The R64m luxury boutique hotel at 167 Oxford Road, Rosebank, Johannesburg, is a project of independent developers RB Monarch and is expected to open in June or July. Work began last year. Trevor Latimer, GM of the new hotel, says it will be called Monarch, and is a 15-suite hotel.  “We are refurbishing the heritage building which used to be the old Rosebank post office. The facade of the post office will remain, and we’ll be transforming the inside into an exclusive luxury boutique five-star-plus hotel,” says Latimer.  Interior design is being undertaken by designers Faire Living.  Latimer says the hotel will be run as a traditional hotel with a 100-seater “fine dining” restaurant open to the public for lunch and dinner.

The site was chosen because Rosebank is a “growth hub” and there has been a lot of redevelopment there. “It makes sense from all perspectives.”  The property, built in the early 1930s, was chosen because it was a heritage building. “We’re targeting the very top flight of the luxury market. It is very much a niche market, but a market where there is very high demand.”

This development is one of several in Rosebank as the Gautrain rapid rail link project gains momentum. Several new developments have been announced for the area in recent months.  Last October, Rosebank property owners Redefine Income Fund and Standard Bank announced they were planning a rejuvenation project for the Rosebank Arena precinct, which could be worth up to R450m.

The two landlords aim to create more office, residential, retail and parking space to take advantage of the Gautrain and the expected commuter traffic. In December, The Old Mutual Property Group announced that it was planning a R623m mixed-use property development near its The Zone@Rosebank shopping centre.

Five Old Mutual properties will be demolished to make way for retail space, a 160-room hotel, a four-level parking garage and studio offices.