Cape Town - A few years after being labelled a “slum” because it allegedly harboured drug dealers and prostitutes, Senator Park has been taken off the list of problem buildings by the city council.
No longer considered a hotbed of crime, the building needed more than just a lick of paint and a name-change to 66 on Keerom to get rid of its “slum” image.
On Monday a final inspection of the building, after renovations, was conducted by principal inspector Wayne Aldridge, together with fire and health inspectors.
Aldridge said he was pleased with the outcome of the inspection and handed building owner Leonard Lowings a notice confirming his findings.
He said: “The case has been closed and will be reopened if we receive any complaints.”
Aldridge warned Lowings that the building would be monitored to ensure that the building was properly maintained.
Prior to its listing as a problem building in 2009, the city had received several complaints about overcrowding, filthy conditions, broken windows and a lack of fire extinguishers.
However, after a tour of the building on Monday, the Cape Argus can confirm that most of these issues had been resolved.
A new biometric security access system was installed, the lifts were working well, glass walls were erected on the first floor and there was adequate emergency exit signage.
Paul Kadalie, a flat owner for more than 20 years, said he was excited about the renovations.
“I am looking forward to coming back. If you look at it, it’s upgraded and has a high market value if you want to sell your property.”
Another resident Gert Nieuwenhuis said he was pleased with the upgrades, but that there was room for improvement.
Nieuwenhuis said security needed to be tightened, especially in regard to those entering the building. “I noticed that the visitors’ policy has not been implemented. It will have to be tightened or Senator Park will revert back to what it was.”
Lowings said revamping the building had been a lengthy process.
“It has been a long road; the building was shut for over four years.”
Lowings said the renovations cost more than R12.5m for the external and internal upgrades. Unit owners had to pay an additional amount for individual unit upgrades. He said the name change was proposed by unit owners who believed that “Senator Park” had a gained “a bad reputation”. “Legally it won’t change, but the signage in front will.”
Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith said Senator Park had a reputation as one of the most notorious problem buildings in the city and for many years dominated the headlines as a haven for criminals and other nefarious activities.
He said the building was inhabited by illegal occupants who refused to allow owners to enter the building. “Senator Park has been a challenge but, on the upside, it’s proven invaluable in terms of how to go about dealing with similar situations in future.”
To date the Problem Building Unit had a caseload of 1 652 complaints in various stages of investigation.
Cape Argus