Cape Town - Some De Waterkant residents have raised concerns about a proposal to build a 28m high-rise building costing R300 million in the upmarket suburb.
The area, bordering the central business district and next to a row of the Bo-Kaap’s colourful historical homes, is a contested space for property developers wanting to maximise their financial returns.
Property developer Tower Asset Managers, owners of the new Cape Quarter, also in the area, plan to build a mixed-use complex.
Residents Deon Redman and Krisjan Rossouw, who own a property opposite the proposed building site, said the encroaching development would make their lives hell.
Redman, who owns a semi-detached home, said they were made aware of the proposed building only when they saw pictures of it. He said residents who move into the apartments “will be living my life with me”.
“They will be looking into my house. It’s a total loss of privacy,” he said.
The building would also block any views he had from his house.
The developers confirmed the building would have underground parking, which meant they would excavate under the properties of the development’s neighbours.”It’s being developed to the absolute maximum,” said Redman.
He said squashing more people into De Waterkant would also add to existing congestion because the “streets can’t cope with the traffic”.
“We have shops and offices in the area. The underground parking is already not enough for the people who work here. Now they want to build 57 new apartments,” said Redman.
Gary de Klerk, who has lived in De Waterkant for 24 years, said they were “very concerned about the height, bulk and size of the building”.
“Construction will also affect residents. We are concerned that the area’s heritage is not being respected. The city is letting this go ahead too quickly. It’s as if they are just allowing objections, but it’s already a done deal.”
Another resident, Francesco Uys Rootenberg, who owns properties in the area, said city officials had shrunk De Waterkant’s original heritage protection overlay zone to “exclude areas targeted for development”.
“De Waterkant is one of the last authentic areas of the city that has not been desecrated. It’s a place that attracts people. It’s a heritage and economic asset. It has small streets. It can’t have this massive infrastructure.”
Uys Rootenberg accused city officials of “applying the rules case-by-case, instead of looking at the bigger picture”.
“I don’t think the officials care. I would challenge them on the vision we have for Cape Town. They need to create liveable neighbourhoods. They should respect the neighbourhood and put a building there that will fit in with it.”
Councillor Johan van der Merwe, mayoral committee member for energy, environmental and spatial planning, said: “Due process is being followed and the matter is yet to appear before council for decision. The application has been advertised for public participation and the closing date for comments was May 20.”
Meanwhile, the developer said it, too, was playing by the rulebook. The building would be “primarily residential units above the existing mixed-use building already consisting of retail, restaurants and offices and which would have minimal interventions”.
It said a “public meeting was held where stakeholders could express their opinion on the development”.
“This part of De Waterkant is dominated by offices and the addition of residential units would create a friendlier, safer neighbourhood, particularity at night time,” it added.
“Tower sees this node as an exciting growth node in the Western Cape and plans to invest a further R300m on its properties to the benefit of its shareholders and the community.”
Home-owner’s ‘be considerate’ plea
Delivery trucks routinely block the front gate of Deon Redman’s house in De Waterkant where developments - residents argue - are creating congestion.
Redman has taken hundreds of photos of trucks and other vehicles parking illegally in the area from a lack of authorised parking space.
“Our streets are full of cars everyday by 8am. Delivery vehicles are here from 7.30am. It’s predominately people working in the Cape Quarter buildings, going to yoga or the gym in the area,” said a frustrated Redman.
“My personal favourite and daily peeve are people seeking spiritual equilibrium through the ancient art of yoga, but who don’t give a toss about where they park or how (they are) parking illegally. It affects the rest of us. The hope of us residents finding parking even close to our own homes is pointless.
“Large trucks are on roads they shouldn’t be on, traffic can’t move smoothly and often just comes to a standstill.”
De Waterkant residents, many of whom do not have off-street parking in the historic area, want to see “considerate” developments and less congestion, said Redman.
He is among residents protesting against a proposal to build more sky-rise flats near his house.
Weekend Argus