Neil Fraser
16 August 2002
In retrospect, I left out some 'predominantly public sector' projects last week, so the following are still a bit mixed - public sector and private sector:
Jeppestown
East of but extremely close to the CBD, Jeppestown is an area of generally underrated character and potential. I think that one of its endearing characteristics is its scale, there is something extremely human about it that its big sister "just down the road" lacks.
It reminds me of an area on the east side of New York which is delightfully special in that its old buildings and mixed use combine to provide that unique and elusive sense of place. So it is really pleasing that Council has recognised the possibilities that the area offers and is looking at a programme "to achieve a vibrant, multifunctional safe, clean and economically sustainable district."
Currently not the best in the safety stakes (or perceptions thereof), but that could be relatively easily solved with the extension of the CCTV programme, a City Improvement District providing supplementary safety and security services and the Metro Police providing some basic bylaw enforcement.
Work around the Jeppestown Station is progressing and an informal trading market is planned to consolidate informal trading in the area. Some work is also being done to assess the potential for mixed social and middle income housing.
Chinatown
At the other edge, the western end of town, a very different kind of revitalisation initiative is taking shape. Heather Dodd of Savage & Dodd, the architects working on the project to regenerate and revitalise what is one of the oldest precincts in the city, tells me that the Precinct Plan is complete and is doing the rounds for various approvals before being presented to the Inner City Committee later this year.
The vision for the area is to create a distinct cultural precinct with specific identifying landmark features and to enhance the existing qualities of an urban neighbourhood. The precinct contains one of the oldest buildings in Johannesburg, the Chinese Club building.
The adjacent United Club building known as the Pabst building has great architectural significance and is currently undergoing a "restorative facelift"- not quite the same thing as Cher and Michael Jackson have done, but the final product will hopefully be more durable.
Among a number of urban design proposals that are being looked at, are the creation of two feature 'gateways' to mark the heart of Chinatown much as one associates with the Chinatowns of San Francisco and London. The area still offers some great Chinese eateries and the plans for its future upgrade should draw in more plus other appropriate business.
Braamfontein
Braamfontein, on the north of the CBD and separated from it by the east/west railway tracks, is a much younger, predominantly office precinct but which also exhibits various signs of deterioration. Not least of these is some serious slumlording in the provision of student accommodation.
But Braamfontein also is home to some heavyweights such as Sappi, Liberty, SA Breweries, the JD Group, etc. These corporates have been working on a revitalisation plan for some time which will result in a major upgrade of the public environment in the northern half of the precinct.
This will provide additional parking for their staff, some of which, below Ameshoff and Simmonds Streets, will be available to Civic Theatre patrons at night. The city has responded by appointing an urban design team and allocating capital to ensure that the southern portion is also addressed and, together with the establishment of a CID, the overall result will be a dramatic upliftment of the whole area.
To the east of Braamfontein is the Constitution Hill development covered last week and to its west is the University of the Witwatersrand campus. Wits has recently also appointed an urban design team to look at its spatial development over the next 20 or so years and is also undertaking some redevelopment itself.
The previous Dental School is currently being converted to a School of the Arts but, most importantly there is also a new willingness from the institution to re-engage with Braamfontein, an attitude which was sadly lacking in previous years.
To the south of the campus, a number of night clubs, predominantly serving the city's gay community, have emerged in what has previously been considered quite a 'gritty' area.
Legislature Precinct
Not a great deal of news is available on the upgrading of that portion of the City Hall building which previously was not part of the Legislature (which occupies the eastern half of the building) and the public open space between it and the Library, now known as Beyers Naude Gardens.
I have previously recorded that all of this is going to be taken over by the Legislature and will be seriously upgraded - I gather that the project could well be far more extensive than what was previously envisaged.
These four extremely different precincts are all at various stages of revitalisation but somehow illustrate the extent of the contrasts, and opportunities, that this great city offers.
Rissik Street Post Office
Waiting for revised cost estimates before looking seriously at how the refurbishment could proceed but I can record that there is growing interest in the re-use of the building.
Joubert Park Precinct
I understand that the admin section of the earth-life project is complete but have heard little about progress regarding the previous proposals to rid the area of taxis and hawkers and generally upgrade the area.
Main Street
Private sector proposals to part pedestrianise Main Street from the completed Anglo area in the west up to Gandhi Square are evidently waiting on input from the bus company.
High Court Precinct
Surrounding the Supreme Court, this project has been languishing for some time now, maybe a recent major letting adjacent to it will instill renewed interest in reviving what is still essentially an excellent concept.
We'll round off this mid-year review by looking at the residental projects.
In conclusion, I was greatly saddened to hear of the untimely death of Prof John Muller. He retired last year from his long held position as head of the Town Planning Department at Wits University. His quiet, unassuming yet incisive manner and dry sense of humour will be sorely missed.
