By Cathy Dippnall

A proposed new commercial centre for George is meeting opposition from business owners as existing commercial buildings and shopping centres in the CBD stand empty.

The 60000m² Eden Meander development is proposed at Blue Mountain Village near the Garden Route Mall on the outskirts of George.

A shopping centre, offices and mixed residential development are earmarked for the property.

However, the proposal has drawn an outcry from business owners in the George central business district. Businessman Imel Rautenbach yesterday said a development like this would lower the value of his and other properties in the CBD where buildings were standing empty.

“My concern is that by allowing businesses to move out of the CBD, we‘ll end up in the same situation that has happened in Port Elizabeth or Johannesburg where it has cost the municipality a fortune to rejuvenate the inner city that has fallen into decay.”

Eden Meander spokesman Loot Steyn said the company would respond in detail after a board meeting on Friday. He said the window of opportunity in terms of economic viability for the development was open for 18 years.

“This means we have 18 years to develop. It‘s not as if we are going to put this up overnight. People must understand that George is slowly positioning itself as the future metropole of the Southern Cape.”

Environmental assessment practitioner Dupré Lombaard said the extent of a project like the Eden Meander could take years to reach approval but “George is a growth point and projects need to be put forward timeously to meet future needs”.

Source: The Herald