Name of the Project
River Club redevelopment.

Location
The project is located in Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Liesbeek Leisure Properties Trust.

Project Description
The mixed-use development will serve as a first-of-its-kind landmark in the City of Cape Town for the First Nations people to reclaim, memorialise and share their heritage with the greater public. 

The heritage cultural and media centre will be operated by the First Nations Collective – the senior Indigenous Khoi and San leaders – and will provide critical job opportunities for members of these communities.

The project will also include an indigenous medicinal garden that will be planted, cultivated and used by the First Nations people, as well as a heritage ecotrail and garden amphitheatre for use by the First Nations and the general public, which will provide an ideal platform to celebrate this heritage.

A large part of the development will comprise safe recreational public spaces, including running and cycling pathways, public viewing areas and seating areas along the rehabilitated and clean riverbank. Twenty per cent of the development will be allocated to residential use, of which one-fifth will be dedicated to developer-subsidised inclusionary housing. 

The First Nations’ rich history will be further commemorated through the inclusion of symbols central to its narrative in the landscaping, architectural iconography and educational signage in the open spaces.

Potential Job Creation
The project will create more than 6 000 direct jobs, including 5 239 jobs during the construction phase. The project will also create more than 13 000 indirect and induced jobs. Further employment will be created by the tenants who will occupy the offices, and residential and retail spaces that will form part of the development.

Capital Expenditure
Not stated.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The rezoning application for the River Club redevelopment has been approved by the Municipal Planning Tribunal.

After considering submissions from the applicant, interested and affected parties, as well as officials representing the City of Cape Town, the tribunal recommended the approval.

The city approved the detailed redevelopment application, with tribunal members stating that the project was “desirable, sustainable, trend-setting and a win-win situation for . . . the City and the public”, and would result in a “catalytic development that is in the public’s interest”.

A statement on September 21 said this is “a major milestone” in a comprehensive, open and transparent development approval process – spanning four years – for the planned mixed-used development by the Liesbeek Leisure Properties Trust.

The detailed rezoning application that was submitted to the Municipal Planning Tribunal for consideration included comprehensive and independent specialist reports that meticulously assessed the biodiversity, hydrology, socioeconomic, visual and heritage impacts of the project.

This followed extensive public participation processes with interested and affected parties over many years.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Nicole Mirkin, cell 084 552 3122.