Cape Town - Fish Hoek is the safest suburb in Cape Town to live in, according to the latest crime statistics and has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
But when it comes to looks, the seaside village dipped out – especially its drab Main Road which feels like it’s stuck in a time warp.
A plethora of cellphone repair shops, one called the Emergency Happiness shop compete with Chinese shops and cheap takeaways, most with ugly storefronts and cheap signage.
There is also a perception that the suburb is home to elderly white retirees and that youngsters and people of colour are not welcome.
But the area is set to get a much-needed makeover.
The Fish Hoek City Improvement District (FHCID) is working with a research and marketing company to address not only the physical aspects but also to create a more welcoming space across ages, culture and races.
Melina Lewis and Lee-Anne McQueen, of Tankwa Sky, invited residents and those who use the area to complete a survey on what they loved about it and what they would prefer to see changed.
The Main Road was a concern for many of the 350 or so people who commented as well as a lack of good quality restaurants and activities for the youth.
People also wanted more visible policing and for the situation regarding aggressive vagrants and drug addicts to be addressed.
Lewis said they wanted to create a “look and feel” for Fish Hoek that other coastal communities like Kalk Bay, Simon’s Town and Noordhoek had achieved.
Lewis added that intolerance including race, gender and age had been mentioned in the survey, and ideas to encourage greater integration would be a priority.
She said many of the buildings had potential but needed a coat of paint and better signage: “We want to meet with building owners to see what improvements can be made and also to attract businesses that would be the right mix.”
Some of the ideas were to green the suburb including the ugly facebrick police station, and hold festivals and craft markets.
Rick Bing, the FHCID’s chairman, said there had been many ideas over the years, ranging from painting the buildings in different colours to improving signage.
But he said there were multiple landowners, all with their own ideas and varying budgets.
Bing, the owner of clothing store AP Jones, which his family has run since 1928, said it had been helpful to get new blood and fresh ideas about what could be done.
Manu Choudree, responsible for safety and security at the FHCID, said the Fish Hoek station and taxi rank was a transport hub for the area which they hoped to turn into a world class transportation centre.
“We have already started making it safer and cleaner.”
Tim Heffer, the FHCID’s director and owner of a garage, said people had been avoiding Fish Hoek because of the roads.
He has taken a massive financial knock especially with the stop-and-go in place.
“Our branding was a bit old fashioned but I think there is huge potential for Fish Hoek to brand itself,” Heffer said.
Cape Argus
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