Province presents 4 properties to market

Published Mar 27, 2014

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Cobus Coetzee

Political Writer

DEVELOPERS have until April 17 to express interest in four prime Cape Town properties the provincial government wants to either sell or lease in the next year.

Public Works and Transport MEC Robin Carlisle hosted an investors’ conference yesterday detailing the four properties the province wants to put on the market. About 150 investors, bankers, developers and lawyers attended the conference.

The province would prefer to lease out the properties on 30-year leases but project leader Gary Fisher said this “wasn’t a hard and fast rule” and the government would consider a one-off sale of the properties, a private public partnership or longer leases of up to 60 years.

First property up for discussion was Tafelberg Remedial High School on 355 Main Road Sea Point.

The developers would have to retain the 1899 Ellerslie Girls School building and the lane of wild fig trees on the properties.

Sea Point project leader Frank Cummings said the property was ideal for a mixed retail and residential development similar to the Biscuit Mill in Woodstock and the Mabobeng Precinct in Johannesburg. He said up to half of the 27 903 people living in the surrounding area were renting.

Cummings said the province preferred developers to create a park in front of the 17 054m² property.

Craig Leach presented the Top Yard, a 11 621m² property situated in Hope Street, Gardens. The property is being used as a parking area for government officials and will be vacant in the second half of next year.

The province proposed a mixed development and a 30- year lease on the property.

Project leader Ann Roese presented Alfred Street Building to developers. The six-storey building of 47 700m² was constructed in 1953 and houses the police, Library Services and the General Store.

Roese said the property was close to bus routes and vibrant shops in De Waterkant district.

The province proposed mixed development again and Roese said developers could “open up” the building to pedestrians with shops and a walkway and introduce a lane of trees along Alfred Street.

The fourth property is Helen Bowden Nurses Home next to the New Somerset Hospital near the V&A Waterfront.

Project leader Mark Munro said the nursing home was only 30 percent occupied. He said the building could be demolished.

The building is part of the Somerset Precinct of properties the province is set to lease or sell in phases up to 2024.

The province is set to go through a bidding process and plans to finalise the selection for preferred bidders for the four properties by next March.

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