R12 MILLION NEW LOOK FOR CASCADES CENTRE

A R12 million refurbishment is under way at the Cascades shopping centre in Pietermaritzburg as the first phase of a new look for the neighbourhood mall.  

Centre manager Joseph Parsley said the refurbishment would be followed by the creation of an entertainment or fantasy island fronting on to the Townbush stream running past Cascades.

“Our goal is to provide additional facilities and to vigorously market Cascades as a niche community lifestyle centre offering an outstanding retail and entertainment experience in a most convenient location, “he says.

“Creation of the island will entail a diversion of the river at a cost of R2 million to form a permanent body of water with walkways surrounding it. Proposals are being examined for a restaurant and associated dining terraces along these walkways, as well as an outdoor entertainment facility.  Cascades has approval for the diversion project from environmental authorities.”

Parsley says that for the revamp, scheduled for completion in July, Cascades  will get a new entrance, lighting, ceilings, mall tiling and signage, all in a contemporary design. It follows the expansion of parking facilities last year, when 239 bays were added to the existing 685 bays. 

“ Cascades was first built in 1984  and has become dated. A fresh look was needed for the public areas, particularly since the last refurbishment was undertaken in 1993 when five Nu Metro cinemas and line shops were added.

“While Cascades has established itself as a neighbourhood centre, it has to move with the times and be prepared to meet competition, such as that posed by the Midands mall opening in September.”

Parsley said Cascades would maintain its country style setting and unique tenant mix.  The centre anchor tenants are Checkers, Nu Metro, Clicks and Spur.

“Our tenant mix has a truly local flavour and comprises mainly independent operators who enjoy wide support from the catchment area.”

The professional team for the project comprises Old Mutual Properties as developer; Development Design Group, of Baltimore, as concept design architect; BILD Architects as project architect and principal agent; Norval Wentzel Steinberg as quantity surveyor; and BCP Engineers as structural and civil engineer.

Ends

ISSUED FOR Old Mutual Properties

BY Michael Kerkhoff & Associates

INQUIRIES Joseph Parsley 083-4471531

                    Mike Kerkhoff 021-424-5280