An insider's perspective on Johannesburg, written by prominent city
champion Neil Fraser.
Click on the title to read the full story
December 11, 2006: Work towards Inner City Summit begins
Workshops leading to next year's Inner City Summit have begun, with the safety, security and urban management sectors the first to meet. Neil Fraser looks at the issues raised.
December 4, 2006: Ignoring maintenance costs is a pricey mistake
Investment in infrastructure is vital, but governments should not neglect investing in maintenance of existing infrastructure. To do so is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
November 27, 2006: The end of the year is filled with good news
From fighting crime to keeping the city's citizens healthy, the end of year brings with it many excellent end of year events, writes Neil Fraser.
November 20, 2006: JDA report maps progress in the inner city
The good news is that the Gautrain should lead to more inner city investment, says Neil Fraser, but the bad news is that the poor are, once again, being marginalised.
November 13, 2006: Good and bad news in the Trafalgar Inner City Report 2006
The good news is that the Gautrain should lead to more inner city investment, says Neil Fraser, but the bad news is that the poor are, once again, being marginalised.
November 6, 2006: Newtown, heritage and yet more meetings
The South African Heritage Resources Agency held another meeting to consult with interested and affected parties on Newtown. But something seems wrong, says Neil Fraser as that process was already completed in March.
October 30, 2006: Lessons from Portland 3: random thoughts on benchmarking
The problem with Johannesburg's Inner City Urban Renewal Strategy is the lack of benchmarks. To compete with the world's big cities, Neil Fraser believes Joburg needs to smarten up how it measures itself and its progress.
October 23, 2006: Lessons from Portland 2: a new vocabulary for city-speak
While debating a charter for the International Downtown Association, Neil Fraser was struck by the need for a similar, modern charter for Johannesburg, one that refreshes the brand and uses a new way of talking about the city.
October 16, 2006: Portland is the city of civility and transportation
The Oregon city is leading the way when it comes to civil society and an environmentally friendly way of life. It is clean, green and a pleasant place to live, writes Neil Fraser.
October 9, 2006: From dreams to reality - the fashion district is rocking
It has been seven years in the making, but the vision of an inner city fashion district is becoming a reality. The wrecker's ball is at the ready and the Fashion Kapitol should be open within a few months, writes Neil Fraser.
October 2, 2006: How is Joburg really doing?
Looking at development and the criteria for judging how we are doing, Neil Fraser believes it is time for a rethink. Having more appropriate criteria will drive development strategies more effectively.
September 26, 2006: Appeal committee shows that the system works
Thankful the appeal committee of the South African Heritage Resources Agency has moved to save five of 10 buildings marked for demolition for the planned Gauteng Provincial Government Precinct, Neil Fraser believes there are still issues that need to be debated.
September 18, 2006: Sustainable cities go hand-in-hand with historic preservation
Historic preservation is a key component in the success of urban revitalisation. Yet the State of the Cities Report 2006 deals with a narrow understanding of sustainability that focuses on environmental issues. Nowhere does the report mention historic preservation.
September 11, 2006: Sustainability, global warming and the filling up of open spaces
It is high time Gauteng puts its money where its mouth is to preserve precious space and investigate more sophisticated ways of sustaining the environment, implores Neil Fraser.
September 4, 2006: Good and bad in build up to a 'green' World Cup
Johannesburg is encouraging more investment and partnerships between itself and the private sector ahead of 2010 - but more needs to be done to create a 'green' Soccer World Cup.
August 28, 2006: Bridging out in Braamies
Real consultation with all stakeholders leads to real hope for urban renewal, says Neil Fraser, commenting on the exciting new Bridge Precinct in Braamfontein and the Grand Parade in Cape Town.
August 21, 2006: Where have all the tourists gone?
While the city gets a great many visitors for a wide range of reasons, Joburgers can do much more to attract the general tourist.
August 14, 2006: Joburg's recovery in figures
Neil Fraser looks at the facts and figures that support his optimism over the future of Johannesburg's inner city.
August 7, 2006: Formal retail: the CBD and Soweto 2
Research into the development of new shopping malls in Soweto and what residents want leads Neil Fraser to question current trends.
July 31, 2006: Formal retail: the CBD and Soweto 1
The erection of a number of new malls in Soweto will have a profound impact on an area that previously had little or no retail operations, says Neil Fraser.
July 24, 2006: Appeal hearing on Gauteng precinct
The fate of the historic buildings earmarked for demolition to make way for a modern government precinct hangs in the balance after appeals were made last week. Neil Fraser reports on the appeal hearing.
July 14, 2006: Call for proactive residential planning in Inner City
Neil Fraser compares inner-city planning in Jozi with Canada and the US, and concludes: Our Inner City residential revival is great, but . . .
July 10, 2006: From Randlord mansion to uptown lofts
Neil Fraser tells the tale of two inner city developments – DoGon and Ashanti – and how they intersect with other city stories, tying a colonial Randlord to modern Africa.
July 3, 2006: Design Rocks and Fashion Swings!
The City's Merchandise Awards highlighted Jozi's immense design talent and showed just how much fashion can play a role as an economic activity in rebuilding the pillars of the inner city, says Neil Fraser.
June 26, 2006: The Origins Centre - a great Joburg addition
For an Afrocentric world-class experience, visit the Origins Centre on the Wits campus - a world-class venue with world-class multimedia displays tracing mankind's origins and the development of creativity.
June 19, 2006: Launches and Lofts
Memory and hope seemed to be the theme of the week with two inner city firsts: the inauguration of the Constitutional Hill Trust and the launch of Joburg: The Passion behind a City.
June 12, 2006: Addis Ababa, vibrant African city
Five years after his first visit to Addis Ababa Neil Fraser finds many changes - some good, like the renovations and construction of buildings near the airport, and some for the worse, like the degradation of the environment.
June 5, 2006: Looking at the effect of globalisation
Neil Fraser looks at the proposed Gauteng City Region in the light of 'the profound effect, good and bad, that globalisation has had on the economies of countries and cities'.
May 29, 2006: Of budgets and world-class buildings
Neil Fraser takes a look at Johannesburg's 2006/7 budget, and puts forward a strong argument for the City to invest funds in iconic public buildings that make its people proud.
May 22, 2006: World class cities and iconic architecture
In the first in a series looking at what makes a city world class, Neil Fraser looks to academic definitions of what a great city should be.
May 15, 2006: A lesson from Sydney and Melbourne
In most instances, Australia's cities of Sydney and Melbourne are an example of what can be achieved - from preserving heritage to safety, security and cleanliness. But the bureaucracy can be trimmed down, writes Neil Fraser.
May 8, 2006: Auckland's plan is pale and male
As a member of the international panel reviewing Auckland's Metro Project to turn the New Zealand city into a world class one, Neil Fraser is reminded of Johannesburg 20 years ago.
May 2, 2006: Singapore provides a fine smorgasbord
The city state of Singapore provides much food for thought, with its sweeping social engineering initiatives and emphasis on education and job creation.
April 24, 2006: Heritage, history and impact assessments
Will the South African Heritage Resources Agency be consistent when it looks at proposals for the development of the Electrical Precinct in Newtown, asks Neil Fraser.
April 10, 2006: More competition for inner city on the cards
This week there has been a hint of a rethink on the provincial government precinct proposal. And the executive mayor delivered his State of the City address. Now 11 City regions will be reduced to seven, reports Neil Fraser.
April 3, 2006: Fire raises issue of housing needs - again
Good news and bad, rocks and hard places - or just another week in the life of the city. Neil Fraser looks at strikes and fires, and the need for decent inner city housing for Joburg's poor.
March 27, 2006: Curitiba is a model for Jozi development
An abundance of refuse, an absence of reliable public transport: 2010 looms - who would really want to be mayor, asks Neil Fraser.
March 20, 2006: Cross-border shopping – moving to 'Jobai'
Following in the lucrative footsteps of Dubai, and becoming a cross-border shopping mecca, will boost Jozi's economy and bring growth to all. And it will benefit the poor, too.
March 13, 2006: Evictions - between a
rock and a hard place
A recent judgment has put the problem of inner city housing for the poorest of the poor squarely in the spotlight. Perhaps the time has come for an inner city housing indaba for the public and private sector to come up with some workable solutions.
