July 6, 2004
By Ndaba Dlamini
RANDBURG is to be given a new lease on life by the City of Johannesburg, which has approved plans to declare its central business district a city improvement district (CID).
Over the years, Randburg's CBD has slid into decline. Shops and offices closed as most businesses moved to new developments in Sandton and Rosebank. They are all in Region 3, one of the most highly developed and prosperous areas in the entire country.
However, the establishment of the CID will transform Randburg into a "safe, clean, attractive, user-friendly and desirable commercial node", an incentive to attract back business and investment.
The Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) has been tasked with representing the City's interests in the district.
Muzi Bandi, the JPC's project manager, says the City owns 26 percent of the property in the CID area.
"The City saw fit to support the CID financially in order to maintain and improve council property in the area," he says.
"These improvements will go a long way in increasing the City's potential income out of sales and rental of council property."
The upgrade will be a joint effort of the City and the local business community.
Jack van Niekerk, an executive member of the Randburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says: "The CID cannot be established without contribution from the property owners. These include owners of business establishments and other non-business related property."
Until 30 June 2004 the City was to contribute R48 818 a month to the CID - 23 percent of the R210 718 levy property owners in the CID have been mandated to contribute a month, says Bandi.
The City's contribution will come from the JPC's portfolio account, which makes provision for the maintenance of the City's property "in specific instances".
Funding after June 2004 will depend on the City's allocation of funds to the JPC.
"The allocation will need to be for a period of three years, commencing from June 2004 - the proposed duration of the project," says Bandi. A budget of R1,7-million for year one has been proposed for the development of the CID.
The properties that form the proposed CID’s boundaries are in:
- Dover Street (on northern side of the street);
- Hendrik Vervoed Drive (on either side of the street);
- Jan Smuts Avenue (on the western side of the street);
- Silkirk Avenue (on the northern side of the street);
- Harley Street (on the northern side of the street);
- Kent Avenue (on the western side of the street); and
- Hill Street.
Region 3, the local-government authority in the area, appointed Kagiso Urban Management as the CID's implementing agent.
In March 2003 the company carried out a survey of the perceptions of the area's stakeholders and users.
The survey found that safety, security and the public environment had to be tackled urgently by the CID.
The proposed budget for security improvements for year one has been pegged at R1,1-million. And R314 000 will be used to improve and maintain street lighting, parking and informal-trading facilities.
Financing would come from the parties directly involved in the project - Region 3, the JPC and the businesses in Randburg.
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