September 21, 2004
By Thomas Thale
FOR years, it has been a popular centre of vibrant retail activity, populated by enterprising traders and consumers in search of bargains.
Now the city's Economic Development Unit (EDU) is coming up with long-term plans to ensure that the Lenasia CBD remains a pulsating centre of retail activity well into the 21st century.
Aerial photograph of Lenasia's CBD
The Lenasia business district is one lively marketplace, a hub of informal trading in the city, attracting consumers from the neighbourhood and from nearby townships such as Soweto and Eldorado Park. The EDU puts the number of informal traders in the area at 780.
But over the past few months, Lens has experienced activity of a different kind as workmen in overalls started paving the streets, refurbishing trading stalls and extending and improving the current market.
To alleviate congestion, the city is now upgrading the market in the area at a cost of R2,5-million. Some 200 existing hawker stalls have been upgraded, an additional 200 trader stalls built and ablution facilities have been provided.
Nhlanhla Ndovela, operations manager of the Metropolitan Trading Company, which manages city markets, says the city has strived to involve informal traders in the developments. "We have held workshops with the traders to inform them about what we intend doing. They were also able to raise their concerns. You know the market was not managed in the past, so we have to work hard to restore a sense of orderliness in the area."
The EDU has also commissioned a study to explore the feasibility of further developments to stimulate long-term economic activity in the area. The study cautions that with new developments in the area, the Lens CBD could suffer some loss in trading in the short term.
The primary development is the building of the Signet shopping centre, due for completion in October. The R60-million development will be anchored by Shoprite Checkers and will have about 48 other shops, including restaurants, furniture, fast food, fashion, household and interior stores.
The study on the long-term viability of the CBD found that although the area could suffer some decline with the advent of the new centre, it would ultimately pick up in 2009. To mitigate the impact of new developments on the CBD and to help sustain the area as a dynamic business centre, the city is designing various interventions, including sprucing up the area, managing both taxis and traders, engaging with the developers of the new retail centres and managing the CBD better.
One of the ways to achieve this is to find ways to assist the emerging City Improvement District (CID). A CID is a joint agreement by property owners in a geographically defined area to contribute financially towards the area's upkeep.
"This is not an easy option as it would have to be adapted to the conditions in Lens," says Pernegger. "Most of the businesses in the Lens CBD are small undertakings and are likely to be reluctant to incur additional operating costs." One alternative could be to come up with a voluntary CID in which costs are apportioned differently, says Pernegger.
For the long-term, the Development Planning, Transportation and Environment department is considering undertaking a feasibility study on having a taxi rank constructed in the CBD, which could ease congestion to some extent.
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department is also set to step up by-law enforcement efforts to buttress a sense of orderliness in the area.
With every project that gets implemented, the Lenasia CBD takes a step closer towards maintaining its sparkle and retaining its client base.
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