Plans for a new R30-million development for the increasingly popular Hartbeespoort area have been announced.
Chameleon Village will feature 1 000sq m formal shops, 165 speciality stores, a sophisticated forest picnic area, an interactive artists' studio colony, entertainment amphitheatre, a working fruit farm, a sand volleyball court, organic farmers' market, animal farm, a children's play area and a variety of other elements to provide an unusual country shopping experience.
Chameleon Village, owned and developed by Leadwood Tourist Properties and conceived and developed by Gary Israelsohn, of the Inventive Networking Trading Agency, will open on November 1 with many of the varied traders already signed up.
Situated on 10 hectares of pristine land - of which 4 hectares will be developed for retail, entertainment and parking, leaving the remainder divided between a forest eco-organic experience and a working fruit farm - Chameleon Village is encased in indigenous forests and magnificent landscapes.
It will be developed near the Hartbeespoort Dam tunnel, between the N4 and R512, with entrances from both these main roads and only a 20-minute drive from Pretoria and 30-minute drive from Sandton.
"It will form a valuable leisure and retail resource
for the approximately 125 000 visitors to this area each weekend," said Israelsohn, who previously co-founded Global Village Leisure Retail. "The Hartbeespoort area ranks as the second-most visited local and international 'tourist' destination in South Africa."
With design by top retail architects Bentel Associates International, Chameleon Village reflects a sophisticated country ambience with elements of contemporary international Africa reflected in the wood, stone and glass fabrics and finishes used throughout. These natural elements create a strong link between Chameleon Village and its surrounding environment.
The new development will feature an unusual approach to leasing with space taken up by retailers from first-time micro "mom-'n-pop" stores to well-established merchants - with trading areas from a shelf in the crafters' co-operative to larger formal stores.
"The leasing strategy for Chameleon Village is reflective of the development's name - it's adaptable to all retailers and designed to bring colour and variety to local retailing," said Israelsohn.
Almost fully let, the formal stores comprise 1 000sq m of the retail area and include traders like The Mint, Kanya Candles, Imperial Art and Olde World Jewellers.
Incorporated in the formal store area is The Crafters' Co-Operative, a 3 000sq m speciality retail area made up of smaller stores.
Publisher: The Star
Source: The Star
