Business Day Reporter

THE Uitenhage Despatch Development Initiative (UDDI) is calling on architects and developers to “come up with innovative ideas” for the redevelopment of a historic 7,3ha steam railways workshop site in central Uitenhage.

The UDDI says site is the “only land available for development in downtown Uitenhage”.

About 4,7ha is available for private sector development.

The UDDI says the site is zoned “general business”, which gives any developers a wide range of choices that include office blocks, hotels, recreation halls and amusement facilities or a “combination of these”, says project co-ordinator Dave Simpson. He says historic Victorian-style heritage buildings will be incorporated into the development.

These buildings are “suitable for conversion into malls, offices and indoor markets”.

The balance of the site covers 2,3ha and will accommodate the new Uitenhage Science and Technology Centre.

The UDDI is developing the centre on behalf of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

To provide as much flexibility as possible to the developers, the UDDI is inviting proposals to develop the two sites independently or as an integrated project.

Proposals must be submitted to the UDDI by July 8.

Source: Business Day