big Mamma's Mini-Me!

Well, at least both new WC Metropoles of the future are beautiful, surrounded by mountains and are by the sea.

[willayster]

my understanding of the project is that it will be very independent from George, except for the use of the airport and the surrounding golf estates. the idea is to host major conferences, guest will fly in and get transported to destiny via the monorail. everything they require will be catered for at the facility, hotels, restaurants, shops, spas ect ect. even the garden route mall, which is basically across the highway will not be a major destination for guest as there will be similar if not better amenities in the complex. when the conference is done, guest will be shipped out and the next bunch will arrive. the whole concept revolves around the conference facility being busy 365, the rest of the development is basically as downstream spin-off from this...

[annman]

That may be so, and I agree it is indeed a "self contained destination" in itself. But these type of developments are not islands. Major development is like adding platinum to the electrolysis of water. It's a catalyst for so much more that gets developed around it. Destiny Africa, should it come off the ground, will see George mushroom like you cannot believe. It will most likely cause the complete urban infill of George from the current town limits all the way to the N2 and beyond. Within 10 years, George will seriously have to begin densifying.

[willayster]

Agree with you 100%, this will truely change george and surroundings. the spinoffs for the locals will be huge.

[Lydon]

Official website:
http://www.destinyafrica.co.za/

Destiny Africa is an integrated business resort development, where people can live, learn, work and play at a spectacular international destination. Destiny Africa will become the core of the business tourism industry in the world renowned Garden Route, Western Cape of South Africa. It is Africa's first integrated development that will establish an international destination that combines a Conference and Exhibition hub with a
Knowledge City.

[willayster]

What exactly is a Knowledge City?

[Mo Rush]

Originally Posted by willayster

What exactly is a Knowledge City?

a few apple computers at an internet cafe

[Lydon]

Originally Posted by willayster

What exactly is a Knowledge City?

I assume it will consist of a university/schools/library sufficiently equipped with internet access etc.

But that's just what I think.

[Lydon]

Their twitter

Full impact assessment with detailed breakdown of development components
(from page 2)

[Carey-lee]

Hi there, does anyone know how to contact Thys Pretorius or anyone else more directly involved in developing this project? Khama Investments and KDMC? I work for an information service to the construction industry in South Africa.

Thanks

[Lydon]

You could try contact them on Twitter?

www.twitter.com/destinyafrica

Send them a direct message asking them for additional contact details.

[Lydon]

According to their twitter today

destinyafrica has finalised the gross development value, the development bulk and densities of the project.

[Mo Rush]

R28 billion Garden Route property development on hold


The global recession has forced a multi-billion-rand project for George, which was launched a year ago, to be put on hold.
Although the world economy is beginning to recover, the R28 billion Destiny Africa Ecosphere project, punted as being likely to transform the Garden Route town into a global business and eco-tourism destination over the next 20 years, stalled because of a lack of investors.


However, Fred Brown, an executive director of Destiny Africa, was optimistic. "There are positive signs and construction could start in the next 18 months. The project is still on - we want a mix of foreign and local investors."



The project will consist of a world-class conferencing hub, a business park and resort, a hotel, a university aimed at the arts, medical and biosphere tourism, and residential developments. In all, 2.5 million square metres have been approved for a project that developers say will take 15 to 20 years to complete.



When the project was launched last year, the developer said an estimated 50 000 direct and indirect jobs would be created. A "smart city" of this size could be found in high-growth economies such as Singapore and China.





But some George residents fear there is not enough water, especially as it is in the grip of the worst drought in 130 years.
Brown said the design was "green", and would feature sloping roofs to catch rainwater, and dams to capture the run-off, along with purification of "grey" water.


Alan Winde, the provincial Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC, said: "The SA property market has been depressed for over a year, leading to the scaling back of developments across the board.
"The effect of this on the Destiny Africa Ecosphere project is regrettable, but, as the market improves, which is likely within the next year-and-a-half, this project will no doubt attract renewed attention from local and international investors.
"Property ownership in the province is still viable, more so than other provinces because of its higher value."
Cape Argus