By Max Matavire Metro Editor

Port Elizabeth's central business district will be the ideal place for people to live, work and play when the Mandela Bay Development Agency completes all its projects aimed at revitalising the area.

The projects being undertaken or at feasibility stages are the R25 million second-phase upgrading of Govan Mbeki Avenue, the R21 million upgrading of Parliament Street from Rink Street to Lawrence Street.

The multi-million-rand redevelopment of the old tramways building on the corner of Valley Road and Baakens Street and the redevelopment of the taxi rank on the corner of Govan Mbeki Avenue and Russell Road into a transport interchange.

The MBDA, working closely with municipal departments, is now calling for the environmental upgrading of the second phase of the Govan Mbeki Avenue project – the area between Donkin Street and Russell Road.

Design teams for this project and the Parliament Street project have already been appointed.

“Tenders for both projects will go out by October, with contractors being appointed in December. Construction starts in the middle of January,” said MBDA chief executive Pierre Voges.

“The first phase of the Govan Mbeki Avenue upgrade, which was to be completed by this month, is extended for another two months since contractors encountered unforeseen problems when relining the huge sewer pipes running underneath the street.”

He said the beautification process had already started with the planting of trees and the lighting of the side streets which lead to Strand Street.

“It is beginning to take shape. After completion, the CBD will never be the same again. People will see that the inconvenience caused during the works was worthwhile,” said Voges.

The staircase between Shoprite and the Old Mutual will be replaced with an electric escalator which will link Chapel Street to Govan Mbeki Avenue.

Voges said this project would be completed towards the end of next year.

For the Govan Mbeki Avenue second phase, he said, a consulting team would undertake the planning, preparation of concept plans, working drawings and contract documentation during the latter half of this year.

“As part of the planning process, interested and affected parties are invited to attend a series of public meetings regarding this environmental upgrading work,” he said.

A first round of meetings has been scheduled for tomorrow at the MBDA offices on the 7th floor of Kwantu Towers.

The meetings will outline and introduce the project, and develop a list of issues that need to be resolved and then jointly prioritise them.

Voges also revealed that a “preferred” developer for the old tramways building has been chosen. “We will now take this to the housing and land committee for approval. The redevelopment starts in January.

“It is an expensive redevelopment project and will serve as a catalyst for all developments in the Baakens River valley.”

Voges said consultants for the redevelopment of the taxi rank at the corner of Russell Road and Govan Mbeki Avenue had been appointed.

The idea is to develop the taxi rank into a modern facility, with a retail component on top and with strong anchor tenants.

“It will be a transport interchange, with construction starting at the end of next year.

“The city is really moving forward. Our mantra is to make sure our mandate area is the ideal place for people to live, work and play in, and it is starting to happen,” said a confident Voges.