The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) says that the City’s investment into public environment upgrades in the inner city is paying off, and acts as a platform for significant private sector investment in the central business district (CBD).
Research has shown that the JDA spent a total of R392,6-million between 2001 and 2007 upgrading the areas of Newtown, greater Ellis Park, Braamfontein, the Fashion District, Jewel City and the High Court precinct.
This was bolstered by R7,5-billion in property investment from the private sector in the five intervention areas since 2001.
“There is clear evidence that the tide has turned,” says JDA CEO Lael Bethlehem, noting that rentals in the inner city have increased over the last five years, and vacancy rates have dropped.
Investment in the inner city, from the public and private sectors continues, and there are exciting new inner city developments taking place
FIRST NEW BUILD
Short-term insurance company Zurich South Africa is currently constructing its new head office in central Johannesburg, opposite the Magistrates Court.
This is the first new-build office block in the city centre, and construction, contracted to Rainbow Construction, is in full swing.
ABSA CAMPUS
Banking giant Absa is also involved in a significant project, worth some R1,2-billion in Marshalltown, in the inner city, as the company develops and extends its facilities there.
The upgrades include new buildings and building upgrades, involving eight buildings, as well as the development of the surrounding built environment.
The new campus will include an energy centre, ensuring that the facility can operate independently of the City’s electricity grid, and will also include a number of elements of green building.
“This is possibly the biggest construction site in the inner city since the development of the Carlton Centre,” notes JDA development manager Paul Arnott-Job, of the Absa campus developments which stretch across three city blocks.
POTATO SHEDS
The first new retail development in the inner city, worth some R900-million is to be undertaken by Atterbury Properties, and looks set to start with construction in June.
The old potato sheds, found between Carr street and Museum Africa and the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, have been derelict for some 30 years. Situated close to the Market theatre, the potato sheds were so named because the space formed part of the old markets in Johannesburg.
The 2-ha site would be redeveloped into a mixed-use development including a hotel, some 7 000 m2 of office space, and 40 000 m2 of retail space.
Atterbury Properties Johannesburg developments director Coenie Bezuidenhout says that the response from the market regarding the development has been good.
“Business wants to come back to the CBD and retailers have showed an amazing response. The development has already been almost 100% subscribed by retailers,” Bezuidenhout adds.
Initially, the development was going to comprise retail space less than 40 000 m2, however, the demand spurred an increase in the retail space.
“The potato sheds development is a direct result of City investment. If it was not for the City upgrade, we would not have been interested in this property,” notes bezuidenhout.
Considering the cultural importance of the site, Atterbury has been working closely with the South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra), and will be incorporating some of the remaining elements of the sheds.
Having received the required Sahra approvals, the company has started clearing the site, and hopes to start construction in June. It was expected that the hotel section of the development would be completed in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
ELLIS PARK PRECINCT
The transformation of the Ellis Park stadium and the surrounding precinct in the Johannesburg inner city will be ready for the Confederations Cup kick off in June this year.
The stadium itself was to be completed by the end of February, and the stadium surrounds are also experiencing a major overhaul. This work falls under the auspices of the JDA.
JDA Ellis Park project manager Nyiko Gudlhuza explains that the work on the greater Ellis Park precinct is 90% complete.
The City-owned land space in between the Ellis Park stadium and the Johannesburg stadium was completely cleared, and the area was paved and furnished with new streetlights and trees, and new public toilets were constructed.
The area will be used by official sponsors during the soccer spectaculars, where they would set up commercial display marquees.
The area will also boast specially commissioned artworks, a fountain, benches, new hydraulic underground bins, and innovative ‘pop-up’ kiosks, which would host water, electricity and communications connections. These will be housed underground, and only lifted when necessary for special events.
Precinct construction is being undertaken by the Rainbow/Glash construction joint venture.
The new Doornfontein transport square, which will service the stadium, and serve as a park-and-ride link to Ellis Park has also been upgraded.
The upgrade was completed and awaiting approval from the provincial legislator before opening.
Many buildings surrounding the transport square have also been acquired, and a mixed-use development, by the Affordable Housing Company, Ndlovu House, is also under development.
The square contains interesting bovine artworks, following from the fact that before the area was upgraded, it used to be home to a number of informal butchers.
Also benefiting from an R8-million upgrade injection from the City of Johannesburg, was the Ellis Park public swimming pool. The Olympic-sized pool is once again open to the public, with upgraded changing areas and a new public announcement system and scoreboard, and is once again hosting swimming galas.
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