Over the last year (July to July) growth has been plus minus 600,000 shoppers per month; furthermore since its start in 1989 it has been able to extend regularly and support such prestigious anchor tenants as Shoprite, Pick ‘n Pay and Woolworths.

Kobus Bernardo, Broll’s centre manager at Cleary Mall, said that latest surveys indicate that some 80% of patrons live within 6,5km of the centre and the population in this and the surrounding areas has an average household income of R8,000 per month.  This, he reminded us, places them in the 5 to 8 living standards measurement (LSM) category (i.e. above the average for South Africa - the category runs from 1 to 10 with the highest living standard being 10).
 
What is more, said Bernardo, the foot count is likely to increase significantly next year because not only is this the only regional centre serving the area but a major bus and taxi terminal is being built nearby and will be linked to the mall by an underground subway.

It is data such as this, as well as the satisfactory performance of the existing tenants, that led Apex-Hi to initiate a further extension that is being managed for them by Madison Property Fund Managers, an associate company in the Redefine, Apex-Hi and Hyprop group.

This third phase, which commenced at the end of May this year and is due for completion by May 2009, will cost R88 million and will add 10,617m2 to the existing 27,897m2 complex.  It will have approximately 40 outlets, some as small as 22m2.

Already Grant Silverman of Madison Leasing, with assistance from Sharon Hendry and Sam Mngomezulu of P4 Properties, have been able to attract the Edcon subsidiaries Edgars, CNA and Legit as confirmed tenants, together with keen interest from such big names as W P Cellars, FNB, Fashion World and Ideals. 

In addition, Build-It and Steers have been secured in stand alone buildings on the property.  Since the area has an exceptionally high number of small independent builders and there is no drive-through restaurant in the vicinity, both these brands are expected to add exceptional value to the tenant offering.

The current work is being supervised by Betts Townsend Project Managers, who have a young BSc building graduate, Morgan Wratten, on site full time.  Wratten said recently that the dry winter and relatively easy site conditions (the ground has a stony underlay but no heaving clays and no big rocks) have helped the contractors, WBHO, to keep to the schedule and to maintain a very high standard of finishes.  The contractors’ team is headed up by Ian McCauley and Deon de Beer.

Work in the next few months, said Wratten, could be more difficult as it will include the placing of the attractive dove grey Kliplok Chromadek roof sheets and this could be a challenge during the summer months when south-easters tend to whip through here.  At peak WBHO will have over 20 sub-contractors on site and will be turning over R8 million per month.

The architects for the project, Stauch Vorster, said Wratten, have designed the new centre to link in with the existing one and to be inward looking onto a single central mall with an extension leading out to the northeast side.  The mall will be well lit by roof lights and have a central glazed pyramid over a courtyard area.  It will be mechanically ventilated and certain of the shops will have air-conditioning.

On the northeast side of the complex there will be an attractive covered walkway under which fast food outlets such as Debonairs Pizza, Chicken Licken, Sea Flight Fisheries and Maxies will have tables.  From this area panoramic views of the area’s low lying saltpans and the bay itself open out.

Floors in the new mall will be covered with large 600 x 600 mm porcelain tiles, a distinctly upmarket feature, and these will also be laid in the existing section, where lighting, toilets and certain other features will be upgraded.

Professionals on the contract not yet mentioned are Elwandle Projects, consulting civil and structural engineers, RP van Heerden, electrical consultants, Clinkscales Maughan-Brown, mechanical engineers and Johnston and Rosser, quantity surveyors.

The grand opening for the centre is scheduled for 30th April 2009.  Mike Ruttell, Madison Property Fund Managers’ Development Executive, has said that this will be an exceptionally big event in the local community, the majority of whom have come to appreciate the centre very much and use it regularly.

“It is, along with certain churches, the focal point of social life in this area,” he said.