The Johannesburg City Council’s plan to develop Huddle Park has been met with mixed reaction from residents, a council spokesperson said.
Media liaison officer Nthatisi Modingoane told Engineering News Online that the city has put forward a proposal for a mixed development at Huddle Park, at a recent public meeting.
"We proposed to keep a larger part of the ground as a public open space, preferably developing it into a golf course, while the rest would be developed as residential and retail space," he explained.
Huddle Park was bequeathed to the local council in the 1920s, reportedly on condition that it remained a public open space. It has since hosted an unprofitable golf club, before granting a 15-year lease to the Linksfield Golf Development Company last year.
Linksfield Golf Development Company, in a joint venture with the South African Golf Development Board, subsequently established there a successful golf academy for black youth.
However, the Johannesburg City Council has now decided to develop the land, amid accusations of secret already-sealed deals with developers.
Allegations have been made that the council has concluded a deal with developers for a multimillion-rand upmarket residential development. Names such as Tokyo Sexwale and Cyril Ramaphosa have been linked to a potential development.
However, Modingoane has denied that the council has decided on anything yet, and said that "nothing has been cast in stone".
"We received mixed views from residents. Some did not want Huddle Park developed at all, some did not want it to be done on such a large scale," he explained.
Feedback from the public would be submitted in a report to the mayoral committee, along with the council’s proposal, Modingoane added. This, he said, would be done by August 12.
"If the committee endorses our proposal, we will hold further consultations with interested parties," he added, saying that the proposal does not mean the council has predetermined plans for the property.
"This is just a proposal for how we would like to develop this area, but we will take everything into account, including feedback from the public."
Modingoane said the council would also invite developers to put forward ideas for the best development at Huddle Park.
"We want developers to be creative, because we want to develop a special place at Huddle Park," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance ward councillor Carol Milner said most community members were not happy with the proposals put forward by the council.
"At the moment, the council is trying to feel its way," she said, adding that residents would hold a meeting at Huddle Park next week to determine the way forward.
Publisher: Engineering News
Source: Engineering News
