Linear park to change the face of Turffontein

15 June 2015

 

The development of the Turffontein Corridor, southeast of Johannesburg, took another giant step forward when the City of Johannesburg announced the construction of a multimillion rand linear park that will help to significantly change the shape, character and look of the area.

 

Turffontein is one of the oldest suburbs of Johannesburg that had been in steady decline over the years.

 

The R17.8-million Linear Park is a 1.2km stretch of development on De Villiers Street that links up with the Rotunda Precinct, part of the R200 million three-year extreme makeover of the area. Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning Clr Roslyn Greeff said the first phase of the development of the Linear Park had already started and was expected to be completed by November this year.

 

“Two lanes will be built on either side of De Villiers Street, leading into the Rotunda Precinct, which is already being refurbished,” she said.

 

The redevelopment of Turffontein is part of the City’s transport-orientated initiatives aimed at transcending apartheid-era town planning. It brings schools, services, work opportunities and other benefits closer to the people, especially those living on the edges of the city.

 

The redevelopment is in line with City of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy 2040 (GDS 2040), whose vision includes well-planned transport infrastructure and mixed-use housing developments. Parks and green spaces are an integral part of these developments.

 

The Turffontein Corridor will serve the suburbs of Turffontein, Kenilworth and Rosettenville. Already plans have been approved for the development of a R2 billion mixed-use housing project in the adjacent South Hills area, which is within walking distance from the Johannesburg city centre.

 

About 600 housing units are expected to be developed in the area over the next few years. Thabang Sithole, a City of Johannesburg Specialist Strategic Planner, said the redevelopment of the area would attract investors, including housing developers.

 

“We want the private sector to come on board and develop affordable houses. We want them to build upwards, to construct buildings that will accommodate more people. We want to see more people move into this area,” Sithole said.

 

He said members of the community were excited about the new developments, which were likely to help create jobs. Turffontein is one of three Corridors of Freedom currently being developed in the city. The others are Louis Botha in Region E and Perth-Empire in Region B.