The Cape Town council on Tuesday issued a call for
comment on a plan to invite the private sector to build mixed-used developments
on four municipal owned sites in Athlone, Diep River, Goodwood and Mitchells
Plain.
The sites have a combined size of about 40 ha and a
commercial value of R316-million, according to Marian Nieuwoudt, the mayoral committee member for spatial
planning.
She said they were on transport nodes and could be
developed to include market-related and affordable housing, commercial space
and community services.
“Thus, by making available the sites to the
private sector for development we can ignite much needed urban renewal in these
areas, economic growth, and job creation. The sites are also ideal for higher
density housing as they are close to train stations, minibus-taxi services, and
bus stops.”
The sites are the Athlone station car park opposite
the entrance to the Athlone train station, Moquet Farm in Diep River, the
Tygerdal site at the Monte Vista station in Goodwood and the Kapteinsklip
station precinct in Mitchells Plain.
Moquet Farm lies on the intersection of Main and
Kendal roads and is one block away from the train station.
The Mitchells Plain site spans both sides of Baden
Powell drive at the intersections of Eisleben and Weltevreden roads. It is the
biggest of the four earmarked sites at 30.6 ha and currently comprises of car
parks and open spaces, which Nieuwoudt termed underutilised.
She said the 7.6 ha Goodwood site was ideal for
“a mixed-use transit-oriented development” and could include housing
opportunities to a wide range of income groups.
Nieuwoudt called on Capetonians to comment on the
proposal to make the land available to the private sector for development.
“I want to add, that should we in the end
decide to go ahead, we want to see developments that include higher density
housing opportunities across a wide range of typologies, tenures and incomes.
It must be affordable, and could be balanced with commercial and public uses.
Whatever is proposed must enhance the urban environment and improve the quality
of life for residents from the area. It must be safe, convenient, and
attractive,” she said
More detail will be made available to the public from Thursday at www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay and at subcouncil offices and public libraries across Cape Town. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/cape-town-calls-for-proposals-for-high-use-developments-in-four-suburbs-2019-08-06
