HAPPENING HILTON

Hilton, says realtor Paul Campbell, has been booming for four years. “It has been incredible to see the shift in people’s perceptions.” Only a decade ago people in Pietermaritzburg felt that if it took more than 10 minutes to get anywhere, it was too long. “This mindset has certainly changed with people now viewing Hilton as far enough away from the capital city to feel like you are in the country, but close enough to get into town easily,” says Paul.

As a result, demand for Hilton property has spiked with developments that include a new hospital, shopping centres, offices and new residential estates. Paul says the average price of a freehold house in Hilton is about R1, 95-million and a sectional title unit is about R1,43-million.

EXCELLENT SCHOOLS AND A DESIRE FOR BETTER SERVICES IN A COUNTRY SETTING ARE DRIVING THE FLOURISHING HILTON PROPERTY MARKET, WRITES GREG ARDÉ

“Hilton’s demand is certainly growing. The fact that there are good schools close by, both public and private, makes it an attractive place for young families to locate to. This is also helped by the fact that Hilton living is convenient, there are quality shops close by and there is a sense that the air is cleaner.” Paul says Hilton’s major challenge is stable electricity supply.

Property company The Avenues Shopping Centre Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the JT Ross Property Group, recently developed the first phase, comprising 10 000m2, of the shopping centre – near

the Life Hospital in Hilton. Anchored by Pick n Pay and DisChem, The Avenues Centre is almost fully let – with additional tenants opening now in March and April.

Miles Taylor from the JT Ross Property Group says that the first phase of the adjacent Avenues residential estate, comprising 43 semi-detached and 14 free-standing plots, of what will eventually be 155 housing opportunities, has also just been launched. The Avenues offers secure living on a site which has dedicated Eskom supplied power, a dedicated water supply and water borne sewerage. Prices will range from R1,8-million and R2,9-million for the semi-detached and freehold homes respectively. “Hilton is in demand. There is a lot of energy in the market. The great educational offering and country living is a great driver,” says Miles.

Apart from The Avenues Centre, another retail centre in Hilton is about to launch, called The Siding. This is alongside the railway line in the village centre. And Etham College is building a campus about two kilometres from Hilton towards Howick, which is visible from the N3.

Zia Simpson, director of conveyancing firm Stowell & Co, says Hilton and Howick are becoming to Pietermaritzburg what uMhlanga has become to Durban.

“This is because of the high standard of delivery there versus the general sense of decay around Pietermaritzburg. »

1 Paul Campbell, Natal Property Consultants. 2 Andrew Barnes, Barnes Property. 3 Jo Jennings, Ooba. 4 Stefan Botha, Rainmaker Marketing. 5 Zia Simpson, Stowell & Co.

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“There is a sense that in Hilton things are cleaner and more accessible. There are less traffic problems and upmarket shopping … the Hilton community is thriving, whereas Pietermaritzburg is beset by service delivery problems related to water, power, potholes and filth.”

People who can afford to, Zia says, are looking to move to Hilton, the Midlands and beyond. “In general property values in Hilton and other outlying areas seem to be performing much better than the traditional Pietermaritzburg market.”

Leading Pietermaritzburg property developer, Andrew Barnes, says if ever there was a time for meaningful public private partnerships to bolster developments in the wider Hilton area, it’s now. Andrew recently co-sponsored a discussion relating to economic development in the area – where a host of property experts, senior Msunduzi Municipality officials and the CEO of the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Commerce, Melanie Veness, met.

Keynote speaker Stefan Botha from property research company Rainmaker Marketing said that cities around the world where there is a healthy collaboration between the public and private sector have seen development.

Melanie said the area had some of the best schools in the country and a “super buoyant” private healthcare sector that, like education, offers huge prospects.

Long-time Howick resident and Ooba property finance specialist, Jo Jennings said the popularity of Hilton was hopefully an indicator of improving economic fortunes for surrounding areas like nearby Howick. “A rising tide lifts all ships,” she said.

Andrew encouraged role players to collaborate to meet market expectations, reduce red tape and consider rates holidays to encourage development. “Our challenge is to jointly navigate processes. Meeting these challenges requires discipline and commitment.” *

ABOVE: One of the oldest and best known landmarks in Hilton is the Crossways Country Inn. Picture: The Story of Hilton by C&M Lake and Jenny Hoëpfl. BELOW: The first hotel in Hilton. Picture: The Story of Hilton by C&M Lake and Jenny Hoëpfl.

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