MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT

Developments

for 2021 and beyond

Mixed-use developments continue to grow in popularity in South Africa – and there are plenty more in the pipeline for 2021 and beyond. By TREVOR CRIGHTON

SANDTON GATE, JOHANNESBURG

Phase One of the Sandton Gate development has been completed, with the second of six phases set to rollout shortly. The rst phase includes 15 500m2 of commercial space, 13 000m2 of premium-grade of ce space and a 2 500m2 Planet Fitness gym positioned on the piazza level of the building. The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has also earmarked the R3-billion eco-city as a pilot project for one of the rst green-rated precincts in South Africa.

Abland MD Jurgens Prinsloo is quoted as having said that the project won’t ignore road upgrades, due to its size. “Abland undertook extensive traf c impact assessments to get an idea of the traf c impact once the project is complete. Ultimately, there are seven substantial upgrades that we’re doing ranging from the Peter Place intersection, Republic intersection, Mattie intersection, Sandton Drive and William Nicol,” he said.

CORNUBIA, KWAZULU-NATAL

Cornubia is a strategically located development in the northern corridor of Durban, approximately 17 kilometres from the CBD and 7 kilometres south of King Shaka International Airport along the N2 highway.

The project was spearheaded through a partnership between eThekwini Municipality and Tongaat Hulett Developments.

Already under development with signifi cant investment (total investment value R25-billion), this urban node is a 1 300-hectare mixed-use, mixed-income development, incorporating industrial, commercial, residential and open space uses. It includes the provision of social facilities to service the residential neighbourhoods.

Phase one of the housing is complete expect for social facilities, which are currently under construction, and some commercial and retail developments have been completed. Phase two of the housing is currently in planning.

Sir Lowry Square, Cape Town

The construction of Sir Lowry Square from May 2021 will deliver a 22 000m2 mixed-use development to knit together Woodstock and the Cape Town CBD with 5 000m2 of retail shops, a Radisson Hotel and 204 apartments.

This R800-million development will encompass an entire city block between Sir Lowry Road, Russel Street, Francis Street and Basket Lane, with apartments and a Radisson Luxury Hotel sitting atop two fl oors of retail, including Pick n Pay, Clicks, local boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops.

It will house a fi tness and yoga studio, laundromat facilities and secure basement parking. There’ll be a pet-friendly, tree-lined central courtyard, and on the fi fth fl oor, a rooftop terrace with a lap pool, lounge, snack bar and panoramic views of the city, serviced by the Radisson Hotel, for both guests and residents.

Wharfside, Durban Point

Durban’s Point area is getting a major development boost with a R270-million mixed-use co-development, Wharfside. Situated within walking distance of the newly commissioned beachfront promenade, uShaka Marine World, and pending MSC Cruise Liner passenger terminal and “Durban Eye” Ferris wheel attraction, the 7 500m2 mixed-use development delivers 111 apartments and a ground floor retail space.

FWJK director: developments Daniel Gardener says that Wharfside will play a crucial role in uplifting the Point area, aligning with the City’s planned revival of the precinct. “The development will respond to a healthy growing demand for contemporary, secure accommodation within the Durban Point Waterfront and offer property investors a unique opportunity to invest at cost price into a agship residential property development in the area.”

LIVE, WORK, PLAY

Waterfall, Johannesburg

South African mixed-use developments continue to set continental standards for a new type of lifestyle, combining international trends with local adaptations to create prime locations for people to live, work and play. By TREVOR CRIGHTON

WATERFALL, JOHANNESBURG

The sprawling 2 200 hectare Waterfall development in Northern Johannesburg was named African Property Awards’ Best Mixeduse Development in South Africa for the seventh consecutive year in 2020/21 – and it’s easy to see why.

Waterfall blends the ideal location – accessible from Pretoria, Sandton and Johannesburg via major routes and just four kilometres from the Midrand Gautrain station – with an array of amenities including eight secure residential developments, two retirement villages, multiple offi ce parks, a logistics hub, two private schools, a hospital, four hotels, a heliport, multiple parks, fi tness centres, Waterfall Market and over 60 restaurants, as well as a number of shopping centres, including the Mall of Africa.

The CBD, Waterfall City, features safe pedestrian walkways and dedicated cycle lanes with parkrun and green spaces like the 1.2 hectare Waterfall Park. Its residential estates include over 35km of hiking and biking trails, fi shing dams and a 20km mountain bike track.

Attacq chief development offi cer Giles Pendleton says that Waterfall’s key differentiator is its ability to stay on par with global best practice while ensuring the implementation of relevant aspects needed for the African market. “Africa is not a homogenous place and what may work in Kenya or Morocco won’t necessarily translate in South Africa. Even Waterfall, to a certain degree, has a slightly different macroclimate to Midrand or Sandton, subtle, but it is a difference. These nuances matter and impact how we design the City,” he says.

Century City, Cape Town

CENTURY CITY, CAPE TOWN

“The dream of Century City was ‘born’ in 1997 when a 250-hectare wasteland alongside the N1 in Cape Town was rezoned from residential to mixed-use development,” says Chris Blackshaw, CEO of Century City Property Owners’ Association. “In 1998, Ratanga Junction was opened, followed two years later by Canal Walk Shopping Centre.”

In 2004, the remaining undeveloped land and associated rights were acquired by the Rabie Property Group whose fi rst development was the residential Island Club. Since then, Century City has grown into a coveted precinct with about 4 000 front doors, smaller retail nodes in addition to Canal Walk, showrooms, hotels, the Century City Conference Centre and 370 000m2 of prime offi ce space owned by various landlords such as Old Mutual, Growthpoint, Absa, Rabie and Spire. Century City is South Africa’s fi rst Smart City with pioneering initiatives and a track record in urban precinct management, environmental, connectivity and communication, safety and security as well as community engagement.

Jewel City, Johannesburg

JEWEL CITY, JOHANNESBURG

Offering the Maboneng precinct its second new lease on life since its fi rst redevelopment in 2009 is Divercity’s Jewel City, a R1.8-billion six-block development in the heart of the Johannesburg CBD.

Named for the area’s historical tenants – the city’s diamond trade – the development was offi cially opened on 24 September 2020 and now houses about 1 500 residential units, 10 000m2 of offi ce space, a Curro High School and an array of retail outlets in converted offi ce buildings and warehouses. Two new residential blocks were also constructed. “We would like to encourage other developers to see the CBD’s potential and join us in uplifting and upgrading it to make it a safe place for people to live and work,” says Atterbury Gauteng head of development, Derrick Pautz.