Neil Fraser

Neil Fraser is Executive Director of the Central Johannesburg Partnership (CJP), a non-profit company dedicated to the revitalisation of the inner city of Johannesburg. He is also a Director of Kagiso Urban Management (KUM) a company that provides urban management and regeneration solutions to communities throughout South Africa. He can be contacted at (011) 688-7800 or (011)442- 4949 or neilf@cjp.co.za. Citichat is a free weekly publication concerning cities and Johannesburg in particular. To subscribe, contact info@kum.co.za or visit the CJP's web site at http://www.cjp.co.za Views expressed in Citichat are not necessarily those of the CJP or KUM.

Talking about the city: 2004 archive A weekly column about Johannesburg, written by prominent inner city champion Neil Fraser Click on the title to read the full story December 6, 2004: My love affair isn't ending, its moving to a different level! Neil Fraser steps down from his position with the Central Johannesburg Partnership. Year-end Review November 5, 2004: The north: Yeoville, Hillbrow/Berea, Hillbrow Health Precinct, Constitution Hill, Braamfontein, Wits University, Milpark November 15, 2004: The west: Fietas, Fordsburg, Ferreirasdorp, Newtown November 22, 2004: The Centre: Cida city campus, Faraday Taxi Rank and Muti Market, Rissik Street Post Office, Oppenheimer Park, Drill Hall, Joubert Park, Fashion District, High Court Precinct, Provincial Government Precinct, Main Street Mall ... November 29, 2004: The East: Ponte, Jewel City, Jeppestown, Greater Ellis Park October 26, 2004: Lessons from Mexico City Neil Fraser recently travelled to Mexico City to gain an overall impression about that city and discovered a few things that Johannesburg could learn October 8, 2004: Two great but very different cities Neil Fraser compares the urban advantages of Barcelona and Vancouver September 27, 2004: Heritage preservation Comparing the preservation of Barcelona to Joburg, Neil Fraser argues that more funds are needed and better legal structure put in place to ensure historic Joburg buildings are preserved in such a way that will benefit future generations September 20, 2004: The Second World Urban Forum - Part 1 Drawing on his experience at the second World Urban Forum in Barcelona, Neil Fraser highlights the Spanish host's inventive approach to urban revitalisation September 13, 2004: Housing, where to from here? Neil Fraser comments on the State of the Cities report published by the South African Cities Network and the housing challenges facing cities September 6, 2004: Decade of Change Scorecard Roundup vs Latest JDA Indicators Despite low scores in some sectors, Neil Fraser says most positive changes have only been made in the last few years and Joburg is moving forward steadily August 27, 2004: Decade of Change Scorecard (4) - how are we doing in Urban Design and Marketing? While urban design in the inner city is highly innovative, marketing could do better, says Neil Fraser. He adds a Cities in Change commentary on the role of housing, which reports on a growing social value system nurtured by the JHC, and the need for pro-poor developments to aid the death of the apartheid city August 23, 2004: Decade of Change Scorecard (3) - how are we making out in Transportation? Assessing the progress of transportation in the inner city, Neil Fraser says planning strategies and facilities are geared to achieving world-class status by 2010, but minibus taxi ranks are a shambles August 16, 2004: Decade of Change Scorecard (2) - how are we making out in the Residential Sector? Though developers are returning and great strides have been made to transform decaying buildings into residential units for middle- to upper-income groups, a programme to include the urban poor is sorely lacking, says Neil Fraser August 10, 2004: Decade of Change Scorecard (1) - how are we making out? IN the first part of a series assessing progress in the inner city, Neil Fraser concludes that while crime prevention has improved, more action from the Metro Police and anti-corruption strategies to make street trading viable must be enforced August 2, 2004: Neighbourhoods of Choice and Connection IN a bid to address the real issues which will create meaningful inner city regeneration and cohesion, Neil Fraser urges local strategists to abandon xenophobic attitudes and act on the lessons learnt by British and American case studies July 27, 2004: A tour of the tourism school MILPARK'S multimillion-rand metamorphosis, which began last year, has dramatically changed that edge of the inner city. Now it is receiving another R50-million boost: Technikon Witwatersrand is building its new School of Tourism and Hospitality over the road from the Gasworks, writes Neil Fraser July 20, 2004: The Drill Hall's long march to freedom The Drill Hall, which has served everyone from soldiers to judges and squatters, might have witnessed more history than any building in Johannesburg. Now it's the turn of artists to work some magic at the revamped heritage site, writes Neil Fraser July 12, 2004: City gurus to descend for Joburg summit THIS AUGUST dozens of urban experts from the United States, Britain and South Africa will speak at a city conference the Central Johannesburg Partnership is holding to explore the past 10 years and the next decade, writes NEIL FRASER July 9, 2004: What's new in Newtown THE past week was a busy one for the inner city: council officials dispatched a submission for an urban development zone, the Johannesburg Development Agency made a handful of announcements about Newtown and the agency's head won an award, writes NEIL FRASER July 5, 2004: The inner-city in-crowd THE rejuvenation of the inner city is a quest that has united dozens of organisations and departments of the City of Johannesburg. NEIL FRASER runs through the list of who they all are June 21, 2004: Stamp battery reclaims proud place in city FEW stamp batteries - those contraptions used to crush rock brought in from the goldfields - have survived since Johannesburg's early days. But one of the oldest mills on the Witwatersrand, one that spent 23 years submerged in a dam and nearly 70 years in a park, will be re-erected this week writes NEIL FRASER June 14, 2004: Pilot internet projects in Joburg: Part 2 NEIL FRASER reviews the top seven intelligent cities in the world and discusses the strategies that make e-jobs a vital bridge in the skills gap June 7, 2004: E-savvy makes for intelligent cities: Part 1 NEIL FRASER reviews the top seven intelligent cities in the world and discusses the strategies that make e-jobs a vital bridge in the skills gap June 1, 2004: New plan to create a safe city The 2030 vision, which makes tackling crime a priority, has prompted the City of Johannesburg to develop a comprehensive safety strategy. But will the stakeholders work together to pull it off? May 24, 2004: May the beautiful game rub off on Joburg's slums The Ellis Park sports precinct, which is surrounded by some of the inner city's most derelict neighbourhoods, most deserves the upliftment offered by the World Cup. NEIL FRASER shares his colourful dream of the magic the soccer spectacular could bring May 17, 2004: Eight years of classy Inner City renewal - and it shows Despite being written off as a basket case by many, Johannesburg's Inner City is incredibly moving to World Class status with the help of a renewal process boosted by the City's administration. Neil Fraser comments on its progress in the wake of an Inner City Business Plan to be released soon May 10, 2004: Creative strategies regenerate creative cities Basing research on a London regeneration report, Neil Fraser says Johannesburg should be capitalising more on its boundless creative capacity May 3, 2004: Does new urban development address real accommodation needs? Using Cape Town as an example, Neil Fraser argues that South Africa must guard against making inner-city property developments exclusive and should provide a plan whereby some accommodation is geared towards lower income groups who actually work in the cities April 28, 2004: Celebrating struggle art An exhibition of struggle posters - some of them never seen - which gave the silent majority a voice in the turbulent '80s opens in Newtown on 26 April. April 15, 2004: Capital gains! The City of Johannesburg's R1-billion bond issue and, undoubtedly more such issues to follow, will allow desperately needed capital investment to take place again, writes Neil Fraser April 5, 2004: Why we're World Class and why we may never be (2) The development of Africa's largest science centre, the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, is yet another step in Johannesburg's quest for World Class status, says Neil Fraser. March 30, 2004: Why we're World Class and why we may never be What we're sacrificing when we illegally tear down heritage buildings in the name of progress and cluster home developments is World Class status, argues Neil Fraser March 23, 2004: From Inner City Rooftops - Residential Rising Residential accommodation is the key to the redevelopment of cities into vibrant 24/7 places. March 15, 2004: From inner city rooftops to pan African design The Fashion District is developing a new vibrancy. March 8, 2004: 'Joburg Art City 2004' and 'Shatter the Silence' - celebrating the Decade of Democracy JOBURG ART CITY is a project aimed at turning the inner city into a giant outdoor art gallery March 1, 2004: City Transport - looking forward and looking back Healthy cities recognise the crucial need to maintain or rebuild a mass transit infrastructure. February 23, 2004: Mining Main Street Work has now started on the upgrading of Main Street and this is going to be another impactful and quite unique addition to the inner city. February 16, 2004: Decade of Dichotomy - Trees and Teddy Bears Constitution Hill is one of the largest of the inner city regeneration projects currently in progress. February 9, 2004: The Kopanong Gauteng Government Precinct A watershed for conservation and public consultation. February 2, 2004: International trends Neil Fraser looks at trends in US cities - potential threats but also confirmations! More CitiChat from 2003 More CitiChat from 2002