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Housing
R1,5 billion mixed development in Clifton
The City of Cape Town has invited tenderers to participate in the
purchase and lease of portions of three City-owned erven in the Clifton
and Camps Bay area.
T
he tender specifications have
been developed as a direct
result of an in-depth public
participation exercise which the City
of Cape Town undertook last year. “In
particular, we have paid attention to
the public calls for the protection of
Maiden’s Cove, the upgrade of public
infrastructure, and for social hous-
ing,” said Deputy Executive Mayor,
Ian Neilson.
The tender is built on a large-scale
public infrastructure investment
drive and an obligatory investment
by the private sector in return for the
development opportunities on offer,
an estimated R190 million for the
upgrade of existing public spaces and
facilities in the area.
In response to the public request
for social housing and improved com-
munity integration, 10% of the finan-
cial offer of the sale/lease proceeds
by the successful tenderer will be
earmarked for future City-developed,
social housing projects. These sites
still have to be determined.
The city will spend approximately
R55 million to expand Maiden’s Cove
picnic area and to develop under-
utilised public assets between Clifton
and Camps Bay, similar to Green
Point’s Urban Park.
“We envisage that ‘Maiden’s Cove
Urban Park’ will be transformed to
three times its current size to an inclu-
sive, environmentally protected, safe
and accessible place for all Capeton-
ians,” says Neilson.
It has been estimated that
R30 million will be required for a
proposed safe andwell-lit boardwalk
between Clifton Beach, Maiden’s
Cove, Glen Beach and Camps Bay
Beach. Thiswill extend the pedestrian
network on the Atlantic seaboard.
The design also requires that the
successful tenderer undertakes an
upgrade and renewal of transport and
non-motorised transport infrastruc-
ture along Victoria Road at a cost of
R25,5 million. A further R23 million
will be required for the establishment
of the Bantry Point Caves boardwalk
to enhance public access in this rocky
area.
The proposed upgrade of The
Glenn forest trail and a walk-
way along Kloof Road from Vic-
toria Road to Kloof Nek will cost
R18 million. It is also foreseen that
the existing aged steps leading from
Victoria Road down to the beaches
at Clifton and Glen Beach require an
upgrade to the tune of an estimated
R2,5 million.
The Glen Country Club and its
facilities will be redeveloped as part
of the overall development. City ap-
proval will be required for all of the
detailed plans, budgets and construc-
tion programmes undertaken with
regard to the proposed upgrades.
Tender development opportunities
includes two single residential parcels
of land for the development for 52
Clifton dwellings.
The other development oppor-
tunities comprise the lease and
development of a hotel or apart-
ment site (3 500 m² of bulk);
a comme r c i a l componen t o f
5 000 m² of bulk (restaurants and
retail), and a mixed-use compo-
nent (offices/studios/apartments) of
2 250 m² and parking for approxi-
mately 700 vehicles. This property
lends itself to development opportu-
nitieswithout negatively affecting the
scenic viewpoints towards the coast
and the mountain as it comprises
various terraces that are below the
level of Victoria Road.
Importantly, these specific com-
mercial development opportunities
will be based on a 50-year leasehold
which means that the enhanced and
developed asset will revert back to
the city. The site is approximately 16
ha in size and it is foreseen that only
about 5 ha will be developed. The
value of the development is antici-
pated to exceed R1,5 billion.
Upon completion of the com-
petitive bid process, further public
participation will be undertaken as
a Heritage Impact Assessment, land
use and rezoning application and an
Environmental Impact Assessment
will be triggered.
Neilson says, “This tender is a
great example of how we are trying
to leverage city-owned assets to
unlock investment and economic
opportunities.
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