Neighbourhood 22 JULY 2018
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Power nodes Mixed-use neighbourhoods are mushrooming all over urban South Africa, page 2
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SUBURB FOCUS: SMART CITIES
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Smart cities Mixed-use neighbourhoods – how do they look in South Africa? WORDS: BETSIE LOOCK-VAN DER MERWE IMAGES: ANTON SCHOLTZ, PAULO MENEZES, STEPHEN PILBROUGH & SUPPLIED
THE SILO DISTRICT, CAPE TOWN
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ome of the buzzwords associated with the modern-day urban design movement called new urbanism include “mixed-use”, “urban villages” and “smart cities”. And according to South Africa’s prominent real-estate and property-development professionals, this trend, promoting mixed-use, walkable, technologyforward, green and sustainable neighbourhoods, is progressively influencing the nature of real-estate and urban-development strategies internationally and locally.
What makes an urban village or smart city?
As opposed to traditional suburban, township or lifestyle estate neighbourhoods mainly comprising residential properties where residents usually have to travel far to their places of work, these mixed-use areas comprise “a mix of commercial, residential and retail space”, says Peet Strauss, Pam Golding Properties development manager for Joburg. “The combination of the three spaces caters to work, home and lifestyle.”
HATFIELD, PRETORIA
In addition hereto is people’s need for a sense of community. “With the estranged lifestyles we lead today, the need to connect has never been more pronounced. City planners are trying to rectify the situation by creating these mixed-use precincts in the hope that they will form minicommunities of connection and interaction. Shops, offices and homes are all set up within walking distance of each other to foster a culture of a closely-knit community,” explains
Adrian Goslett, regional director and CEO, RE/MAX of Southern Africa. To enhance the village feel and a healthy lifestyle, these areas include green spaces and/or parks – sometimes even food gardens on rooftops. “The widespread use of green or sustainable building designs and methods in new developments, and retrofit features like solar geysers, solar panels, roof insulation, water-recycling systems and rainwater tanks to make older buildings eco-friendlier, as well as LED street lighting, are increasingly also part of the design,” remarks Berry Everitt, CEO, Chas Everitt International property group. Another defining feature is “highspeed internet connectivity throughout the precinct that enables residents to work from home, shop from home and monitor security. At the same time it enables local authorities to manage service networks, public transport and community facilities in real time”, adds Everitt. Access to reliable mass transport systems like the Gautrain, MyCiTi, Rea Vaya and A Re Yeng bus rapid transit networks should be within walking distance. “It’s notable that the Gautrain has already given rise to flourishing mixed-use nodes around each of its stations,” says Everitt.
Trends in South Africa
In South Africa, new-urbanism trends have already been picked up along the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, Gauteng and the Western
Cape, and experts predict that it’s here to stay. “It is definitely a rising trend and we have seen a strong migration to and development in these areas over the last five to eight years,” confirms Samuel Seeff, chairman, Seeff Property Group. Locally, integrated neighbourhoods are created in many different ways and areas to meet the varying needs of South Africans with different housing preferences and budgets. Everitt explains that these neighbourhoods can be deliberately created from the ground up like Century City, Harbour Arch, Melrose Arch, Menlyn Maine, Loftus City, Cornubia and the new Barloworld precinct in Sandton. They can grow out of inner-city rejuvenation projects like the V&A Waterfront, Maboneng, Braamfontein, and Durban’s Rivertown Triangle, or they can occur naturally in older suburban areas where residents have over time set up or “imported” the conveniences they want within walking distance of their homes. “Suburbs like Melville, Parkhurst and Linden in Joburg, Musgrave in Durban, Hatfield in Pretoria and most of the southern suburbs of Cape Town, are good examples of urban villages where everything is human scale like a traditional village, and which, by and large, adhere to the principles of new urbanism including walkability, diversity, housing variety, quality architecture, managed densification, green transportation and connectivity,” says Everitt.
Globally and in South Africa, mixed-use developments have arisen as a result of the need for urban development and re-development to cater to the growing desire and need for convenient, appealing and sustainable areas where people can live, work and play THE RIVERTOWN TRIANGLE, DURBAN
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PROPERTY NEWS
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WESTERN CAPE: • Century City: a mixed-use neighbourhood where residents can live, work and play with offices and businesses, a mega-mall and a mix of residential options including apartments and townhouses. • Cape Town’s CBD: through private or public partnership initiatives the area was re-energised. Businesses have come back while old buildings have been renovated offering fabulous urban living spaces. • Parklands/Sandown: the integration of a range of residential property options as well as businesses and commercial or retail centres, schools, medical services, green areas, cycling lanes, bus and taxi services, mean that residents don’t have to travel out of the area. HARBOUR ARCH, CAPE TOWN
CENTURY CITY, CAPE TOWN
KWAZULU-NATAL: • Sibaya Coastal: once fully realised it’ll include hotels, offices, shops, restaurants, educational institutions and recreational opportunities to complement its residential offering. • Cornubia: a multi-billion-rand project that’ll be a mixed-use, mixedincome development, incorporating industrial, commercial, residential and open-space uses. THE SIBAYA COASTAL PRECINCT, KZN
CORNUBIA, KZN
MUSGRAVE, DURBAN
GAUTENG: • Melrose Arch: Pam Golding’s Peet Strauss, who also lives and works in the precinct, says the biggest attraction is the security. A further 241 residential units are now being added through the One on Whiteley development. • Menlyn Maine: shops, offices, a gym, restaurants, a hotel, medical facilities and a day spa are all within walking distance from your apartment. This development claims to be the first “green city” in the country.
THE MELROSE ARCH PRECINCT, JOBURG
MENLYN MAINE, PRETORIA
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PROPERTY NEWS RETIREMENT FOCUS
22 JULY 2018
Neighbourhood
My business neighbourhood P
eople love the way shoes make them feel, and if you explore the closet of any woman or modern man, you’d surely find at least 20 pairs of shoes. Graeme Tuck leveraged off consumers’ obsession for shoes and developed the Blueberry Blush brand to bring clients a selection of high-fashion footwear – from pumps to heels and their iconic jelly sandals. Q: How did your business start? A: A mutual friend introduced me to my business partner, Angela van Herzeele, and within six weeks, we were in business together. Angela had a passion for all things fashion while I loved the business aspect and the merging of our interests resulted in the business idea. We officially opened Blueberry Blush on 1 August last year. Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop? A: We operate from the Acacia Business Park in Hillcrest which is ideal because we looked for an area that was close to both of our homes. Q: How did you find your premises? A: We needed premises that provided
The online company Blueberry Blush brings customers sandals and shoes that are designed and manufactured locally, with a few imports to boot WORDS: TIVANIA MOODLEY IMAGE: SUPPLIED
adequate storage and workspace because we are not very retail focused right now. We dealt with several local estate agents and viewed many properties but finally felt that the Acacia Business Park was right for us. Q: Why are they ideally suited to your business? A: We’re geared to sell via a distribution network of boutiques nationwide, as well as via an online platform, and felt that having a spacious, well-lit and secure base was our priority. Acacia Business Park offers all of that. Q: Who are your neighbours? A: A business that manufactures soap and one that does promotional printing. Q: What are the shop rental/ sales prices like in this area? A: The rental prices are competitive at a cost of approximately R60/m2. Q: Do you have any expansion plans? A: Our business is still growing, so our immediate future developments will be focused on our product range and branding. Priorities include
quality enhancements for local and particularly export clients, range expansion in several styles, and refinements to our packaging. Q: How many people visit your business each day? A: We see several people per week by appointment only as we’re more geared towards online sales. Q: Do you operate online as well? A: We have an active Facebook page (@blueberryblushza) that showcases our products and do online orders via our website (blueberryblush.co.za). Q: What’s your most popular item? A: In our jelly sandal range, the Athena, Aphrodite and Venus sandals are most popular. In our pump range, the Blue Shweshwe style always sells out quickly.
SEE FOR YOURSELF: Bluebery Blush 083 256 3878 blueberryblush.co.za
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PROPERTY NEWS RETIREMENT FOCUS
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More property value in Goodwood
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oodwood is one of the most affordable Cape Town neighbourhoods for middleclass buyers and tenants. According to Johann Groenewald, Seeff licensee for Goodwood and surrounds, the greater Goodwood offers the ideal mix of centrality and good value, attracting especially middle-income consumers. It also boasts among the highest proportion of young buyers with just over 30% under 35 years of age and a further 41% under 50. Groenewald says that you can live, work and play in the area and even if you work elsewhere, you have access to excellent transport. Residents have just about any product or service on hand around the neighbourhood, from a variety of services to fast foods and restaurant brands. On top of the N1 City mega mall, you’re also close to Canal Walk, another
mega shopping centre. Then the Grand West Casino, the biggest of its kind in the Western Cape, is a landmark in the area. Family buyers are spoilt for choice as there are excellent primary and high schools as well as technical colleges. The properties are generally older, offering great opportunities to renovate, but there are areas with luxury homes with pools in the R2m to R2,5m price range, adds Groenewald. There’s a huge demand for rental homes and flats in the Goodwood area and these are still in short supply, he says. The high demand for rental homes has sparked higher rates and a steady 10% year-on-year increase in rentals. A two-bedroomed apartment rents out at around R5,500 to R8,500 per month and family homes at around R12,000 to R16,000 per month.
Second-hand, A-grade office space in Sandton is now so much more affordable, with further discounts often being offered. This is good news for businesses who may have thought previously that they could not afford to establish a presence in Sandton because of the high rentals. SEAN PAUL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SPIRE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Sky City Precinct
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he R10bn retail and residential development, Sky City Precinct, is currently underway 35km south east of Joburg. Starting as a 12,000m2 community centre by 18 April next year, the development will host 60 shops, growing into a regional centre which will occupy more than 9ha in the near future. Positioned on a portion of agricultural land known as Waterval, Sky City will form part of the Watervalspruit Township development which has been planned for the area. The mall is being developed by the GMI Property Group with Retail Network Services being responsible for the concept development of the mall.
Rossouw Architects has been appointed as designers of the mall while other members of the expert professional team include SM Maré Quantity Surveyors, DJJ Conradie Consulting Electrical Engineers and Proficient Engineering Civil and Structural Consultants. An affordable private school, part of the Royal Group, opened its doors within the precinct in January this year, and another school is planned to open in January next year. The residential and school component of the Sky City Precinct is being driven by Cosmopolitan Projects which plans to complete 13,242 residential stands, including 2,116 high-density apartments, over the next couple of years.
Amla partners with Saxony Developments
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outh African cricketing legend Hashim Amla has joined forces with Saxony Developments to introduce The Saxony Sibaya, an all-encompassing luxury development along KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast. This will be the first estate to introduce drive-up access to all of the individual apartment suites and penthouses. “Throughout my career, I have been exposed to some great investment opportunities, and it is in recent times that I’ve realised that the best investment returns come from off-plan residential developments,” says Amla. “I have been observing the significant growth within Sibaya Coastal Precinct, and with its revolutionised lifestyle, it is by far the fastest growing residential node in the country right now. I jumped at the opportunity to invest in this
node and to partner with Saxony Developments, one of South Africa’s leading property developers,” he adds. The development will introduce 100 luxury apartments, consisting of two and three bedrooms, as well as three- and four-bedroom penthouses, with each unit featuring its own private outdoor living space. Saxony Developments CEO Rajan Naidoo comments, “Hashim Amla has extensive knowledge of luxury estate living from across the globe and has insight into what the market is looking for; his partnership has been invaluable. The vision behind The Saxony Sibaya is simple yet sophisticated architecture, sheer splendour and the prominence of the noteworthy location. We wanted this development to awaken the senses and truly provide residents with a home that represented sophistication.”
Neighbourhood
Recycling 101 For many, recycling has become second nature, but thousands of South Africans find the concept too overwhelming WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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What are you going to recycle? As Laura says, “When you start out, don’t overcomplicate. You’ll be put off by recycling.” She suggests three steps to success.
These are the guys who pick through your dustbins on collection days. Much of South Africa’s recycled material comes via this channel.
reevolution is the pet project of South African journalists Laura Grant and Alastair Otter. Among other things, they put together a free, downloadable copy of their accessible, comprehensive recycling booklet, and it’s in the process of being updated (end July at treevolution.co.za).
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What to recycle
How to recycle
Generally, you have three options: organise a kerbsidecollection service run by a private company and pay for their service; take your recyclables to a drop-off point or a buy-back centre; or let informal recyclers, or bin-pickers, do your recycling for you.
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Where to store
Glass, plastic, paper, metal, biodegradable food waste? Even if you just start with one of these, you’re making a difference. Treevolution challenges you to a one-week trial.
Now you roughly know how much you’ll have after a fortnight or a month, so how and where will you store it until it’s collected or you take it to a drop-off site?
“Separate your rubbish for a week by putting glass, plastic, paper and metal into separate bin bags. Rinse everything first to prevent mould,” Laura explains.
At home, most of the material you generate for recycling is likely to come from the kitchen. Before you rush out to buy a fancy recycling bin set for your kitchen, ask yourself: • Is there space for multiple dustbins in the kitchen? • Do you need multiple dustbins or can you get by with just two – recyclables and ordinary waste? • How big would the bin(s) for recyclables need to be? In other words, how often do you want to empty them? • If you need to store your recyclables
“The amount of material you collect in a week will surprise you! After a week, you’ll have a fairly good idea of how much of each recyclable material you are likely to collect, how large a container is needed for each recyclable material, and how often you’ll need to get it collected or take it to a drop-off point,” she says.
before they’re collected or dropped off, where will you store them? • Would you prefer to keep one bin for recyclables in the house, then empty that when it’s full into different bigger dustbins outside, one for each different recyclable material? • If you do that, what size bins do you need? This depends on how long you’re going to store the recyclables before it’s collected or dropped off. • Are you going to be able to fit these bins in your car to take it to the drop-off site? If you have a collection service, you generally need about two weeks’ worth of storage space. If you don’t have to sort out your recyclables, one 40-litre wheelie bin will suffice for your average household with two children.
USEFUL HINTS: • If you are transporting your recyclables to a drop-off point, consider plastic boxes with lids rather than bins. • For kerbside collection, put a bin liner in your outside bins. This makes it easy to remove and place outside.
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PROPERTY NEWS
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New suburb near Umhlanga booming
Izinga Ridge offers a range of properties WORDS: CANDICE BOTHA
IMAGE: SUPPLIED
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zinga Ridge is one of the newest areas in the booming Umhlanga area. “Izinga was practically undeveloped 10 years ago,” says Kerry Bailey, principal, Tyson Properties Umhlanga and Ballito. “The area has mushroomed and the arterial roads and freeways have developed. The gated, freestanding Izinga Park 1 and 2 are still being built on. There is also some undeveloped land that has been sold to developers to be developed in the near future. Tongaat Hulett may also release more land for development, so the market is fairly buoyant with many buy-to-sell or rent investors.” The suburb’s location is a big attraction to buyers. It’s very close to all the amenities of Umhlanga Village and Umhlanga Ridge, including the busy Gateway area. Many large corporate businesses have moved their offices from the CBD to this area making Izinga attractive to professionals who wish to live close to work, as well as families who are attracted to the excellent schools in the area. Despite its proximity to the hustle and bustle, it has a sense of tranquillity that is normally associated with
older, more traditional suburbs and many plots have exceptional views. “It’s a well-maintained upmarket area with modern homes, a sense of community and excellent communal security comprising CCTV, guards on foot patrol and on-site response vehicles,” says Lew Geffen, chairman, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty. Bailey adds that the development has been well thought out and planned. “It’s attractive on the eye with a slight Balinese influence in the architecture,” she notes. One of the area’s main drawcards is that it has a wide range of property options to suit most budgets. “There are freestanding units and duets in the ungated and gated areas,” says Bailey. Geffen notes that house prices generally range between R6m and R10m. “Gems from around R4m do still come onto the market occasionally,” he says. “At the upper end of the market, investors seeking designer homes with all the bells and whistles can expect to pay up to R17m. Sectional title homes start at around R2m.”
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