In line with its mandate of rejuvenating and redeveloping the Central Business District, the Mandela Bay Development Agency is now calling for proposals from prospective developers to undertake a detailed planning and re-development of the Old Tramways building at the corner of Baakens Street and Lower Valley Road.

The housing and land committee yesterday agreed to recommend to council that the MBDA be allowed to, on behalf of council, call for proposals for the redevelopment of the former ice-rink.

The dilapidated property is currently being used by street kids, vagrants and illegal immigrants as sleeping quarters. It is also harbouring criminals. Only last week Friday, a joint operation by the MBDA, the municipality's safety and security department and the police raided the property and arrested some alleged criminals.

MBDA chief executive Pierre Voges has referred to the building as "an eyesore" which should be removed. He suggested that it be developed for leisure, retail, office and entertainment, but not industry.

"I am very pleased that this has happened. It means that we will revive a derelict building and make it productive as it will generate income in the form of rates. It will not be sold, but made available for development on a long-term lease basis.

"It also helps us to develop a catalyst for the development of the Baakens River Valley," he added.

At the meeting yesterday, the MBDA was also authorised to advertise council's intention to lease the property and call for expressions of interest and objections.

A report from corporate administration business unit manager Thandeka Mali, tabled at the meeting, said the building complex has, at its core, some of the oldest building heritage in the city: "Over the years, since this municipality-owned building has no longer been required for the maintenance of the city's bus service, the complex has been used for a number of different activities, the best known one being the development of the Jaydene ice-rink."

Mali said the building was not generating any income for the municipality, but remained a liability.

About three-quarters of prime land in the MBDA's mandated area is in the hands of parastatals ? like Spoornet and Transnet - and this is posing huge constraints in luring investors to the city, the committee heard. The MBDA is holding negotiations with these companies to release the land.

Eastern Province Herald
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge