Orange Grove set for multi-million rand development

15 February 2017

 

Residents of Orange Grove in Region E were given a glimpse of how their neighbourhood will look like in future when City of Johannesburg officials and developers made presentations on the Louis Botha Road Special Development Zone at Spark Gallery on Monday February 13.

 

More than 14 000 high-density housing units are planned to be developed along the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system currently being constructed linking the Johannesburg central business district to Sandton. At present there are 2 800 residential properties in the area.

The Louis Botha Road initiative is one of three Special Development Zones (formerly known as the Corridors of Freedom), currently taking shape in Johannesburg. The other two are Perth-Empire in Region B and Turffontein in Region F.

The zones have been designed in such a way that residents live closer to work, schools, social amenities, public transport facilities and business opportunities.

Speaking at Monday’s public engagement session, Linah Dube, Director of Land Use Management in the City’s Department of Development Planning, said the implementation phase of the Louis Botha SDZ represented a new milestone in the realisation of the Corridors of Freedom vision.

“We hope this will inject new life into this well-located area of the city,” Dube told scores of residents who attended the meeting.

Francis Fourie of Osmond Lange Architects, one of the developers involved in the project, said within the next few months residents and property owners would be able to add multiple units or storeys to their properties.

“The plan is to increase densities in Orange Groove and create a neighbourhood with a village-urban feel,” Fourie said.

Dube said various housing models would be presented – from single units and “row houses” to maisonettes and flats.

“The housing models have been designed with great care to ensure that they will result in an aesthetically pleasing neighbourhood,” she said.

Over the next few weeks the City will embark on a series of exhibitions and engagements with affected communities. Professionals will be available to advice residents and property owners on how they will be affected.

Fourie said residents and property owners would be given an opportunity to air their views on the development.

However, some residents raised concerns about crime, saying the proposed densification should be matched with increased policing. Others expressed fears that the move could impact on electricity and water supply.

According to Dube, before any brick could be laid, a draft scheme would be advertised in the Provincial Government Gazette as early as April, with council approval expected between June and July.