Neil Fraser
December 17, 2002
So, 2002 has come – and gone! I can't really believe that this is the last Citichat of the year. But a good year it has been for the inner city. Whilst not minimizing the huge amount still to be done, there has been much real progress on many fronts over the past twelve months. It is of course always easier to tackle the challenges ahead when there is already a momentum and where the momentum is in the right direction.
After a couple of decades of inner city decline, the last two years in particular have witnessed a reversal in the downward trend. Whilst not allowing oneself to become carried away, I believe that we are well set to move up a gear as we go into 2003. So, here's a review of some of the progress made on projects during the year. A couple of years ago I scratched around to fill such a review into a normal sized Citichat, now it's a question of what to leave out!
Newtown
For many years an area where the amount of talk and good intentions totally eclipsed any action, this past year has been one of implementation and activity. Work on the R80 million Nelson Mandela Bridge has virtually been completed with the exception of the road surfacing of the bridge, the pedestrian walkways and the roadworks at either end. This latter aspect will continue to cause some frustration for motorists for some months yet, particularly at the northern end where it feeds into Bertha/Jan Smuts, but, as they say, there is no gain without pain. The R40 million contract for the elevated M1 motorway on-and-off ramps connecting the southern suburbs to Newtown is on target for completion by March 2003.
Mary Fitzgerald Square was basically transformed by the end of 2001 (R12.5 million) and this year has been a time for all the finer details to be put in place. The temporary stage structure at the eastern end, erected for a full programme of activities over the festive season will be replaced with a permanent 'buskers' stage' in 2003. (Don't miss the jazz concert "The Gathering of the Young Lions" on the 16th December. Jimmy Dludlu, Judith Sephuma, Don Laka, Basadi Women of Jazz and many more).
Another 'buskers' stage' will be erected on the grassed Newtown Square.
A R6 million contract for upgrading the roads and footways from Mary Fitzgerald Square westwards to the Oriental Plaza will commence in the first quarter of next year. 40 CCTV cameras were installed in the area and are linked to the Carlton Centre's CCTV control room. The R100 million Metro Market was completed recently and its multi use, taxi, bus, informal trading, retail and residential components will contribute greatly to clearing the congested eastern end of Newtown. Part of Turbine Hall was upgraded during the year and was used for filming and commercial shoots as well as the highly successful SA Fashion Week, the Mini Cooper launch and the Joy of Jazz International Festival.
The Electric Workshop was also upgraded and is in demand as a venue for corporate functions, dance and music events but is slated to be converted into an interactive Science and Technology Centre. The Newtown Music Centre that opened during the year is primarily a training and performance centre for musicians. Adjoining it is the Dance Factory a 300 seat theatre and studio used mainly for dance performances. Transport House, long a blight in the area, was cleared of illegal squatters and will be upgraded next year as a sports arena for Dance Sports SA. The 'beautiful things' exhibition so poular at the Ubuntu Village over the World Summit (which if you didn't see, is a MUST) has recently opened at the Bus Factory completely refurbished during the year. It will house crafters (how politically correct can one get!) next year providing training and retail under one roof.
Have a look at the eclectic wrought iron fence to the yard of this President Street building that once was the workshop for repairing and maintaining the city's trams. A Visitor's Centre that will house the Gauteng Tourism Authority and broadcasting facilities for a popular radio station is planned for completion during 2003. There is a sharp increase in letting/investment in the Newtown area and there is no doubt that it will more and more become a magnet for creative industries and the performing arts.
Chinatown
Just south of Newtown, is one of the oldest precincts in the city the urban design framework for which was completed during the year and approved by Council. Some refurbishment has commenced but the bulk of the work should start in the new year.
Faraday Precinct Development
Located on the southern edge of the inner city, partly below the M2 motorway, this R40 million project provides a new inter-modal node around the old Faraday rail station together with a managed market facility for general consumer products and traditional medicines and muti. Facilities will be provided for commuters, taxi operators and drivers, consulting and treatment rooms for traditional healers; a precinct centre with meeting and training rooms, a visitors centre and some residential accommodation. Various phases of the work will be completed over the first quarter of 2003.
Fashion District
Increased activity has been mainly through Rees Mann's Sew Africa with its unique fashion support services - a café where aspirant designers can check out the latest from up to date fashion magazines, a fashion show facility, training rooms, bridal boutique and what I guess what once was called a haberdashery. But 2003 should see the upgrade programme of this precinct begin in earnest with a R3 million injection into the public environment and, hopefully, an increased impetus to what promises to be a very special precinct in the city.
Braamfontein
A number of corporates together with Council are in the forefront of the R200 million urban upgrade project that has recently commenced in Braamfontein. Sappi is investing in a massive redevelopment of their corporate headquarters which will include the closure of Ameshoff and Simmonds Streets where they border the Sappi property thus creating a pedestrian zone and piazza which will link into the Civic Theatre.
Under the proposed piazza, a new parkade is already under construction which will provide 3 000 bays for Sappi staff during the day and which will be utilized by the Civic Theatre at night. The public spaces, restaurants, etc of the Civic Theatre were also refurbished and upgraded during the year. Under Bernard Jay, the Civic has staged a remarkable reversal of fortunes and its programmes play to packed audiences – I believe they are sold out over the Christmas season! Sappi are also funding an upgrade to the public park in front of the Theatre. Liberty Life Properties, the JD Group, Gensec and ApexHi will together with Sappi also be funding the R6.5 million upgrade of the public environment in east-west Ameshoff and Stiemens Streets including the interlinking north-south streets. Liberty are also constructing an above ground parkade for their staff on the corner of Melle and Ameshoff.
The Council, through the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), will spend a further R20 million in upgrading the public environment in the area to the south of Stiemens initially down to De Korte Street, the upgrading of Jan Smuts/Bertha to where it links into the Nelson Mandela Bridge and the connection to Constitution Hill. Wits University, currently studying its twenty year development needs, will be looking at the upgrading of the area on its southern boundary and its connection with Braamfontein on its east. The Wits School of the Arts has been developed from the old Dental School and provides links to both Newtown and Braamfontein cultural facilities.There are also some interesting possibilities under consideration for creating a stronger linkage between Braamfontein's commercial area via Civic Theatre and Metro Centre to Constitution Hill.
Constitution Hill
The construction of the new Constitutional Court continues on programme. The construction contract is valued at R87.5million and is due for completion in August 2003. Court public artwork competitions will be advertised nationally in February 2003. The lateral support and bulk earthworks contract for the 1870-bay parking super-basement valued at R33.5million, was let in early November 2002 and is due for completion in October 2003. Kotze Street has been upgraded to allow for improved pedestrian circulation between Hillbrow and Braamfontein, with a view to making future public connections with Constitution Hill.
The Johannesburg Mortuary will be relocated to the NEH site in Hospital Street at an estimated value of R10.5million with work commencing in the first quarter of next year. Conceptual planning providing a combination of new development and utilization of existing preservation buildings of the 1907 Women's Gaol has been completed, and it is envisaged that the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) will take up accommodation in this precinct in October 2003. The Heritage Education and Tourism (HET) feasibility study for Constitution Hill will be completed in December 2002, and the HET business plan will be completed and ready for implementation by May 2003. The short-term focus of this programme will be on setting up the institutional arrangements for the site.
Hillbrow Health Precinct and Centre of Excellence
The City Council, Wits University represented by the Reproductive Health Research Unit (RHRU) have formed a partnership to develop the area just south of Constitution Hill into an Inner City Health Precinct over a phased three-year period using the Esselen Street Clinic as the hub.
Drill Hall
This historic building has been in the news on a number of occasions this year particularly related to its general degeneration, illegal occupation and a fire which destroyed part of the building and caused a loss of life. The fire and its tragic consequences seems to have stimulated action and a project to restore the building as a place of historical significance and as a public open space with opportunities for recreation is now in the planning stage. The intention is for the site to form part of the historical and cultural tourism trail of the Inner City. It will commemorate the Treason Trial, provide accommodation for the Rand Light Infantry and the National Reserve Force Council as well as provide new public open space and recreational facilities.
Jeppestown
I have a soft spot for this elderly mixed commercial/residential node just to the east of the CBD – it reminds me of some similar areas on Manhattan's lower East side. Two developments to note here. The first is the R10 million upgrade and new facilities around the Station, which is almost complete, and which includes an informal trading market, taxi ranks, a public bath house and a public square. The second is the exciting example of the stirrings of 'urban revitalisation through education' Jeppe Phakamisu Ubuntu - 'JPU" - 'Upliftment and Fellowship in the Community' led by the School of Practical Philosophy. Their Saturday programmes of art, music, physical activities, stories, environmental awareness, singing and good company for local children led to the establishment of a day school, St James Preparatory School. The School of Practical Philosophy uses the School buildings in the evenings for a wide variety of teaching and activities.
The other great inner city education project that was officially inaugurated late this year was the CIDA City Campus. It is located at 55 Fox Street in the previous head office building of Investec who has provided the building for CIDA's use. The building houses the current 1600 students every one of which is on a tuition scholarship. provided by the private sector currently representing R64 million in scholarships. A further 1 000 students will be housed in a building donated by FNB from 2003 and the scholarships which will be made available for these students amounts to a further R40 million provided by corporate South Africa.
Housing
Richard Yell pioneered inner city loft living some time ago and the interest in this form of accommodation has been steadily growing throughout the year. On the other side of town to Richard's pad is Ron Prentice's spacious 30m x 18m converted warehouse space on End Street which I haven't yet personally seen but has been described as 'wow'. The Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC) opened their Tribunal Gardens residential project of 174 units in Fordsburg in May and it was 100% occupied within three weeks.
This was followed later in the year with the opening of their Elangeni project providing a further 168 units. The first in the city's Better Building Programme, Lake Success in Hillbrow was also completed by JHC during the year. Their big challenge for 2003 will be the construction of approximately 1000 units on the Brickfields site in Newtown next year. I understand that planning is well advanced for what promises to be a unique project. Cope Housing has also contributed to the residential stock in the city over the past year and is also involved in Better Buildings projects that should come on stream in 2003.
Another milestone in the city's housing provision was the establishment of the Property Owners' and Managers' Association (POMA). POMA consists of about 20 major landlords and residential property managers controlling abour 1500 buildings in the inner city. They seek to promote best practice in the inner city's residential market and have a Code of Conduct which seeks to create an investment friendly environment in the property market.
The brilliantly detailed Hollard Street pedestrian upgrade, financed by the private sector, was completed during the year and has provided stimulus for the pedestrianisation of Main Street stretching from the superb Anglo pedestrian gardens at its western end up to Gandhi Square. The design is currently being finalised and construction should commence in the second quarter of 2003.
I'm already way over my usual length, so need to stop about here but there is of course more, the work current and proposed in Joubert Park, Hillbrow, Ellis Park, New Doornfontein, Bertrams, 2003 should be a GREAT YEAR!
There is a marvellous, funky, funny and fun filled-map of the inner city including the eastern suburbs "Underground Jozi – a fantastic map featuring amazing places" which has been produced by the Spaza Art Gallery, 19 Wilhelmina Street, Troyeville. Will be glad to send one as a Citichat Christmas present to the first hundred readers who provide me with their postal addresses.
