Durban - Clare Estate residents are up in arms over the proliferation of student accommodation in the area after they claimed that a developer of the University of KwaZulu-Natal off-site student residences Crystal Valley was unlawfully building accommodation in a residential area.
According to residents, properties on O’Flaherty Road, overlooked by the residential area, and a property on Varsity Drive in nearby Reservoir Hills, were allocated for developing student accommodation.
The development is currently being carried out at 58 Blaine Road, and residents were concerned about the implication of having student residences encroaching into a suburb.
UKZN Acting Executive Director Corporate Relations Normah Zondo said: “The university is unaware of the allegations against Crystal Valley Properties. An assessment of the facilities to check whether or not the building meets with DHET Norms and Standards for student accommodation is conducted prior to housing students in any of the leased residences.”
A resident, who did not want to be named, accused the owner and developer of Crystal Residence, Dr Rikesh Maharaj, of forcing his way into the neighbourhood so that hecould develop the area for student residences.
“He is trying to muscle his way into the community.
“He (Maharaj) is not zoned to build student accommodation here and we are stuck in a difficult position because he can offer what he wants for our properties because the value will drop when they’ve finished building the residences.”
Clare Estate Ratepayers Association chairperson Navin Dookran said that if a student residence was being built in a residential area, there was concern over the infrastructure in Clare Estate.
Responding to the allegations, Maharaj said the accusations that there was a development of a student residence on 58 Blaine Road were unsubstantiated.
“There is no development of student residences at 58 Blaine Road.
What happened is that I purchased property that was a problem for the area and we are not transforming the property into student accommodation. It is a derelict building which isbeing renovated.
“Therefore, I can’t understand why people believe it’s being renovated for student residences. Only properties on O’Flaherty Road and Varsity Drive in Reservoir Hills were demarcated for the needs of building student accommodation.”
Municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said that the city would only comment once an investigation into the matter was finalised.
The Daily News