comments John Herbst, national  sales executive for Pam Golding Properties.

“The common denominator is that such nodes offer a convenient and highly appealing ‘live, work, play’ environment. However this is within the context of a prime location which offers not only easy access to a comprehensive range of facilities and leisure activities, but also within a modern, dynamic and exciting environment which also provides a sense of community, all amid attractive surrounds with attention to open ‘green’ spaces,” he says.

Comments Peet Strauss, manager of the Melrose Arch office of Pam Golding Properties: “Melrose Arch typifies a lifestyle sought after across a range of buyers of varying age groups - from DINKS purchasers ie ‘dual income no kids’, to singles with busy careers who want a convenient location and healthy lifestyle or the older generation. Picture this scenario – a young/middle-aged or older person awakens early, walks to gym for a work-out, has the first meeting of the day over breakfast at one of many nearby restaurants, walks to the office and arrives in time for a 9am staff meeting feeling invigorated and ready for a productive day. All this - without the stress and frustration of rush hour traffic congestion and delays, and in effect, adding about two further, usable hours in the day,” he says.

“Melrose Arch draws a mix of buyers including security conscious locals, those travelling more frequently and scaling down from large properties to still spacious, lock-up-and-go apartments, commuters from out of town working in Johannesburg, or international buyers. Some of these are purchasing now with a view to moving in later, while our investors continue to buy as the rental income market has performed well over the past five years.

“Melrose Arch makes it possible to be close to everything, but still away from it all, as you can enjoy the buzz and soak up the local vibe sitting on a piazza, or return to your apartment and enjoy peace and relaxation. The blend of lifestyle, aspirational appeal and ease of use of the precinct type living makes this development highly attractive to people ranging in age from their twenties to seventies – it is what makes this development unique.”

Strauss says if you consider that with long term planning and spatial development indicating the natural densification of cities, together with worsening traffic congestion, rising fuel costs and the costs of upgrading transport systems, more and more of this kind of mixed-use development will appear over time. “Coupled with Gauteng’s new toll system, it is inevitable that more than ever, people will want to move closer to their place of work. While does not mean that precinct style living such as Melrose Arch will solve the city’s traffic problems, demand for property in such areas will remain high and these properties will come at a premium. An added benefit of living in Melrose Arch is being on the main Gautrain bus route, with a bus to the Rosebank Gautrain station every 15 minutes.”

Elwyn Schenk, Pam Golding Properties area principal in the Umhlanga and Umdloti areas of the KwaZulu-Natal north coast comments: “Following the global financial meltdown the western world seems to have embraced a ‘new normal’, with a paradigm shift to more traditional values, more conservative financial policies, more attention to the environment and an emphasis on quality of life. As a result, we see a continuation of migration of higher LSM people to areas where a more varied, relaxed and fulfilled lifestyle can be enjoyed. Umhlanga Rocks and its nearby neighbours of La Lucia and Umdloti fall into this category and provide a wide range of property offerings that meet these requirements.”

For those living in the Gateway precinct in Umhlanga, the ‘live, work, play’ concept is a reality, within arguably one of the most desirable resorts in the world. Gateway is only 10 minutes’ drive to King Shaka International Airport, five minutes to beaches with year-round swimming temperatures, and within walking distance of one of Africa’s most attractive major shopping centres with a wide variety of entertainment and leisure activities. With no traffic congestion, here you can walk or cycle to work in the commercial nodes at hand or in nearby Umhlanga Ridge or La Lucia Ridge office estates, or stroll in a virtually crime-free piazza while deciding which of dozens of restaurants or pubs to visit.

Says Schenk: “The migration of corporate, banks and professionals from the city centre to Gateway and Umhlanga Ridge areas has resulted in a strong demand for residential properties, while international hotel groups, renowned for selecting high growth potential areas for new development, have opened four new hotels in the Gateway area, with one currently under construction in Gateway itself.”

He says the Gateway area is unique in that it offers a broad spectrum of residential properties, from under R1 million for a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment to R3 million for a three bedroom, three bathroom unit in the sought after Auroras apartment building, or R4.5 million for a comparable unit at Palm Boulevard, considered by many to be the best address in Gateway. The success of this node has positively impacted on adjacent areas such as Somerset Park – a series of secure estates with houses prided from R1.3-R4 million, and Ilala Ridge – with apartments and houses within a gated estate priced from about R930 000 for a one bedroom unit to R15 million for a freestanding house, as well as other developments on the Ridge such as Grand Floridian.

Adds Schenk: “The proximity of Umhlanga Village, where apartments are priced from R1.5 million to R20 million and houses up to R40 million, and La Lucia – all less than five kilometres from Gateway, means these areas have benefited from the rapid growth of the Umhlanga Ridge commercial node and the Gateway precinct. Buyers here are generally a mix of investors who have recognised the substantial shortage of rental properties in Umhlanga growth nodes, as well as those seeking permanent residence in one of the most desirable locations in the country – with over 320 days of sunshine on average per annum.”

Laurie Wener, MD of the Pam Golding Properties Western Cape region, says prime examples of the growth of the new urban lifestyle has been the redevelopment of Cape Town’s central city, with former under-utilised or vacant commercial buildings converted to prime residential accommodation in properties such as Mandela Rhodes Place, Cartwright’s Corner and Mutual Heights. “In addition, formerly commercially dominant areas such as Claremont – incorporating Cavendish Square shopping centre – have been converted into vibrant mixed-use areas where residents can either walk or commute to work on public transport. Offices, supermarkets, shopping centres, restaurants and places of entertainment and cultural interest are close. A further example of this is Green Point where the area around the new Cape Town Stadium has benefited through the beautification of the environment by means of landscaping, improved road and transport infrastructure and the exceptional new Green Point Urban Park – all to the betterment of the area in general. This has also led to the upgrading of the retail sector, with positive exposure and focus for the area, with residential property prices well sustained and even improved despite the economic slowdown. Prices up to R15 million are being achieved on the Mouille Point Beach Road while the sale off plan of the new Amalfi development in Green Point was a resounding success with  12 residential units sold within three months of launch as well as two retail units.”

Wener says The Quadrant in Wilderness Road, Claremont is another example of a successful, stylish mixed-use development incorporating residential apartments, retail centre with gym, restaurants, offices, doctors’ rooms and library, while Montclare, also in the area, is another mixed complex with sophisticated apartments in a complex with a Virgin Active gym, supermarket and other selected retail. “The secret to the success of these mixed-use developments is the creation of a trendy and aesthetically pleasing environment with security, a connected yet exclusive residential section with restricted access, ample parking for residential and retail and well designed, modern apartments. Such units offer a holistic and convenient way of living – with easy access to major routes creating high appeal for young professional singles or couples, and end users or investors for primary or secondary residence. Parents frequently purchase for student children, secure that there are sufficient convenient shops and services in a secure environment and with good capital growth potential,” she says.

Adds Dexter Leite, Pam Golding Properties rentals director in the Western Cape: “With easy access to the University of Cape Town, The Quadrant and Montclare are popular among parents who rent apartments for children who are studying, with units achieving rentals of R8 500 to R10 000 per month, depending on the unit. In central Cape Town, furnished apartments in Mandela Rhodes Place and Cartwright’s Corner achieve rentals of R12 000 to R13 000 per month, and R9 000 to R10 000 respectively for two bedroom, unfurnished units. City centre apartments remain sought after among those mainly in the 25-40 year age bracket, with some tenants rarely using their own transport during the week. At brand new 15 on Orange, near Kloof Street, Pam Golding Properties recently concluded a penthouse rental at R28 000 per month.

Concludes Leite: “The V&A Waterfront, although not typical of a mixed-use development, ie comprising numerous buildings, is very popular for similar reasons as these urban lifestyle precincts. Appealing to an affluent, perhaps more mature tenant, two bedroom apartments vary from R20 000 to R30 000 per month, depending on finishes, size and location, indicating the high investor appeal of such properties.”