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HOW TO STRUT YOUR STUFF IN THE CITY
Mixed-use developments could be the future for cities like Durban. PICTURE: CAPTURESON PHOTOGRAPHY/UNSPLASH
BY VIVIAN WARBY
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NTHABISENG MAKGABO, an asset manager in student accommodation, has lived in Joburg for almost 10 years. She grew up in a local village before moving to the kasi for school. Here she gives advice on how to hustle like a pro in any city: It’s hard coming from a small town, the kasi or even the village to the city. Yet, I have really enjoyed my stay in Joburg. As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do – it is important to immerse yourself into the culture of the space you are in. When I first came here, I was definitely out of my league and unsure of what to do. One piece of advice my mom shared with me has helped me tremendously – she told me to get familiar with my surroundings. There are few places in Joburg that I am uncomfortable going to because I’ve been everywhere. Nothing intimidates me any more. This is not only good for my safety – because I know how to move around – but it’s also been amazing for meeting new people and getting out of my comfort zone. Knowing which areas are safer than others is important. This is where socialising comes in handy. Your friends will let you know where to go and where not to go. It also helps with cultural immersion and makes you feel rooted in a new space. If possible, try to do a city tour to understand the history of the area. Definitely also know the different transport routes that exist. Knowing how to get around is essential for being comfortable and happy in a space. Make sure you keep your morals and values close to you but try to get a feel for what the locals do and get into the activities or habits that resonate with you.
Stefan Botha, based in KwaZuluNatal, says they are “pleasantly surprised” by the growth and movement in inner-city projects. “People are back to their work and study environments and are following the old philosophy of wanting to live close to where they work and study.” Developers, he says, are concentrating on bringing not only office and living space to boomerang residents – and new ones – but have upped the ante for social and recreational areas making inner-city living even more attractive. “Developers are doing rejuvenation projects at scale. For instance, Homii has a national rental model – rent to own – that is bringing ownership in the cities to a whole new generation and they are also adding great social and recreational spaces.” In keeping with the global trend to improve the quality of office workers’ experience, landlords are also re-imagining their spaces to be more welcoming to them, says Evangelinos. Boxwood Property Fund, for instance, recently renovated the Picbel Parkade, now called The Felix, in Strand Street, in the Cape Town CBD, to the tune of R40 million, in a bid to change the way people use the building. Included in the renovation were the sprucing up of two all-weather, five-storey atriums into welcoming
IN THE middle of last year, a friend moved from his home – and life – in London to a quieter life in the countryside. The place was nice enough, with horses, and lots of country air. But, by month three, when he phoned me, he was miserable, finding the sounds of country life almost unbearable. I knew it would not be long before he returned to the city. Small-town living is not for everyone. Granted, he wasn’t living in a place like sunny Knysna or Yzerfontein, but in a gloomy, marshy village. When his employer insisted he return to the office, he happily packed up and made his way back to his old life. Smelly, busy, gritty, noisy, full of life and glitzy at times, the city was home for him. He is one of many the “boomerang residents” across the globe who have decided small-town living is not for them. Locally, we have seen the
There really is a requirement for solutions that re-imagine a more sustainable built environment that offers a far better solution to the status quo
sense of appreciation for human interaction, for having the freedom to spend time in social spaces, which we may have taken for granted previously.” Development manager, Patrick Gardner of Gardner Property Solutions, is bringing a number of mixed-use developments – which speak to the rejuvenation of cities – to Cape Town, including Lurra Capital’s The Fynbos, being marketed by Dogon Properties. He says while many people have moved to smaller towns, there is “a net inflow of people into Cape Town via semigration from Gauteng and KZN and also foreigners. “We are seeing this in our purchaser profile at The Fynbos, where a large proportion of buyers are coming from these three sources,” he says. While Gardner agrees with Loos things are not at pre-Covid levels, he says they are getting there. “People are back but it will take some time for businesses to recover and new ones to pop up in response. “City traffic alone is an indicator that we are getting back to pre-Covid levels. “Major retailers are also seeing a near normalisation of monthly trading turnovers in the CBD – great news and a strong indicator. Airbnb is also back to pre-Covid levels and, in some cases, better. “All good news for Cape Town.” Rainmaker Marketing’s director
Letter from the editor
recreational venues for tenants, with murals, seating, plug points and a braai area, Evangelinos says. Rob Kane, chairperson of Boxwood Property Fund, is talking to commercial landlords who own buildings in the area in a bid to collaborate and create livelier precincts and urban spaces. Murray Clarke, founder and chief executive of Neighbourgood, which builds co-living and co-working spaces in the cities, believes “the adaptation to a hybrid workspace solution where design is centred around people” will be the driver for what works or doesn’t work in cities nationally. “Naturally, Cape Town city, because of its pedestrian-friendly nature, offers a glimpse into what the future could look like with the integration of mixed-use themes across multiple new developments coming out of the ground. “Cities such as Durban, and others like it, could follow a similar trajectory if implemented correctly.” Murray believes that the key to a successful future city is a fusion of “culture, collaboration and people-centric design, driven by both the city and developers who have you and I (and our well-being) at the forefront of any decision making”. “There really is a requirement for solutions that re-imagine a more sustainable built environment that offers a far better solution to the status quo.”
boom of small towns where, for many, it makes sense to get space and tranquillity for their buck, and yet places close to the inner cities are beginning to get an injection of new life from former residents. I myself have moved to the city bowl. There is a lot to
OTHER TIPS FROM MAKGABO:
keep me here, and it seems
Do in-real-life viewing Try your best to physically see the properties you would like to rent. Pictures online can be deceiving. If you cannot go yourself, ask a friend to go for you or, sign up for a shorter lease (six months) so that you are not stuck in a long lease on a property you do not want to live in. Hustle on your rent Rents have become competitive. Many landlords offer deposit-free living or rentalised deposits (where the deposit is paid off over the duration of the lease). You have options now. Be smart and ask for deposit-payment options. Making friends Depending on your circumstances, your colleagues can be your first point of reference when making friends in a new city. Or you could join clubs in which you are interested. This will help you meet like-minded people. For instance, there are free running clubs to join. Hobby-based classes are a fantastic way to meet likeminded people. Safety The city is not always safe. Where possible, ensure someone knows where you are, especially if you live alone. Give someone you trust the ability to track you. There are many features available but an easy one is the FindMyiPhone App. This is a cliché but don’t accept drinks from strangers and, if something sounds too good to be true, it most probably is.
developers and city keepers are doing all they can to re-imagine thriving cities. It is important to note, as I write this, a growing number of homeless are also seeking shelter in our cities, which have often been hostile to the poor. Let us hope the new cities to emerge will take all their citizens into consideration, no matter their status, to ensure an inclusive and vibrant world where everyone is granted dignity. Warm regards
Vivian Warby vivian.warby@inl.co.za
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