By Ivor Markman

Work has begun on the R24-million renovation and additions to the historic Port Elizabeth Club building in Bird Street and is expected to be completed by the end of August.

The restoration of the 1906 landmark is a combined project by the architectural firms of Stauch Vorster Architects and Moors, Milne and Kievit.

A sectional title register between the two owners, Gutsche Investment and Management Company and the PE Club, has been opened. The building will be administered by a body corporate.

GIMC chief executive officer Phil Gutsche came to the rescue after being told the building was to be sold to a third party the club was not happy with.

“I agreed to purchase a section of the (building), with the club retaining the original bar and a small section they wanted to retain for club purposes,” Gutsche said.

"This included a kitchen, bar, dining area and an administrative area.

A new and attractive architectural feature will be the enclosure with a glass canopy of the central courtyard of the original building.

The front facade of the building is to be restored to its original appearance and a completely new building, which will belong to GIMC, will be built alongside to blend into the surroundings.

The new building is of modern design and will be linked to the old building by a passage. It will incorporate two levels of drive-in parking and three floors of office space.

“We are going to convert the remainder of the club to accommodate a group of advocates.

"The building will be totally restored into a very exclusive precinct. Sometimes you have two or three or four advocates sharing suites, each one having his own office but sharing a secretary and facilities,” he said.

The club has also agreed to provide a reference library.

“They will hopefully be able to use the club diningroom, so the club will benefit from that.

"We will retain the huge wild fig tree and will enhance and upgrade the parking area and the section in front (with) the flagpole will be retained.

“The architects liaised with members of the Provincial Heritage Resources Agency to ensure compliance with its regulations and requirements.

"We made certain amendments to our original plans so we would produce something the city would be proud of,” Gutsche said.

He said all plans had been passed by the municipality and the PHRA permit committee.

“We received full co-operation from PHRA and the municipality. They have been absolutely superb in the co-operation that has been accorded us.

“There are already a number of landlords in Bird Street who have upgraded their buildings.

"There is the Old Mutual building (previously the Moth Club) and next to it is what used to be an old residential house, (which was) upgraded by Tony Moore.

“We hope this development will be the catalyst for future redevelopment of the entire Central area and more particularly of the Bird Street-Donkin Reserve precinct.

“I only wish that the slumlords in the area would equally undertake the upgrade of their buildings.

"Some of them are of historical value and it is a shocking disgrace that they have been able to get away with it.

"These properties should be expropriated or alternatively (the owners) should be forced to upgrade.

"This is an absolute dereliction of authority and misuse of their administrative powers of our city which must be changed,” Gutsche said.

Source: The Herald