February 2, 2006
By Ndaba Dlamini
YET another exciting development is on the cards for Newtown, Johannesburg's cultural hotspot. Transport House is to be turned into a multi-purpose indoor venue and the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) is calling for proposals for the development of the building.
The move is a component of the Newtown Urban Design Framework, a general plan of the City's intentions regarding the development and regeneration of the western sector of the inner city and the Newtown cultural precinct.
The framework identified a need ''for a flexible indoor venue that will augment the existing large 'outdoor' events on Mary Fitzgerald Square and smaller event and exhibition facilities available at Bassline, Museum Africa and the Bus Factory''.
The derelict 9 867m² Transport House is being used as a parking lot.
''It is envisaged that Transport House could accommodate a wide range of events. These will include trade and other exhibitions and flat floor sports, which will include dance sports and concerts,'' says Nisha Moodley, JPC's marketing manager.
The footprint of the building will remain unchanged, she says.
''The value of the development will depend on the proposals submitted by developers and/or investors and construction is expected to commence in July or August after the tender is awarded.''
The City is open to a range of other possibilities and it requests developers to assess the viability of such a venue in their proposals, Moodley says.
Already more than R300-million has been spent by the public sector to re-establish Newtown as a cultural hub and, in the process, this has created an environment and infrastructure platform for private sector investment.
Moodley says private sector investment is crucial for the plans for Newtown to be successful. ''It is for this reason that the land release process had been structured to encourage investment and development aligned with the Newtown vision.''
JPC expects to award the tender in May. For more information, interested parties can contact the property company on 011 339 2700, or visit its offices on the 9th Floor, Braamfontein Centre, 23 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein for the relevant documentation - before 24 March.
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