Neighbourhood 14 JANUARY 2018
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Arcadia How this history-rich suburb continues to attract a wide range of homebuyers, page 2
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SUBURB FOCUS: ARCADIA
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BUSINESS Q&A
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PROPERTY NEWS
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PROPERTY NEWS
14 JANUARY 2018
Neighbourhood
Suburb focus
Arcadia Here’s what’s happening in property in the area WORDS: BETSIE LOOCK-VAN DER MERWE IMAGES: RENE WALKER & GOOGLE MAPS
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stablished in the late 1850s and incorporated into Pretoria in 1889, Arcadia is one of Pretoria’s oldest and most established outlying CBD suburbs. This picturesque neighbourhood, with its abundance of beautiful trees, has Pretoria’s busy business
district as its western neighbour and is bordered by the suburbs of Sunnyside in the south and Hatfield in the east. At its northern end lies the scenic Meintjieskop where the first building block of the Union Buildings was laid in 1910. These imposing buildings occupy the highest point of Pretoria and form the official seat of the government.
*Map not to scale
To its east lie the terraced gardens of the presidency and Mahlamba Ndlopfu, the presidential abode. As a result of its location close to Parliament, this historic suburb has over the years developed into a true diplomatic hub. Today, Arcadia is home to dozens of embassies, consulates and high commissions. Being located so close to the commercial centre of the city and its educational heart, the University of Pretoria, Arcadia has also developed into a residential home for the working class and the city’s student population. Today, Arcadia is a popular multicultural suburb welcoming residents from all walks of life and boasting an eclectic fusion of old world architectural treasures and modern-day lodging.
Property
The real estate market in Arcadia is as diverse as its colourful population. The tranquil northeastern streets boast some beautiful homes dating from the Victorian/Edwardian era; most of them still have pressed ceilings and yellowwood floors. Many of these sought-after properties have been superbly restored and repurposed for business use, ambassadorial premises, guest houses and the like. Developers and investors are also inclined to buy two or three adjoining properties to meet the high demand for student accommodation. Until recently, property owners in the age groups 36 to 49 and 50 to 64 together accounted for almost 70%
What I love most about Arcadia is that I can comfortably and safely walk to the local shops, restaurants, gym, bus stop, pharmacy, doctors and even hospitals if necessary. I also like to relax, meet friends and spend some time in the gardens at the Union Buildings on Sundays. JULIA MATHIPA, RESIDENT
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Neighbourhood
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PROPERTY NEWS
of stable owners in Arcadia. This is changing at a rapid pace as statistics show that buyers in the 18 to 35 age group have increased from 12,7% to 51,6%. This demand is to a large extent met by blocks of high-rise units in the western part, ranging from reasonably priced compact bachelor apartments, to comfortable multibedroom apartments and stylish high-income contemporary units. Students and young working-class residents find Arcadia’s location within walking distance of public transport links like the Gautrain and Tshwane Rapid Transit networks particularly appealing.
Schooling Some of Pretoria’s finest and oldest schools are found in and around the neighbourhood. Arcadia
SHOP:
Primary School prides itself on its rich history since it started out as a tent school in a park in 1903. Pretoria High School for Girls dates back to 1902 and Pretoria Technical High School, originally located in Pretoria Central, was founded in 1904 and later moved to its current location in Arcadia. Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria and Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool are situated in neighbouring Sunnyside, while many more top schools are situated in Brooklyn.
Explore Arcadia is home to the renowned Loftus Versfeld Stadium, home of the Blue Bulls, where rugby enthusiasts can be found on weekends supporting their favourite teams. The landmark Sterland Mall comprises 11 movie theatres, a number of restaurants, a gym, select retail stores and entertainment for the whole family. There’s no shortage of clubbing and nightlife options in neighbouring suburbs Sunnyside and Hatfield, while many parks and green areas offer a breath of fresh air and some open space. The Pretoria National Zoological Gardens at the west end of Arcadia offers many outdoor hours of fun and excitement.
For sale
For rent
Median asking price:
Median asking price:
R325,000
For a typical property in this area
R1,8m
R455,000
R2,88m
In a complex
For an apartment
For a house
You’ll pay
R3,190
Sancardia Shopping Centre Sterland Mall Eastwood Village Hatfield Plaza Sunnypark Shopping Centre
EAT: • Harrie’s Pancakes, Eastwood Village: for delicious comfort food • Eastwoods Tavern: for a great meal while you watch sport • Zemara Restaurant: for African cuisine • Red Eagle Spur Steak Ranch: for flame-grilled family favourites • Trademarx Restaurant and Bar, Loftus Versfeld Stadium: for a wide selection of tasty dishes and a reasonably priced buffet
SEE: • The statue of Nelson Mandela at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre • The sunset or sunrise from the Union Buildings • The Pretoria Art Museum – the gallery contains mainly South African work • The roses at the Rosarium in Venning Park • Springbok Park, which is a national monument and contains many indigenous plant species
R4,200
Monthly bond repayments
For a typical property (one-bedroom apartment)
• • • • •
For a typical property (one-bedroom apartment)
R8,900
R4,455
R5,650
In a complex
For an apartment
For a house
per month
Property Type:
20%
Property Type:
house
Based on
9%
complex
71%
apartment
7% house
R325,000
7%
median asking price
over a period of 20 years at 10,25% prime
complex
86%
apartment
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PROPERTY NEWS
14 JANUARY 2018
My business neighbourhood Van Beard in Rietfontein sells a range of products to care for your beard, moustache and hair WORDS: ZENA LE ROUX IMAGES: SUPPLIED
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an Beard sells a range of hair-care products which are handmade from premium, natural ingredients. Theunis Van Niekerk, business owner and product creator, tells us more. Q: How did your business start? A: I was looking for beard oil for myself and couldn’t quite find what I wanted, so I decided to make my own. I had some extra that I gave to a few friends to try. We were happy with it, so I made some more and started selling it. Once I sold some of the oils, I started adding a few other products to the range as well. Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop? A: I’ve set up my business at home, saving on the cost of renting
Neighbourhood
premises, with the added convenience of a home office. Q: How did you find your premises? A: I looked at a number of possible premises, but couldn’t beat the central location that our home offers. After careful consideration and negotiations, we decided to create a suitable space in our home for Van Beard. Q: Why are the premises ideally suited to your business? A: R ietfontein is centrally located in Pretoria and conveniently close to the highway, which makes travelling to my clients easier.
my products available in Joburg as well. Q: Do you operate online as well? A: Yes, we’ve got a website and we also make use of social media. Q: What’s your most popular item? A: My Beard Oil (Woodland) is currently my most popular product. It’s available in a 30ml dropper bottle and as part of my 3 x 10ml multipack.
Q: Who are your neighbours? A: Residential owners. Q: What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area? A: Property prices in the area are reasonable, compared to many other suburbs in Pretoria. Q: How many people visit your business each day? A: At the moment, 12 shops in the Pretoria area stock my product range. I also take orders from the public via email and social media. SEE FOR YOURSELF: Q: Do you have any expansion plans? A: Definitely. I’m constantly scouting for new clients to stock my products and would love to have
Van Beard 071 862 1561 vanbeard.co.za
Know thy neighbour(hood)
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14 JANUARY 2018
Neighbourhood
Building responsibly Fully certified, locally produced eco-friendly building materials are gaining popularity WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER
IMAGE: ISTOCK
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he built environment is responsible for as much as 40% of all man-made carbon emissions, with rubble and soil waste from construction and demolition being a large component of landfill sites. Building an eco-friendly house is well within reach, not just in terms of the smart architectural design principles, but also the materials used. More tried-and-tested, goodlooking building materials with full accreditation from the various quality control bodies are coming onto the market. They’re either comparable in price to standard products, competitively priced or more affordable in the long term. It’s a myth that going green is more expensive. Chris Whyte, MD, Use-It (a non-profit organisation with registered Public Benefit Organisation status and the aim of diverting waste and creating jobs), says that sustainable and/or recycled building materials can not only be cheaper than conventional building materials, but can also outperform them on many aspects. “Do yourself a favour and get a great product that you can tell your friends all about while your conscience rests
easy in the fact that you’re doing your bit to save the planet,” he says. “Alternative building materials have had a tough time getting into mainstream application in the market, but a recent drive by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs aims to promote their integration through the development of an Institute of Alternative Building Materials.” One of Use-It’s products is RamBricks, which are compressed-earth blocks made by converting waste soils and rubble from landfills into building products for a range of housing types. This is Africa’s first five-star EcoStandard-rated brick manufactured from local resources and inert waste, has Agrément certification for the manufacturing process and has approval within the guidelines of the National Home Builders Registration Council. Chris says it has a carbon footprint one-third less than that of conventional materials, needs no water for its manufacture, requires only 5% of cement usually used and reduces construction time by 10%, among other benefits. Other products include Plastitrade’s roof tiles, a blend of post-consumer
waste plastic and sand, where heat and pressure are applied. The company also produces manhole covers, paving slabs, cobblestones, railway sleepers and retaining blocks. Around 160,000 tons of rubber tyres are discarded every year. Most end up in landfill sites or are burnt. EnviroBuild manufactures rubber paving which can be laid on top of other surfaces. The paving is elastic, doesn’t crack, is easy to clean and affordable. Carpeting and flooring giant Van Dyck manufactures all EnviroBuild products, which are 100% recyclable. EnviroTimbers and Ecowood source and process plastic waste and transform it into 100% recycled plastic products such as timber plastic furniture. Green Plastic Designs manufactures recycled plastic timber products, including outdoor furniture, decking, children’s playgrounds, dustbins and fencing. Ecology Plastics produces outdoor furniture and other products. Lavaplastic produces eco-friendly fencing. That’s just a handful of suppliers. There are numerous others producing authentic, ecofriendly building products.
PROPERTY NEWS
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Luxury living with a view
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luxury private residential development was launched in December on Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard, with apartments priced from R11,495m to R25m, excluding VAT. There is no transfer duty.
leading up to a luxurious lounge and entertainment area. Two top-floor penthouses and 17 twoand three-bedroom apartments are on sale – all offering state-ofthe-art security and top-of-theline furnishings and fittings.
The Berman Brothers Group’s flagship The Estate on St Johns is on Signal Hill and has commanding views of the sea and city. The Estate’s two blocks are linked by a reception space complete with a dramatic staircase
There are secure covered parking and storage units for each apartment and high-speed internet is available throughout the property. A concierge team will be on hand 24 hours a day.
The trend towards secure lock-up and go lifestyle estates is a desirable upward trend that has been with us for the last 20 years, and purchasers looking for security inside lifestyle estates and large sectional title complexes continue to increase DAVID INGLE, MD, SEEFF EDENVALE/BEDFORDVIEW
Opposite spectrums drive KZN property demand
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ll indications are that the undeveloped land surrounding major centres in KwaZulu-Natal holds enormous value that could reshape the face of one of South Africa’s most popular coastlines. Xoli Shabalala, head: market solutions, Tongaat Hulett Developments, says extensive research on these opportunities highlights a number of key drivers. “On the back of consistent and ongoing demand across residential markets, it should come as no surprise that the retirement and education sectors are at the forefront of this demand,” says Shabalala. “What’s interesting about these findings is that they straddle the
two outer extremes of society – the youngest and oldest generations.” The retirement market is a natural fit for all that KwaZulu-Natal offers in terms of quality lifestyle and an enviable climate. And this demand is not likely to slow down in the near future, with the World Health Organisation projecting South Africa’s population of over-60s will increase from 7,7% of the total to 15,4% over the next 35 years. At the other end of the spectrum, the demand for educational facilities is growing at an equally brisk pace. The private school sector is expanding at breakneck speed, particularly as affordable options become more commonplace.
FWJK to develop R1,9bn mixed-use Menlyn Link
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ational property developer FWJK has secured land in Menlyn to develop a new R1,9bn sectional title mixed-use building. Spanning 85,000m² and consisting of ground- and first-floor retail, the development will include a 450-pupil crèche, multitenant sectional title office suites, residential apartments and luxury penthouse suites. Dubbed Menlyn Link, the development will be situated between Menlyn Park Shopping Centre and the Menlyn Maine Central Square Precinct. At 26 storeys, it will be the tallest building in the greater Menlyn area. Rhys Rocke, regional director, FWJK, says, “Menlyn Link offers
a range of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, as well as five-bedroom penthouses. The apartments are designed to be highly desirable, with gas stoves, green technology, spacious living areas and entertainment balconies. “With the convenient ground-floor shops and restaurants providing a vibrant retail experience together with the rooftop clubhouse, tennis court and swimming pool, residents will have various desirable amenities at hand, to name a few. “Those working in the P-Grade office suites will truly experience a first of its kind in Menlyn with a ‘work-play-live’ lifestyle.”