Paul Henry, MD of Rawson Developers said that his team, using Gordon Hart as their architect, will be adding a further storey to the structure and redesigning the interiors so that they can accommodate 4 519m² of retail, restaurant and office space and 44 apartments.  The latter will have floor areas from 33m² (bachelor pads) to 84m² (two bedroom units).

Trevor Weston-Green, Rawson Developers’ strategic planner, said that what sets this complex apart from any other in the popular Rondebosch Central area is that it has ample parking.  In addition to 50 open bays on the forecourt, there will be drive-up parking for 170 vehicles on the first and second floors of the building.

Interest in the space available, said Henry, has been “intense”.  “We have never before experienced so enthusiastic a reception from the public.”

Rawson’s, he said, have fielded over 400 enquiries.  Right now negotiations are in progress with two supermarket chains, both of which aspire to be the only anchor tenant in the complex while on the rest of the retail space Rawson’s, he said, has had enquiries from “every kind of retailer imaginable”. 

“A fair number of letters of intent have already been accepted but we will not sign up most tenants until we are satisfied that we have the correct tenant mix,” said Henry.  Retail space, he added, will be available from R150 per m².  Provision has been made for two restaurants, on the upper floor, as well as office space.  The restaurants have at this stage been allocated ±360 and ±480m² of space.

The apartments, said Weston-Green, will be particularly suitable for students at UCT (2km away), Groote Schuur Hospital, Damelin College and Varsity College (which is in the adjacent block).  Here prices are expected to vary from R 599 000 per unit.  Interest from rent-to-buy investors here is strong and “the list of interested parties wanting to be notified of the launch grows daily”.

Gordon Hart, said Henry, has designed a clean, contemporary façade with prominent metal components and a natural stone cladding to the residential lift block but the design still “takes into account” the architectural style of the “Old Rondebosch”, which is a genuinely historic precinct.

The building will now have separate entrances from the retail and apartment sections.

Bill Rawson, Chairman of Rawson Properties, commented that the retail potential of the site was never fully exploited while the building was used exclusively for the motor trade – with a few offices rented out.  After this refurbishment, he said, the whole Rondebosch retail precinct will take on a new life, making this one of the liveliest shopping areas at the Cape.

On the current schedule, handovers will begin in October 2010 and the entire complex will be operational well in time for Christmas 2010.

“The unique siting and high visibility of this site should make it a prime target for any retailer seeking to expand his Southern Suburbs operations,” said Henry.  “We do urge those who are interested but have not yet contacted us to do so because we will soon be finalising layouts.”