Neighbourhood 23 FEBRUARY 2020
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
The sky’s the limit Greenhill Estate is setting the standard for sustainable, energy-efficient living, page 6
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SUBURB FOCUS: BROOKLYN BASICS
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GREEN ORIGINS
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PROPERTY NEWS
23 FEBRUARY 2020
Neighbourhood
Suburb focus
Better in Brooklyn As one of Pretoria’s older neighbourhoods, the suburb of Brooklyn today is just as relevant as it was when founded in the early 1900s WORDS: BETSIE LOOCK-VAN DER MERWE *Map not to scale
IMAGES: RENE WALKER & GOOGLE MAPS
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ince its proclamation about 120 years ago, the suburb of Brooklyn in Pretoria has never stopped developing and reinventing itself. This beautiful neighbourhood lying just east of the CBD and bordered by its partner Old East suburbs like Lynnwood, Menlo Park and Waterkloof, offers the best of three worlds: quiet living spaces, lots of breathing room in its older residential area, as well as contemporary and compact apartment living for today’s big-city generation. Combined with a pulsating commercial and entertainment hub, Brooklyn is the ideal neighbourhood to live your dream life, whether it’s slow and relaxed or energetic and robust.
BUSINESS INSIDER Mumbai Barber opened its doors five years ago at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre in Fehrsen Street, Brooklyn. Says owner Jacques Botha, “We offer real value-formoney grooming services for men and women. Besides normal haircuts, skin fades and undercuts, we offer eyebrow threading (ages-old Middle Eastern technique using cotton thread to shape eyebrows and remove fine facial hair) and cut-throat shaves using the traditional Minora blade, as well as waxing to remove unwanted nose and ear hair.” Mumbai Barber, which has Hunny Singh as manager, opened in Brooklyn because they saw an opportunity to bring affordable barbering and grooming services to this area. “We have many learners, students, office workers and professionals who need a quick clean up before an important meeting or event.” Brooklyn is home to a pleasant cosmopolitan community and this has not changed; however, “customers became more focussed on total men’s grooming, where before they would come just for a haircut, they will now come for a whole grooming session including a full facial and facial hair waxing,” says Jacques.
Happy place
“What I love most about the ’hood is its distinctive character,” says Brooklyn resident Fergi de Sousa. “Many of the residences are well preserved or renovated and have that romantic historic and sophisticated look and feel about them. It creates a tranquil and familiar atmosphere to which the lovely old trees, established gardens and landmarks like the notorious Brooklyn Circle contribute to. Yet the place has developed and there’s
a modern vibe in the air as well. The Brooklyn of today is a multicultural, modern cosmos appealing to the young and upcoming as well as established families and professionals. Brooklyn is a place for all… artists, academics, students, businesspeople, professionals – and ordinary people!”
Weekends
Dining out or relaxing over a sundowner or cup of coffee is a most enjoyable way to salve a busy week’s tensions, and Jacaranda City residents from all over are spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants and hangouts in Brooklyn. There are scores of eateries and several award-winning restaurants located around every corner and in popular malls like Brooklyn Mall, Brooklyn Design Square and
Brooklyn Bridge. These centres offer an enormous amount of retail therapy opportunities, as well as the latest movies, art exhibitions, antique markets and art movies. The many sports clubs in Brooklyn cater to an active and healthy community – from young to old. The suburb homes a couple of tennis clubs, a bowling club, Run/Walk for Life, several top gyms, as well as training facilities for soccer, tennis, swimming, cricket, baseball, soft ball, rugby, athletics, hockey and any other sport one can imagine. Brooklyn is located within quick access of both Pretoria Country Club and Waterkloof Golf Club, as well as Harlequins Rugby Club, while many residents enjoy watching their favourite rugby team in action at the nearby Loftus Versfeld Rugby Stadium on Saturdays.
Brooklyn is one of the older, established suburbs, so it has an old-times feel. At the same time, it has kept pace with modern developments which, together with the many students in the area, give the neighbourhood a lively modern spirit. FERGI DE SOUSA, RESIDENT
EAT • Geet Indian Restaurant: contemporary, Indian cuisine • Capeesh: authentic Italian • Kream Brooklyn: continental fine dining • Mythos Brooklyn: as Greek as it gets • Moo Moo Brooklyn: relaxed wine bar, with tasty food
EDITORIAL TEAM:
PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING
Group Editor: Carla Redelinghuys carla@yourneighbourhood.co.za Senior Sub-Editor: Marana Brand Designers: Anja Bramley & Samantha Durand Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za
SCHOOLS SHOP • • • • •
Brooklyn Mall & Plaza Brooklyn Design Square Cherry Lane Shopping Centre Brooklyn Bridge Centre Waterkloof Corner Shopping Centre
• • • • •
Brooklyn Primary School Laerskool Pretoria-Oos Pretoria Boys High School Pretoria High School for Girls Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria • Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Pretoria
ADVERTISING SALES: Call us for advertising opportunities on 087 828 0423 Production: Lucea Goosen pretoria@yourneighbourhood.co.za Online coordinator: Chantelle Balsdon chantelle@augmentcreative.com
You’ll pay
R36,043 per month
For a typical property (four-bedroom house)
R2,5m In a complex
For rent 8%
Median asking price
R20,000
For a typical property (two-bedroom apartment)
32%
R19,000 In a complex
R6,000
For a garden cottage
over a period of 20 years at 9.75% prime
R1,65m
R10,650
60%
For an apartment
For an apartment
HOUSE
R3,8m
R3,75m For a house
R18,000 For a house
GARDEN COTTAGE
Based on
median asking price
3
COMPLEX
R3,8m
PROPERTY NEWS
6%
APARTMENT
For a typical property in this area
Median asking price
APARTMENT
Monthly bond repayments
COMPLEX
For sale
HOUSE
23 FEBRUARY 2020
Neighbourhood
12%
55%
27%
LET THEM BRING YOUR MOO TO YOU
The data reflected herein represents data that is voluntarily obtained from subscribers from the Private Property South Africa’s website and is based solely on data collected by Private Property South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Further, the data reflected herein is accurate as per the Private Property South Africa database dated 19 February 2020. Reliance on such data is at the sole discretion of subscribers and Private Property South Africa hereby indemnifies itself of any consequence of such reliance.
BROOKLYN SQUARE
(012) 346 8888 brooklyn@moo-moo.co.za www.moo-moo.co.za
Summer weekend special from
R945
Per person sharing per night, including breakfast Valid until 19 March 2020 Stay Sunday FREE only pay for your meals
salt rock hotel
Tel: 032 525 5025
E&OE T&C’s Apply
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PROPERTY NEWS
23 FEBRUARY 2020
Neighbourhood
Greener solutions The Green Housing Company is a wellrespected developer dedicated to using environmentally friendly technologies and natural resources to create efficient and beautiful housing solutions WORDS: EDITORIAL TEAM
IMAGE: SUPPLIED
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hough still young compared to some of the larger land developers around, the Green Housing Company’s utilisation of cutting-edge, more cost-efficient technologies has set them apart, and their commitment to green solutions marks them as a contender for one of the most environmentally friendly land developers in the world. The origins of the company begin with Brett Petzer, CEO and founder, Green Housing Company. Four years ago, he bought a piece of property to develop and discovered the local energy producer had no power to actually support it. As a result, he began to look into solar power and other ways to create self-sustaining properties. “From the point of view of the country’s power infrastructure, things haven’t been planned correctly,” says Brett. “The overall layout is poorly designed and implemented with an absolute lack of maintenance, and many people
aren’t going to be able to support their homes. We need to look to the future, particularly that of the country. Africa has incredibly favourable solar conditions, and looking at the world and the way housing is going, renewable energy is that future.” “But that’s not the only reason,” he adds. “Of course it’s cheap, too. Everyone loves to save money, and money is definitely key in modern society.”
Greener than the rest
“We offer a 100% solution rather than a partial solution,” says Brett. “A partial solution is what most companies really mean when they say they’re green or energy efficient. We build our structures from the ground up with eco-friendliness in mind – it’s the entire basis of what we do. “We’re not satisfied until we’ve completely eliminated the need for any power-drawing extremities, like artificial heating and cooling.”
“For example,” he continues, “we insulate all the structures to be so thermally efficient that air conditioning isn’t even a necessity. Things like that shouldn’t be required for modern buildings – they’re wasting valuable energy for things that should be naturally maintained. If nature can do it, then why can’t we?” The company’s latest development, situated in Waterkloof Heights, Pretoria, boasts complete independence from power sources outside of its own. The entire suburb numbers 39 luxury homes, which are rapidly being sold off as the future of eco-living in South Africa.
The future of green
It’s all about new green technology,” says Brett. “That’s the one thing we absolutely guarantee our user base. All the equipment we use is absolutely cutting edge. That’s our sole commitment to clients – everything we produce is going to be state of the art and as green as green can be.”
AGENTS ARE EXPERT PROBLEM SOLVERS Negotiating is a tricky business and contracts can be problematic. Are you familiar with legalities or how to ensure that a contract protects you? Registered estate agents are licensed professionals with experience of moving transactions forward smoothly.
Another good reason why you should use an estate agent
www.rebosa.co.za
REAL ESTATE BUSINESS OWNERS OF SOUTH AFRICA
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THINKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. 100% OF THE TIME. ON SHOW 24 HOURS A DAY. TO VIEW IN WATERKLOOF, PRETORIA. LET US BLOW YOUR MIND. 98 Matroosberg road, Waterkloof Heights, Pretoria www.tghc.co.za mobile. 081 736 6165 office. 012 111 0110 Financiable solar solutions
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