CITICHAT 12/2008 - 28 March 2008
Heritage Hoops
Over the last few months a number of issues regarding heritage buildings have surfaced so I thought it would be an idea to set out quite simply the requirements of the National Resources Heritage Act and the city’s Policy Framework in this regard. Well, I might have thought ‘quite simply’, but the Act takes some navigating!
Starting with the easier of the two, the City’s Policy Framework, provides an insightful argument as to why Johannesburg in particular needs to be careful in retaining its heritage. It is a young city by historic standards (London was rebuilt after the Great Fire two hundred years before gold was discovered in Joeys!) but our short history has been “full of drama and incident…….different themes, stories and traditions contribute to a diverse store of heritage. A pre-colonial history …the world’s greatest gold rush; diverse architectural forms which took root on the African veld; and historic struggles against apartheid – all of these contribute to Johannesburg’s unique sense of place.” ‘All of these’ also give rise to various forms of remembrance – an architect, Aldo Rossi, considered that “The city itself is the collective memory of its people, and, like memory, it is associated with objects and places.”
The last hundred years, have seen terrible wars and revolutions destroying much of the world’s physical heritage. Apart from two world wars that decimated Europe, the dozens of other wars and revolutions including those in Serbia, Bosnia, China, Tibet and now in the Middle East have all left their physical open scars. Remember the wanton destruction of the two Buddhas of Bamiyan? On the other hand Joburgers have largely destroyed their own heritage through either ignorance or, more often, sheer greed. Robert Bevan in his book “the Destruction of Memory” succinctly comments: “The violent destruction of buildings for other than pragmatic reasons also happens in peacetime, of course, and it is impossible to separate out fully the depredations of ‘progress’ – modernity and industrialization, with all their implicit ideological content – from conflicts between classes and other groups within societies that are all part of the continuous remaking of our environment: as cities evolve and change, so structures become redundant or more valuable uses for a site are found. Benign or culpable neglect is the more common phenomenon. This may include the bastardization or demolition of a building that no longer has a community to serve it or where its builders lack the economic or political power to resist threatening ‘regeneration’ or ‘improvement plans’ (my emphasis added). So the Policy Framework stresses that “the historic environment contributes to an understanding of the impact of the past, and the need to plan critically and creatively for the future and the need to capitalize on the legacy of our history”. I’ll come back to the Framework later.
Looking critically at the National Resources Heritage Act, I can’t pretend that it a perfect piece of legislation but it spells out many good intentions although there appears to be a distinct lack of political will to see that it is adequately enforced to the point where it achieves its stated objectives.
What is the rationale behind the Act? The preamble to the legislation states that it “aims to promote good management of the national estate and to enable and encourage communities to nurture and conserve their legacy so that it may be bequeathed to future generations.” Notice that it places responsibility on ourselves (communities) to a large extent to meet its objectives. So, for those who see heritage organisations as Mother Grundies, it is actually your responsibility as much as theirs to see that the “national estate” is adequately managed and cared for.
But, what is this ‘national estate’? Well, whilst broadly defining the ‘national estate’ as “those heritage resources of South Africa which are of cultural significance or other special value for the present community and for future generations”, the Act provides a long list of what the ‘national estate’ may include ranging from places, buildings structures and equipment, graves, books, records, documents and photographs to places that have cultural significance or other special value because of importance in the community, or the pattern of South Africa’s history or of demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons as also ‘sites of significance relating to the history of slavery in South Africa’.
The first thing to take cognisance of is that the range of the “national estate” is very large – I have just quoted some of the many items that the Act details which is, in itself, not all-embracing. So your great granddad’s metal chocolate box issued by Queen Victoria to the troops of the British Empire that you keep your cuff links in should be cherished and passed on in your family or given to an institution that will cherish and preserve it.
But why does the Act place emphasis on future generations? The preamble goes on to state that “our heritage is unique and precious and it cannot be renewed. It helps us to define our cultural identity and therefore lies at the heart of our spiritual well-being and has the power to build our nation. It has the potential to affirm our diverse cultures and in doing so, shape our national character. Our heritage celebrates our achievements and contributes to redressing past inequities” (my emphasis added). Later, in spelling out the principles of heritage resource management, the Act points out that “Heritage resources have lasting value in their own right and provide evidence of the origins of South African society and as they are valuable, finite, non-renewable and irreplaceable they must be careful managed to ensure their survival.” Only the most philistine amongst us can argue against such sentiments! And why should we worry about all this? Because “every generation has a moral responsibility to act as trustee of the national heritage for succeeding generations and the State has an obligation to manage heritage resources in the interests of all South Africans.”
So, enough about the background, what are the practicalities? Let’s start with the property that you have just bought in the inner city because it is in a prime position for residential so you are just going to demolish it to make way for the new building of your dreams (and the consolidation of your retirement income!)
Firstly, I suggest you check on the age of the building. The Act very clearly states that “no person may ….. demolish any structure or part of a structure which is older than 60 years without a permit issued by the relevant provincial heritage resources authority” So, your building was built in 1960 which means that you are in the clear! Well, what you didn’t know was that your building is one of the city’s best and last remaining examples of the XYZ architectural style or that it was the clandestine meeting place for senior members of Umkhonto we Sizwe or, maybe, that it was the community centre for a particular ethnic or religious group.
So, whether the building is a year old or 100, the first thing you do is apply to the Council for a demolition permit. The application will be sent to the Council’s Department of Arts, Culture and Heritage Services who will assess if the building might have some form of heritage or historic value. If they are in doubt they might ask you to get a report from an architect or other professional. If there is no doubt they will sign the permit and you are on your way. If the building is older than 60 years then your application to demolish is automatically routed to the Provincial Heritage Authority, known as PHRA, who will assess whether the building has some form of significance. If a major development is the intended outcome, additional heritage reports may be required as part of Environmental Impact Assessments that will be required. If not, it will issue you with a demolition permit and once more you are on your way. Incidentally, in terms of the City’s Heritage Policy Framework “demolitions of heritage buildings and structures can only be justified where the loss or damage to cultural property is unavoidable, minor or otherwise acceptable in the light of expected benefits, and only subject to approval by the relevant heritage authority.”
So, once you have the PHRA demolition permit in your hot little hand you can grab the nearest crowbar and start to tear the building down! Not so fast. There may well be members of the public or heritage groupings who believe that the decision of the Provincial or National heritage authorities to allow demolition is wrong. They have the right, in terms of the Act, to appeal against the issue of the permit within 30 days. The Minister, in the case of SAHRA, the National Heritage Authority, or the MEC in the case of PHRA, the Provincial Heritage Authority, then appoints an independent tribunal of three experts on the issue being challenged. If you lose the appeal, or the appellant loses theirs, a further appeal can be referred to the next highest authority.
Bureaucratic? Sure, made more so by the failure of some of the authorities to deal with the matter with the same sense of urgency that you may have but, hey, this is a democracy where everyone has their rights!
Well, I don’t want to really ‘demolish’ the building. I just want to take out that admittedly beautiful sweeping staircase that rises through the podium because it takes up so much otherwise lettable space! Well, legislation requires that you have to submit plans of your intentions to the local authority and that starts the same process as above.
Yes but I know of a number of developers who just do their own thing and seem to get away with it! The Act actually says that “no person may alter or demolish any structure or part of a structure which is older than 60 years without a permit issued by the relevant provincial heritage resources authority”
So those developers who have done their own thing have broken the law and at some stage may well face the penalties that the Act provides which range from fines to imprisonment, to making good whatever they have altered, to being served with a notice prohibiting them from any further development of the site for 10 years, or even to completely re-instate what they have demolished or disturbed. Apart from the Act of course, everyone is required to submit plans to the Council and non-compliance will attract another set of penalties.
So who’s going to rat on me? In terms of the Act any person who believes that there has been an infringement of any provision of the Act may lay a charge and the Act makes clear that every member of SAPS is a de facto heritage inspector so you can’t be fobbed off with suggestions that it is not their responsibility.
OK, that deals with alterations and demolitions, but what about owners who leave their buildings to slowly rot and demolish through neglect? Well, if the building is of heritage value, whether it is over 60 or not, the building can be declared as a protected building.
How and who does this? Firstly ANYBODY can submit a nomination to either the National or Provincial Heritage Resource Agencies for a building to be declared a heritage site on a national basis (if it is of national importance) or on a provincial or local basis dependant on the relevant level of importance of the building concerned. The nomination must include adequate motivation for the declaration. Provided the heritage authority agrees with the motivation, it advises the owner, occupiers, bond holder and all conservation bodies in the geographic area of the site that it has received a nomination. All these bodies, and any other interested parties, are given 60 days in which to object which objections must be considered by the heritage authority and their decision made known to all concerned. However from the date of advice to the owner that the building is under consideration as a heritage site, it is classified as such for six months. If, during this time, the heritage authorities consider that the site has been allowed to fall into disrepair for a variety of purposes - but for the moment let’s concentrate on the fact that it is neglected to such an extent that it will lose its potential for conservation - the owner can be served with an order to repair or maintain the site within a specified time and, if not complied with, can undertake the repairs etc and recover the costs from the owner. Further, no one is permitted to “destroy, damage, deface, excavate, alter, remove from its original position, subdivide or change the planning status of any heritage site” without a permit issues by the relevant heritage authority. A local authority may provisionally protect, for a period of three months, any place it considers worthy of conservation if it considers that it’s conservation-worth is threatened – a provincial or national body for two years (in all cases after advising the owner of their intent). During that time an application can be made to declare the provisional declaration permanent and, if that is agreed to, it then gets registered in the appropriate heritage register. Once that happens, a whole new set of rules apply.
From a practical point of view, it would be great if a register existed of all buildings within the inner city that could be referred to before one buys a building or site so that you are clear, ahead of the purchase, just what obligations you may be letting yourself into. This is being addressed by the City through the compilation of a Johannesburg City Heritage Register. This will identify the city’s most important heritage resources; call attention to properties of architectural and historical merit; form the basis for the city’s own ongoing heritage programme; flag heritage sites on the city’s property information system and inform physical planning and development processes. Eventually, the list will be used as the basis for recommendations for heritage status to the provincial or national authorities. Quite a lot of work has already gone into compiling the register and it will hopefully be completed over the next few years. Incidentally, the work that has already been done includes a record of all transgressions made against local bye-laws or the Act itself and eventually, everyone will be brought to book.
As previously mentioned, the problem in the heritage arena is a lack of political will at some levels, a lack of resources at most levels and a lack of understanding by the general public as to why all this is necessary and the perceived blockage it represents to ‘development’. As my friend Donovan Rypkema concluded in one of his addresses: “For the 21st Century only the foolish city will make the choice between historic preservation and economic development. The wise city will effectively utilize its historic built environment to meet the economic, social and cultural needs of its citizens well into the future.”
Cheers, neil
Friday, March 28, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Charter; Easter Awards Citichat 21 March 2008
CITICHAT 11/2008 - 21 March 2008
Easter Egg Award Time!- Charter chatter
Looking at the Charter update report on deliverables due by the end of December 2007, it would appear that some of the planned work has moved along reasonably well. There are some Charter projects that have no information provided in the report regarding progress, probably meaning that no action has been embarked on by the responsible departments or maybe just no information has been supplied to the Inner City Programme Manager. These include the increase in visible policing, an enforcement regime for informal trading, supplementary incentives to the UDZ, etc. There are other projects that are marked as running ‘late‘ such as some of the informal trading projects, including Hoek Street linear market (which has caused some harsh comments from its business partners), economic development programmes, access to broadband, etc. Then there is some mystery regarding the International Transport and Shopping Centre (ITSC) which appears to have moved from a public sector responsibility to that of the private sector whilst the ‘revived’ Better Buildings Programme appears somewhat mired down in bureaucracy. Reporting on some of the Transportation projects appears quite vague. However, it must be exceedingly difficult to gather the documentation together for nearly 200 ‘programmes/projects’ from literally dozens of Council sources. The report, whilst comprehensive, does of course present just one side of the picture and I doubt that the Programme Manager has had time to interrogate the individual reports presented to her in any detail. It would therefore be good to see the promised independent auditor providing a more objective report and a visual presentation of targets vs actuals achieved. The report does state that “an annual report will be validated by an independent body to comply with the charter commitment” and that this will be made public in June of each year, starting June 2008. We are almost at the end of March, - almost a year after the Summit held in May 2007 - and June is just around the corner. If an independent auditor is going to be given a fair chance to examine each project objectively, time is already running out and it will need to be an organisation with large resources.
Why an independent body? This arises from concern expressed on a number of occasions throughout the pre-Summit period, that the Council, being both player and referee, needed a ‘third umpire’ to whom the progress reports could be referred for verification. One document stated that there would be a “neutral and independent specialist tasked with assembling evidence of the progress achieved.” Why is this so important? Well, during the pre-summit period there was a great deal of skepticism over the Charter process. Many felt that the process would end up as just another Council talk-shop that would gloss over issues to make everyone feel warm and fuzzy. I would think that would be the last thing in the Executive Mayor’s mind. But then why? Is it because no-one believes Council reports? No, but there is a great deal of skepticism about the gap between nice words said in public by Council officials and some politicians and the state of play on the ground. In other words, what is the gap between official reporting to placate the politicians and reality?
The other mutterings that I’ve become aware of relate to the issue of partnership. Having given a great deal of personal time during the pre-summit process to outline the problems and suggest some solutions, it would appear as if certain sectors of the private sector have not been involved in the determination of the solutions. In other words, what was perceived in many non-council quarters was that this would be an opportunity to start a true partnership between public and private sectors and not one of sitting on the sidelines and simply being told that “it’s all been taken care of!” For example, the Charter states that by March 2008 the City of Johannesburg “will have reviewed all relevant by-laws to ensure an easily understood and easily applicable body of law appropriate to the circumstances in the Inner City”. There is a genuine desire by the private sector to be really involved in such a process because they deal with the practical realities on a day-to-day basis. In the same way, business organized themselves into various specialist groups to debate various issues with Council officials but have been largely ignored. That is not what public-private partnership is about.
At the moment I would restrict my Easter egg presentation to one very large Pesach Bunny to the Inner City Programme Manager for the Report and her ability to smooth even the most ruffled of feathers (and look so good whilst doing it!). If rabbits aren’t kosher, then trade that in for the largest box of Godiva chocolates available!
City Airport
According to advertisements and reports in the media, the city is apparently investigating the feasibility of establishing another airport. The four existing airports which service the city because of their close proximity are outside its metropolitan boundaries, viz international status OR Tambo and Lanseria and regional status Rand and Grand Central airports. Is it a case of the change in name to ORT means that no one now talks of “Johannesburg International” or maybe that we can’t count an airport as one of the city’s assets and a world class city needs an airport on its scorecard? Or is the city actually serious about this issue? Seems to me that there is so much to do to get our existing assets in shape that this will be money ill spent! As one media report stated: “The proposal also comes about a decade after the so-called Springs-Nigel International Airport proposal, which was roundly rejected by the authorities at the time.”
But then maybe it is a genuine attempt to provide pilots with blackout flying experience! No chocolates, maybe some licorice!
Rissik Street Post Office and GPGP Precinct
I see the Charter Report states that the city has come to some agreement with the Provincial authorities regarding the future of the Rissik Street Post Office. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone shared this with the public who have been so concerned over the building, with a great deal of reason, for such a long time. I first wrote about the RPO seven years ago and all that has happened has been more and more deterioration! It would also be equally pleasant to learn the details of the Provincial Government Precinct now that confirmation has been made in media that nothing is to be demolished and refurbishing of the existing buildings ‘has already started’. I hope that those concerned will remember that these are mostly heritage buildings whose retention has been hard fought for and that demolition is not the only issue that is covered in the National Heritage Resources Act. There is also the whole issue of alterations and additions and it would be worth the while of those concerned checking their legal limitations before we have another debacle.
We trust that the same care that went into the restoration of the old South African Reserve Bank building on the corner of Fox and Simmonds will be accorded these buildings.
Chocolate spectacle boxes for those involved in the ‘secret’ Rissik Street Post Office and GPGP discussions so that they can keep their rose-tinted spectacles in but a large box of Quality Street for those involved in the restoration of the SA Reserve Bank building!
Newtown
Of major concern is the apparent collapse of progress in the public sector development of Newtown. Although they didn’t forsee the heritage investigation, they should have, and, any way, that was resolved quite some time ago. One sees absolutely no signs of progress in the redevelopment of Transport House where the preferred bidder was announced at least two years back. Nor does there appear to be anything stirring on Central Place nor the Majestic project at the Market precinct. Sour balls for all involved!
World Class City
Some good news, if you can classify it as that! It was reported in last night’s Star that The Master-Card Worldwide Insight Reporton urbanisation and environmental challeges (don’t ask!) ranked Johannesburg the second best city in Asia, the Middle East and Africa in dealing with these issues. Melbourne came first. We were sixth when ranked “solely by environmental factors that were within policy control” The author of the report evidently stated that ”the overall picture for Johannesburg is that by and large the city has done incredibly well in creating a high quality environment within its urban setting, managing increasing population growth and a degree of unpredictable impacts to ensure a good quality of life for residents.” Ja, nee, wonder if he’s ever been here. One of those jelly dummies for him!
The Rand Steam Laundry
No chocolates for Imperial, just black bread and water for an awfully long time!
Happy Easter and Human Rights/Family Day holidays – spare a thought for all those being made to work in supermarkets and other commercially driven businesses, regards, neil
Easter Egg Award Time!- Charter chatter
Looking at the Charter update report on deliverables due by the end of December 2007, it would appear that some of the planned work has moved along reasonably well. There are some Charter projects that have no information provided in the report regarding progress, probably meaning that no action has been embarked on by the responsible departments or maybe just no information has been supplied to the Inner City Programme Manager. These include the increase in visible policing, an enforcement regime for informal trading, supplementary incentives to the UDZ, etc. There are other projects that are marked as running ‘late‘ such as some of the informal trading projects, including Hoek Street linear market (which has caused some harsh comments from its business partners), economic development programmes, access to broadband, etc. Then there is some mystery regarding the International Transport and Shopping Centre (ITSC) which appears to have moved from a public sector responsibility to that of the private sector whilst the ‘revived’ Better Buildings Programme appears somewhat mired down in bureaucracy. Reporting on some of the Transportation projects appears quite vague. However, it must be exceedingly difficult to gather the documentation together for nearly 200 ‘programmes/projects’ from literally dozens of Council sources. The report, whilst comprehensive, does of course present just one side of the picture and I doubt that the Programme Manager has had time to interrogate the individual reports presented to her in any detail. It would therefore be good to see the promised independent auditor providing a more objective report and a visual presentation of targets vs actuals achieved. The report does state that “an annual report will be validated by an independent body to comply with the charter commitment” and that this will be made public in June of each year, starting June 2008. We are almost at the end of March, - almost a year after the Summit held in May 2007 - and June is just around the corner. If an independent auditor is going to be given a fair chance to examine each project objectively, time is already running out and it will need to be an organisation with large resources.
Why an independent body? This arises from concern expressed on a number of occasions throughout the pre-Summit period, that the Council, being both player and referee, needed a ‘third umpire’ to whom the progress reports could be referred for verification. One document stated that there would be a “neutral and independent specialist tasked with assembling evidence of the progress achieved.” Why is this so important? Well, during the pre-summit period there was a great deal of skepticism over the Charter process. Many felt that the process would end up as just another Council talk-shop that would gloss over issues to make everyone feel warm and fuzzy. I would think that would be the last thing in the Executive Mayor’s mind. But then why? Is it because no-one believes Council reports? No, but there is a great deal of skepticism about the gap between nice words said in public by Council officials and some politicians and the state of play on the ground. In other words, what is the gap between official reporting to placate the politicians and reality?
The other mutterings that I’ve become aware of relate to the issue of partnership. Having given a great deal of personal time during the pre-summit process to outline the problems and suggest some solutions, it would appear as if certain sectors of the private sector have not been involved in the determination of the solutions. In other words, what was perceived in many non-council quarters was that this would be an opportunity to start a true partnership between public and private sectors and not one of sitting on the sidelines and simply being told that “it’s all been taken care of!” For example, the Charter states that by March 2008 the City of Johannesburg “will have reviewed all relevant by-laws to ensure an easily understood and easily applicable body of law appropriate to the circumstances in the Inner City”. There is a genuine desire by the private sector to be really involved in such a process because they deal with the practical realities on a day-to-day basis. In the same way, business organized themselves into various specialist groups to debate various issues with Council officials but have been largely ignored. That is not what public-private partnership is about.
At the moment I would restrict my Easter egg presentation to one very large Pesach Bunny to the Inner City Programme Manager for the Report and her ability to smooth even the most ruffled of feathers (and look so good whilst doing it!). If rabbits aren’t kosher, then trade that in for the largest box of Godiva chocolates available!
City Airport
According to advertisements and reports in the media, the city is apparently investigating the feasibility of establishing another airport. The four existing airports which service the city because of their close proximity are outside its metropolitan boundaries, viz international status OR Tambo and Lanseria and regional status Rand and Grand Central airports. Is it a case of the change in name to ORT means that no one now talks of “Johannesburg International” or maybe that we can’t count an airport as one of the city’s assets and a world class city needs an airport on its scorecard? Or is the city actually serious about this issue? Seems to me that there is so much to do to get our existing assets in shape that this will be money ill spent! As one media report stated: “The proposal also comes about a decade after the so-called Springs-Nigel International Airport proposal, which was roundly rejected by the authorities at the time.”
But then maybe it is a genuine attempt to provide pilots with blackout flying experience! No chocolates, maybe some licorice!
Rissik Street Post Office and GPGP Precinct
I see the Charter Report states that the city has come to some agreement with the Provincial authorities regarding the future of the Rissik Street Post Office. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone shared this with the public who have been so concerned over the building, with a great deal of reason, for such a long time. I first wrote about the RPO seven years ago and all that has happened has been more and more deterioration! It would also be equally pleasant to learn the details of the Provincial Government Precinct now that confirmation has been made in media that nothing is to be demolished and refurbishing of the existing buildings ‘has already started’. I hope that those concerned will remember that these are mostly heritage buildings whose retention has been hard fought for and that demolition is not the only issue that is covered in the National Heritage Resources Act. There is also the whole issue of alterations and additions and it would be worth the while of those concerned checking their legal limitations before we have another debacle.
We trust that the same care that went into the restoration of the old South African Reserve Bank building on the corner of Fox and Simmonds will be accorded these buildings.
Chocolate spectacle boxes for those involved in the ‘secret’ Rissik Street Post Office and GPGP discussions so that they can keep their rose-tinted spectacles in but a large box of Quality Street for those involved in the restoration of the SA Reserve Bank building!
Newtown
Of major concern is the apparent collapse of progress in the public sector development of Newtown. Although they didn’t forsee the heritage investigation, they should have, and, any way, that was resolved quite some time ago. One sees absolutely no signs of progress in the redevelopment of Transport House where the preferred bidder was announced at least two years back. Nor does there appear to be anything stirring on Central Place nor the Majestic project at the Market precinct. Sour balls for all involved!
World Class City
Some good news, if you can classify it as that! It was reported in last night’s Star that The Master-Card Worldwide Insight Reporton urbanisation and environmental challeges (don’t ask!) ranked Johannesburg the second best city in Asia, the Middle East and Africa in dealing with these issues. Melbourne came first. We were sixth when ranked “solely by environmental factors that were within policy control” The author of the report evidently stated that ”the overall picture for Johannesburg is that by and large the city has done incredibly well in creating a high quality environment within its urban setting, managing increasing population growth and a degree of unpredictable impacts to ensure a good quality of life for residents.” Ja, nee, wonder if he’s ever been here. One of those jelly dummies for him!
The Rand Steam Laundry
No chocolates for Imperial, just black bread and water for an awfully long time!
Happy Easter and Human Rights/Family Day holidays – spare a thought for all those being made to work in supermarkets and other commercially driven businesses, regards, neil
Friday, March 14, 2008
Mapungubwe; New Eateries Citichat 14 March 2008
CITICHAT 10/2008 - 14 March 2008
Vital Signs
Just as it was with New York when it was in decline, so it was in Joeys. Maybe that’s because the media are basically the same whatever continent they are in, they just love bad news. “Another nail in the coffin” was a frequent headline both here and there. When the JSE announced they were moving northwards; when the Carlton Hotel closed; when Nedbank upped and went, each event provided ‘another nail’! In fact there were so many nails in the coffin that it was nothing short of a miracle that the corpse could push aside the lid and start breathing again! And it has, both here and there. We clearly still have some way to go. But the vital signs have slowly started emerging particularly over the last couple of years. Two that have become very apparent lately are the recovery in rental levels, with a corresponding decline in vacancies, and a return of the ‘city infrastructure’. By infrastructure I don’t mean roads, pavements and sewers but those aspects of a city that make it livable.
If one remembers that it wasn’t that long ago when gross rentals for good quality space were hovering around the R20.00 per square metre mark, then it may be surprising to some to know that double that is now quite commonplace. Even more surprising to some may be the news that recent lettings for new quality space are more than double that again, edging close to Sandton levels! So it should be no surprise that one sees construction cranes back in the city, two on the west side of Magistrates Court busy on the first commercial office tower to be built in the Inner City for a couple of decades and another major block (parking and offices) to commence shortly on the block bounded by Diagonal, Kerk, Sauer and Pritchard streets which will link into the Bank City complex. Office vacancies should also be affected by the number of older office blocks that have been transformed into residential. Way back in March 1998 Citichat suggested that the issue wasn’t “how we can grow big again?” but rather “how can we prosper with what we have?” and the conversions to residential have certainly answered the latter question in part.
It is this increase in residential population that is in fact now starting to drive the return of ‘city infrastructure’. The residential population of the inner city has sky-rocketed. from about 120 000 in 1992/3 to about three times that by the end of last year. A large amount of residential projects are being launched or will be launched this year and the council aims to have at least 70 000 additional residential units provided by 2015. I would guess that we will have an inner city with between a half and three quarters of a million people living, working and playing in its revitalised environment within a decade. Whilst the majority will be the rapidly growing middle-income group, a much smaller higher income group are also being accommodated with apartments and lofts - disposable income is coming back to the inner city. It is this new wave of inner-city residents, middle and higher income, that is attracting new retail services (city infrastructure) from gyms and laundries to pavement cafes and restaurants and now hotel rooms!
I know that Ian Fife of the Financial Mail has often stated that the benchmark for the return of the city is a 24 hour delicatessen. That will eventually come, but what is happening is the return of this city infrastructure not only in the form of coffee shops and pavement cafes but also hotel rooms and quality restaurants. So it was no surprise to be at the official opening on Monday of the Mapungubwe Hotel Apartments. Previously the French Bank building on the block edged by Anderson, Ferreira and Marshall Streets, it has been converted to a four star hotel /apartment block. It is thus well positioned in relation to the corporate sector with companies such as Anglo American and Standard Bank as neighbours. The Hotel/Apartments tag is because the project was developed as a sectional title scheme with 91 hotel apartments and an additional 37 residential apartments of which, I understand, a number are already occupied. The accommodation options include very well appointed studio or 1-bedroomed apartments whilst the hotel provides a fully equipped communications and business centre; high speed internet connectivity in each room as well as a fully equipped gymnasium and a swimming pool. It also has CCTV surveillance, 24-hour security and valet parking. I had a meeting with some hotel guests from the UK last week and we used the pool deck in the central well of the complex which was gloriously quiet and didn’t feel like being in the city at all. A shuttle service to and from the O.R Tambo Airport as well as an ‘on demand shopping facility’ for the apartments’ residents is also available, maybe not a 24 hour delicatessen but as close as one can get!
The food and beverage side of the hotel is via a restaurant called Black a tastefully styled Afro-chic decorated restaurant (all the interior design of the hotel is inspired by the Mapungubwe theme) serving breakfast, lunch and dinner which is a welcome addition to the ‘city infrastructure’ particularly in the south west quadrant of the city. It has a ‘gentleman’s club’ styled bar-lounge in the basement that has retained the vault grilles of the building’s original occupier, the French Bank. Planned is a health bar which will provide quick lunches for the local business community. The hotel hit 90% occupancy over the past two weeks which refelects the need.
Now, to the fact that this is the first new four-star hotel facility in the inner city in yonks, add a number of other new establishments and we get back to vital signs. Isibaya House, on the corner of Marshall and Simmonds Streets boasts a new Cappino Haute Café with great cappucinos which can be imbibed inside or at the pavement tables. Both Main Street and Gandhi Square have attracted a host of pavement coffee-shops including Nino’s, the Coffee Shop, Cramer’s Coffee and Cappellos plus fast-food businesses Newtown’s No 1 Central Place provides Kaldi’s Coffee and the Sophiatown Bar Lounge whilst Moyo @ the Market Theatre jostles with the ‘old faithful’, Gramedoelas, which continues in its consistency of good food, wine and service.
But right in the heart of the city, 87 Commissioner Street, in the splendid, lofty banking hall of this 1902/3 National Bank Building, a new up-market restaurant, Picasso’s Restaurant & Bar, is due to open this month. I haven’t been able to get in as yet but I believe that a great deal of expense has gone into providing a fine dining ambience.
The City Bakery in de Beer Street in Braamfontein is also housed in one of the city’s refurbished heritage buildings and is a must for freshly baked croissants, butternut breads and cinnamon sticks and great coffee. Also in Braamies at 81 De Korte the Narina Trogon, will open initially for breakfast and lunch and with a take away patisserie and will specialise in high quality hormone free local produce. The Narina Trogon is a beautiful but elusive bird named after the Khoikoi mistress of a French orthinologist.
Hotel rooms, quality eateries and coffee shops – it’s all adding to the returning vitality of the inner city.
And then of course there is the culture that the inner city offers you - don’t forget the special ballet rehearsal for members and guests of PARKTOWN WESTCLIFF HERITAGE TRUST to be held tomorrow from 10h00 to13h00. This will be a sneak preview of the SA Ballet Theatre’s preparations for the upcoming season – you will watch a class followed by rehearsals for the upcoming season which will run at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre ..
Now, I did say that this week I would be interrogating the Charter Progress Report that was provided in last week’s Citichat, but I’m not quite through, so hopefully will bring that to you next week.
Ciao, neil
Vital Signs
Just as it was with New York when it was in decline, so it was in Joeys. Maybe that’s because the media are basically the same whatever continent they are in, they just love bad news. “Another nail in the coffin” was a frequent headline both here and there. When the JSE announced they were moving northwards; when the Carlton Hotel closed; when Nedbank upped and went, each event provided ‘another nail’! In fact there were so many nails in the coffin that it was nothing short of a miracle that the corpse could push aside the lid and start breathing again! And it has, both here and there. We clearly still have some way to go. But the vital signs have slowly started emerging particularly over the last couple of years. Two that have become very apparent lately are the recovery in rental levels, with a corresponding decline in vacancies, and a return of the ‘city infrastructure’. By infrastructure I don’t mean roads, pavements and sewers but those aspects of a city that make it livable.
If one remembers that it wasn’t that long ago when gross rentals for good quality space were hovering around the R20.00 per square metre mark, then it may be surprising to some to know that double that is now quite commonplace. Even more surprising to some may be the news that recent lettings for new quality space are more than double that again, edging close to Sandton levels! So it should be no surprise that one sees construction cranes back in the city, two on the west side of Magistrates Court busy on the first commercial office tower to be built in the Inner City for a couple of decades and another major block (parking and offices) to commence shortly on the block bounded by Diagonal, Kerk, Sauer and Pritchard streets which will link into the Bank City complex. Office vacancies should also be affected by the number of older office blocks that have been transformed into residential. Way back in March 1998 Citichat suggested that the issue wasn’t “how we can grow big again?” but rather “how can we prosper with what we have?” and the conversions to residential have certainly answered the latter question in part.
It is this increase in residential population that is in fact now starting to drive the return of ‘city infrastructure’. The residential population of the inner city has sky-rocketed. from about 120 000 in 1992/3 to about three times that by the end of last year. A large amount of residential projects are being launched or will be launched this year and the council aims to have at least 70 000 additional residential units provided by 2015. I would guess that we will have an inner city with between a half and three quarters of a million people living, working and playing in its revitalised environment within a decade. Whilst the majority will be the rapidly growing middle-income group, a much smaller higher income group are also being accommodated with apartments and lofts - disposable income is coming back to the inner city. It is this new wave of inner-city residents, middle and higher income, that is attracting new retail services (city infrastructure) from gyms and laundries to pavement cafes and restaurants and now hotel rooms!
I know that Ian Fife of the Financial Mail has often stated that the benchmark for the return of the city is a 24 hour delicatessen. That will eventually come, but what is happening is the return of this city infrastructure not only in the form of coffee shops and pavement cafes but also hotel rooms and quality restaurants. So it was no surprise to be at the official opening on Monday of the Mapungubwe Hotel Apartments. Previously the French Bank building on the block edged by Anderson, Ferreira and Marshall Streets, it has been converted to a four star hotel /apartment block. It is thus well positioned in relation to the corporate sector with companies such as Anglo American and Standard Bank as neighbours. The Hotel/Apartments tag is because the project was developed as a sectional title scheme with 91 hotel apartments and an additional 37 residential apartments of which, I understand, a number are already occupied. The accommodation options include very well appointed studio or 1-bedroomed apartments whilst the hotel provides a fully equipped communications and business centre; high speed internet connectivity in each room as well as a fully equipped gymnasium and a swimming pool. It also has CCTV surveillance, 24-hour security and valet parking. I had a meeting with some hotel guests from the UK last week and we used the pool deck in the central well of the complex which was gloriously quiet and didn’t feel like being in the city at all. A shuttle service to and from the O.R Tambo Airport as well as an ‘on demand shopping facility’ for the apartments’ residents is also available, maybe not a 24 hour delicatessen but as close as one can get!
The food and beverage side of the hotel is via a restaurant called Black a tastefully styled Afro-chic decorated restaurant (all the interior design of the hotel is inspired by the Mapungubwe theme) serving breakfast, lunch and dinner which is a welcome addition to the ‘city infrastructure’ particularly in the south west quadrant of the city. It has a ‘gentleman’s club’ styled bar-lounge in the basement that has retained the vault grilles of the building’s original occupier, the French Bank. Planned is a health bar which will provide quick lunches for the local business community. The hotel hit 90% occupancy over the past two weeks which refelects the need.
Now, to the fact that this is the first new four-star hotel facility in the inner city in yonks, add a number of other new establishments and we get back to vital signs. Isibaya House, on the corner of Marshall and Simmonds Streets boasts a new Cappino Haute Café with great cappucinos which can be imbibed inside or at the pavement tables. Both Main Street and Gandhi Square have attracted a host of pavement coffee-shops including Nino’s, the Coffee Shop, Cramer’s Coffee and Cappellos plus fast-food businesses Newtown’s No 1 Central Place provides Kaldi’s Coffee and the Sophiatown Bar Lounge whilst Moyo @ the Market Theatre jostles with the ‘old faithful’, Gramedoelas, which continues in its consistency of good food, wine and service.
But right in the heart of the city, 87 Commissioner Street, in the splendid, lofty banking hall of this 1902/3 National Bank Building, a new up-market restaurant, Picasso’s Restaurant & Bar, is due to open this month. I haven’t been able to get in as yet but I believe that a great deal of expense has gone into providing a fine dining ambience.
The City Bakery in de Beer Street in Braamfontein is also housed in one of the city’s refurbished heritage buildings and is a must for freshly baked croissants, butternut breads and cinnamon sticks and great coffee. Also in Braamies at 81 De Korte the Narina Trogon, will open initially for breakfast and lunch and with a take away patisserie and will specialise in high quality hormone free local produce. The Narina Trogon is a beautiful but elusive bird named after the Khoikoi mistress of a French orthinologist.
Hotel rooms, quality eateries and coffee shops – it’s all adding to the returning vitality of the inner city.
And then of course there is the culture that the inner city offers you - don’t forget the special ballet rehearsal for members and guests of PARKTOWN WESTCLIFF HERITAGE TRUST to be held tomorrow from 10h00 to13h00. This will be a sneak preview of the SA Ballet Theatre’s preparations for the upcoming season – you will watch a class followed by rehearsals for the upcoming season which will run at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre ..
Now, I did say that this week I would be interrogating the Charter Progress Report that was provided in last week’s Citichat, but I’m not quite through, so hopefully will bring that to you next week.
Ciao, neil
Friday, March 7, 2008
Charter Citichat 7 March 2008
CITICHAT 9/2008 - 7 March 2008
Charter Update
Back from cold London but unfortunately a day late for the second meeting of the Inner City Charter Partnership Forum which was held on Tuesday at the World of Beer Conference Centre in Newtown. However, Yael Horowitz, the Inner City Programme Manager kindly forwarded me the information that was provided at the meeting enabling me to provide the following update:
Background\
• Following an extensive process of consultation called for by the Executive Mayor, an Inner City Summit was held on 5 May 2007
• The Charter reflects the work of the Summit process Stakeholder Working Groups, and is thus divided into six clusters:
1. Urban management, safety and security
2. Public spaces, arts, culture and heritage
3. Economic development
4. Community development
5. Transportation, and
6. Residential development
• The CoJ recommitted to and re-elevated Inner City initiatives and publicly made a specific ‘ring-fenced’ budget available for the plans:
1. R2 billion Capital budget commitment towards regeneration over the next 5 years (R300 million in 2007/08)
2. R100 million was ring-fenced from various operating budgets for urban management in the Inner City
• The Charter was formally approved by Mayoral Committee on 19 July 2007
• The Inner City Partnership Forum was launched on 7 November 2007.
Charter Vision
The first part of the Inner City Charter speaks about the future of the Johannesburg Inner City. It asks all stakeholders to envisage the future Inner City as a place …
• … That will be developed in a balanced way in order to accommodate all people and interests;
• … Which remains as the vibrant business heart of Johannesburg as a whole, but which balances future commercial, retail and light manufacturing development with a large increase in residential density;
• … Which works, as many other cities do elsewhere in the world, as a key residential node where a diverse range of people from different income groups and backgrounds can have their residential needs met.
• … Of first entry into Johannesburg, but also a place where people want to stay because it offers a high quality urban environment with available social and educational facilities, generous quality public open space, and ample entertainment opportunities;
• … Which serves as both the key transportation transit point for the entire Gauteng Global City Region, but also as a destination point where people want to walk in the streets;
• … Where the prevailing urban management, safety and security concerns are a thing of the past. Fast changing city centres that accommodate a wide range of functions and interests in a dynamic mix do not have to be places where waste is not collected, by-laws are not enforced, buildings are in decay and public spaces deteriorating, and where many people cannot walk in the streets free of the fear of crime.
Regardless of the functions and people it accommodates in future the Johannesburg Inner City will be well-managed, safe and clean. It will not be a dormitory for the poor, nor an exclusive enclave of loft-apartments, galleries and coffee shops;
Urban Management, Safety & Security - Charter Commitments
Urban Management; By law enforcement and education; Waste Management; CID engagement; Bad Buildings; Sectional Title Support; Disaster Management; Liquor outlets; Getting the basics right; Neighbourhood Improvement Districts
Summary of progress
• Regional Urban Management Plan and operations plan approved and being implemented by MultiDisciplinary Task Force in Region F – exemplary example of matrix management and cross departmental cooperation.
• Inner City broken into 4 quadrants and quadrant teams in place
• Dedicated capacity from various departments now contributes 136 enforcement officials and 30 urban inspectors have been hired
• Systematic response, with zone-by-zone, block-by-block interventions beginning to show positive results
• Emphasis on empirical information and early warning systems via GIS, Call Centre tracking, and enhanced monitoring. The gaps and needs are now readily identifiable – the challenge is to get MoEs to respond effectively.
• Coherent programme of support for CIDs and 3x RIDs ready for Mayoral Committee
• 8 one day public education campaigns already conducted. By-law education material has been designed for a major education campaign to roll out over next few months
• Initial work on an integrated database of bad-buildings (owners and directors of companies, cut-offs, amount owing etc) completed. Being further developed along with other strategies.
• Commitment to have 216 CCTV cameras up and running in IC by June 2008 (doubling of network) is ahead of schedule. 4 dedicated response vehicles and staff have been agreed
• Imperative that capital spend is supported by both public and private management initiatives.
Public Spaces - Charter commitments
Supportive built environment; Visual cityscape; Parks, playgrounds and other public spaces; Walkable streets (public environment upgrade); Iconic public spaces
Summary of Progress
• R171 million allocated to public environment upgrade in Hillbrow / Berea and Yeoville. Will involve upgrades on 3 different levels of streets (High = 21 blocks, Activity = 64, Residential = 115). Also public conveniences, park upgrades and interventions in critical urban challenges (eg Governor’s House)
• Necessary to allocate further capital funding to Hillbrow/Berea/Yeoville in the 2008/09 financial year in order to complete some initiatives.
• Approximately R127m of the R300m is in the process of being awarded. After community consultation, JDA on site as from January with five contractors
• Focus on iconic public spaces will happen concurrent with the development of the Spatial Framework and RSDF review
Arts, Culture & Heritage - Charter commitments
Public events and public art; Arts and Culture sector networking; Developing the Inner City as a Cultural Capital; Improving the arts and culture offer; Heritage and Growing and Supporting Cultural Production and Creative Industries
Summary of Progress
• Initial meeting of Inner City Sectoral Advisory Forum of creative & cultural businesses convened in September 2007
• Development of mechanisms to ensure proper and sustainable financing, organisation, marketing and management of all events – liaising with GPG in this regard as CoJ cannot undertake alone
• Clear public art programme in tandem with redevelopment of the public realm – on track in HBY and consultants have been appointed
• Web based information sharing portal being investigated
• Access audit to all city venues has been undertaken – the issue remains the capital needed to ensure compliance and ongoing maintenance
• All heritage plans ready for roll-out should the budget become available
Economic Development - Charter commitments
Graduating/mainstreaming street trading/micro retailing; Access to broadband telecommunications; Targeted support to key sectors; Targeted support to key economic anchors; Incentives (including the Urban Development Zone); Better buildings; and Information
Summary of Progress
• Informal Trading Policy has been adopted.
• Roll out of Smart Card system has been delayed. Now working with JICBC to expedite.
• Hoek St partnership market delayed. Progress now being made.
• RFP for appointment of consultant project team to design further linear markets currently out to tender
• Major institutional and management issues with MTC were experienced, now there is firm commitment to ensure that fast tracked deliverables are forthcoming
• Targeted support to key economic sectors: DED is working with JICBC to establish working forums in targeted economic subsectors – on track;
• UDZ incentive - Extension for the UDZ has been granted by National Treasury for a further 5 years
• Better Buildings: Reconfigured programme now due June 2008. Feasibility studies, financial modeling and legal advice on structuring currently being undertaken
Community Development - Charter commitments
Support to NGOs, CBOs and FBOs; Special groups; ECD; Migrants and refugees; Sports and recreation; Access to health care; Access to education, training and library facilities; Poverty alleviation/ work creation; Access to social package; Community pride
Summary of Progress
• Full new audit of NGOs and CBOs operating in the area has been undertaken. 43 NGOs are now meeting on a monthly basis
• Database of 100 crèches was compiled and measurable support given. 3 Service Providers appointed to provide mobile ECD capacity building of crèches. 28 practitioners trained to date.
• Options for application of the social package are currently being investigated, together with revised tariff issues.
• Excellent progress on all non-time dated programmes
• Developing norms and standards policy for Sports and Recreation facilities, but finalization outstanding as it needs more explicit focus in light of proposed residential densification
Transportation - Charter commitments
BRT; Commuter Rail; Parking; Taxi ranking and holding; Mobility and congestion; Transportation and traffic safety
Summary of Progress
• The Inner City Distribution System will in future be known as the BRT Inner City System. The Inner City route planning and station position planning is completed with traffic impact now being modelled
• The updated Saturn traffic model for the Inner City is complete. This is the first time in the history of the City that a morning and afternoon peak model is available for traffic flows in the Inner City JDA on site with phase 1 of BRT in the Inner City
• Comprehensive solution to On and Off street parking progressing.
• Special commitment to CBD congestion points have been made
• Public environment upgrade has taken traffic and pedestrian safety concerns into consideration.
• Roll out of ward safety planning started Jan 2008
Residential Development - Charter commitments
Inner City Housing Plan; Emergency and Transitional Accommodation; Inclusionary Housing; Hostels; Informal settlement management; Informal settlements relocation or upgrade and development; Private sector residential development facilitation
Summary of Progress
• Final plan late but an Inner City Housing Action Plan was approved by the November 2007 Mayoral Committee as a draft for further consultation. Consultation being done with various stakeholders. Further modelling being done.
• Transitional Housing – although delayed: MBV (317 beds) and Old Perm (150 beds) completed except for final delivery of beds. 228 units completed in BJ Alexander. Chelsea Hotel also in process (155 units), and other buildings (Rosabel Place, Vannin Court, MBV Phase 2 and Casa Mia) have started.
• R3m from the original capital allocation for temporary accommodation in Hospital Hill building redirected to Community Development for refurbishment as a street children sanctuary
Key Charter Commitments to end June 2008 - Main deliverables
• Sustained urban management
• Public environment upgrade – Hillbrow / Berea / Yeoville and planning of next year’s capital allocation
• Coherent CID and NID programme of support to 3 initiatives
• Housing action plan
• Innovative Bad Buildings approach
• Sectional title support
• Reconfigured Better Buildings Programme launched
• Informal trading and linear markets
• Also the urgent need for enhanced communication.
Summation
• 192 deliverables in total listed in the Charter. These are deliverables that we are jointly responsible for as our programme for regenerating the Inner City
• 43 time dated deliverables due end December 2007
– 30 achieved and verifiable i.e. 70%
– 13 late but significant progress made in most programmes, thus majority will be achieved by the end of the financial year.
• Most of the rest of 2007/08’s commitments underway. A minority likely to not be achieved at all (eg Wits/JCE sports facility shared-usage agreement; clearance certificate issues; roll-out of broadband as ‘partner’ will only be selected end May)
During the next week I hope to have time to interrogate the report and will bring you my comments next week In the meantime have a great weekend, regards, neil
Charter Update
Back from cold London but unfortunately a day late for the second meeting of the Inner City Charter Partnership Forum which was held on Tuesday at the World of Beer Conference Centre in Newtown. However, Yael Horowitz, the Inner City Programme Manager kindly forwarded me the information that was provided at the meeting enabling me to provide the following update:
Background\
• Following an extensive process of consultation called for by the Executive Mayor, an Inner City Summit was held on 5 May 2007
• The Charter reflects the work of the Summit process Stakeholder Working Groups, and is thus divided into six clusters:
1. Urban management, safety and security
2. Public spaces, arts, culture and heritage
3. Economic development
4. Community development
5. Transportation, and
6. Residential development
• The CoJ recommitted to and re-elevated Inner City initiatives and publicly made a specific ‘ring-fenced’ budget available for the plans:
1. R2 billion Capital budget commitment towards regeneration over the next 5 years (R300 million in 2007/08)
2. R100 million was ring-fenced from various operating budgets for urban management in the Inner City
• The Charter was formally approved by Mayoral Committee on 19 July 2007
• The Inner City Partnership Forum was launched on 7 November 2007.
Charter Vision
The first part of the Inner City Charter speaks about the future of the Johannesburg Inner City. It asks all stakeholders to envisage the future Inner City as a place …
• … That will be developed in a balanced way in order to accommodate all people and interests;
• … Which remains as the vibrant business heart of Johannesburg as a whole, but which balances future commercial, retail and light manufacturing development with a large increase in residential density;
• … Which works, as many other cities do elsewhere in the world, as a key residential node where a diverse range of people from different income groups and backgrounds can have their residential needs met.
• … Of first entry into Johannesburg, but also a place where people want to stay because it offers a high quality urban environment with available social and educational facilities, generous quality public open space, and ample entertainment opportunities;
• … Which serves as both the key transportation transit point for the entire Gauteng Global City Region, but also as a destination point where people want to walk in the streets;
• … Where the prevailing urban management, safety and security concerns are a thing of the past. Fast changing city centres that accommodate a wide range of functions and interests in a dynamic mix do not have to be places where waste is not collected, by-laws are not enforced, buildings are in decay and public spaces deteriorating, and where many people cannot walk in the streets free of the fear of crime.
Regardless of the functions and people it accommodates in future the Johannesburg Inner City will be well-managed, safe and clean. It will not be a dormitory for the poor, nor an exclusive enclave of loft-apartments, galleries and coffee shops;
Urban Management, Safety & Security - Charter Commitments
Urban Management; By law enforcement and education; Waste Management; CID engagement; Bad Buildings; Sectional Title Support; Disaster Management; Liquor outlets; Getting the basics right; Neighbourhood Improvement Districts
Summary of progress
• Regional Urban Management Plan and operations plan approved and being implemented by MultiDisciplinary Task Force in Region F – exemplary example of matrix management and cross departmental cooperation.
• Inner City broken into 4 quadrants and quadrant teams in place
• Dedicated capacity from various departments now contributes 136 enforcement officials and 30 urban inspectors have been hired
• Systematic response, with zone-by-zone, block-by-block interventions beginning to show positive results
• Emphasis on empirical information and early warning systems via GIS, Call Centre tracking, and enhanced monitoring. The gaps and needs are now readily identifiable – the challenge is to get MoEs to respond effectively.
• Coherent programme of support for CIDs and 3x RIDs ready for Mayoral Committee
• 8 one day public education campaigns already conducted. By-law education material has been designed for a major education campaign to roll out over next few months
• Initial work on an integrated database of bad-buildings (owners and directors of companies, cut-offs, amount owing etc) completed. Being further developed along with other strategies.
• Commitment to have 216 CCTV cameras up and running in IC by June 2008 (doubling of network) is ahead of schedule. 4 dedicated response vehicles and staff have been agreed
• Imperative that capital spend is supported by both public and private management initiatives.
Public Spaces - Charter commitments
Supportive built environment; Visual cityscape; Parks, playgrounds and other public spaces; Walkable streets (public environment upgrade); Iconic public spaces
Summary of Progress
• R171 million allocated to public environment upgrade in Hillbrow / Berea and Yeoville. Will involve upgrades on 3 different levels of streets (High = 21 blocks, Activity = 64, Residential = 115). Also public conveniences, park upgrades and interventions in critical urban challenges (eg Governor’s House)
• Necessary to allocate further capital funding to Hillbrow/Berea/Yeoville in the 2008/09 financial year in order to complete some initiatives.
• Approximately R127m of the R300m is in the process of being awarded. After community consultation, JDA on site as from January with five contractors
• Focus on iconic public spaces will happen concurrent with the development of the Spatial Framework and RSDF review
Arts, Culture & Heritage - Charter commitments
Public events and public art; Arts and Culture sector networking; Developing the Inner City as a Cultural Capital; Improving the arts and culture offer; Heritage and Growing and Supporting Cultural Production and Creative Industries
Summary of Progress
• Initial meeting of Inner City Sectoral Advisory Forum of creative & cultural businesses convened in September 2007
• Development of mechanisms to ensure proper and sustainable financing, organisation, marketing and management of all events – liaising with GPG in this regard as CoJ cannot undertake alone
• Clear public art programme in tandem with redevelopment of the public realm – on track in HBY and consultants have been appointed
• Web based information sharing portal being investigated
• Access audit to all city venues has been undertaken – the issue remains the capital needed to ensure compliance and ongoing maintenance
• All heritage plans ready for roll-out should the budget become available
Economic Development - Charter commitments
Graduating/mainstreaming street trading/micro retailing; Access to broadband telecommunications; Targeted support to key sectors; Targeted support to key economic anchors; Incentives (including the Urban Development Zone); Better buildings; and Information
Summary of Progress
• Informal Trading Policy has been adopted.
• Roll out of Smart Card system has been delayed. Now working with JICBC to expedite.
• Hoek St partnership market delayed. Progress now being made.
• RFP for appointment of consultant project team to design further linear markets currently out to tender
• Major institutional and management issues with MTC were experienced, now there is firm commitment to ensure that fast tracked deliverables are forthcoming
• Targeted support to key economic sectors: DED is working with JICBC to establish working forums in targeted economic subsectors – on track;
• UDZ incentive - Extension for the UDZ has been granted by National Treasury for a further 5 years
• Better Buildings: Reconfigured programme now due June 2008. Feasibility studies, financial modeling and legal advice on structuring currently being undertaken
Community Development - Charter commitments
Support to NGOs, CBOs and FBOs; Special groups; ECD; Migrants and refugees; Sports and recreation; Access to health care; Access to education, training and library facilities; Poverty alleviation/ work creation; Access to social package; Community pride
Summary of Progress
• Full new audit of NGOs and CBOs operating in the area has been undertaken. 43 NGOs are now meeting on a monthly basis
• Database of 100 crèches was compiled and measurable support given. 3 Service Providers appointed to provide mobile ECD capacity building of crèches. 28 practitioners trained to date.
• Options for application of the social package are currently being investigated, together with revised tariff issues.
• Excellent progress on all non-time dated programmes
• Developing norms and standards policy for Sports and Recreation facilities, but finalization outstanding as it needs more explicit focus in light of proposed residential densification
Transportation - Charter commitments
BRT; Commuter Rail; Parking; Taxi ranking and holding; Mobility and congestion; Transportation and traffic safety
Summary of Progress
• The Inner City Distribution System will in future be known as the BRT Inner City System. The Inner City route planning and station position planning is completed with traffic impact now being modelled
• The updated Saturn traffic model for the Inner City is complete. This is the first time in the history of the City that a morning and afternoon peak model is available for traffic flows in the Inner City JDA on site with phase 1 of BRT in the Inner City
• Comprehensive solution to On and Off street parking progressing.
• Special commitment to CBD congestion points have been made
• Public environment upgrade has taken traffic and pedestrian safety concerns into consideration.
• Roll out of ward safety planning started Jan 2008
Residential Development - Charter commitments
Inner City Housing Plan; Emergency and Transitional Accommodation; Inclusionary Housing; Hostels; Informal settlement management; Informal settlements relocation or upgrade and development; Private sector residential development facilitation
Summary of Progress
• Final plan late but an Inner City Housing Action Plan was approved by the November 2007 Mayoral Committee as a draft for further consultation. Consultation being done with various stakeholders. Further modelling being done.
• Transitional Housing – although delayed: MBV (317 beds) and Old Perm (150 beds) completed except for final delivery of beds. 228 units completed in BJ Alexander. Chelsea Hotel also in process (155 units), and other buildings (Rosabel Place, Vannin Court, MBV Phase 2 and Casa Mia) have started.
• R3m from the original capital allocation for temporary accommodation in Hospital Hill building redirected to Community Development for refurbishment as a street children sanctuary
Key Charter Commitments to end June 2008 - Main deliverables
• Sustained urban management
• Public environment upgrade – Hillbrow / Berea / Yeoville and planning of next year’s capital allocation
• Coherent CID and NID programme of support to 3 initiatives
• Housing action plan
• Innovative Bad Buildings approach
• Sectional title support
• Reconfigured Better Buildings Programme launched
• Informal trading and linear markets
• Also the urgent need for enhanced communication.
Summation
• 192 deliverables in total listed in the Charter. These are deliverables that we are jointly responsible for as our programme for regenerating the Inner City
• 43 time dated deliverables due end December 2007
– 30 achieved and verifiable i.e. 70%
– 13 late but significant progress made in most programmes, thus majority will be achieved by the end of the financial year.
• Most of the rest of 2007/08’s commitments underway. A minority likely to not be achieved at all (eg Wits/JCE sports facility shared-usage agreement; clearance certificate issues; roll-out of broadband as ‘partner’ will only be selected end May)
During the next week I hope to have time to interrogate the report and will bring you my comments next week In the meantime have a great weekend, regards, neil
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