Cape Town set for R1-billion development plan

All Stations go!

Last Updated: 25 January 2017

Cape Town is set for a third major upgrade for R1-billion. The rezoning application and proposed developments are specifically reviewed in terms of the impact realm and the forecourt.

A few months ago, the rezoning of 35 000-sqm of the forecourt area west of the Cape Town station was approved from a transport zone to general business, to develop a 120-room hotel, office and retail complex costing R1-billion.

The first phase of construction is to be completed by mid-2019 while the leasing agreement of the full development site was under discussion between PRASA and developers to lease the complex for a period of 45 years.

The rezoning, which is yet to be considered, paves the way for a consortium of three property developers to submit building plans for the development of over 27 000-sqm of office space, 17 866-sqm of retail area, 175 parking bays and a 3000-sqm medium-range business hotel over three levels.

This is the third major upgrade the forecourt will undergo after the R408-million overhaul of the station for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including the Adderley and Strand Street concourses, which were completed in 2011, followed by the R126-million redevelopment of the Parade concourse, which was completed last year.

The development is expected to promote business and economic opportunities within the City’s densification policy. The concern is the proposed impact on the public space, of the forecourt, both positive and negative; positive in the sense that more activity, lighting and density may increase the safety for all commuters; while negative, being the potential reduction in the space, be it formal or informal.

Impact on Public Space: For the redevelopment of the forecourt station, the conditions contained within the site Development Plan conditions of approval include:

• The pedestrian access to the station has to remain optimal.
• The pedestrian crossing at the corner of Adderley and Strand Street to ensure continuous pedestrian linkages and access to the station.

• New trees and vegetation type must be added without removing any trees.
• The canopy from Adderley into the station ( the pedestrian-scale roof which provides shade) width shouldn’t change.
• The SDP also points out that a good illumination of the public square matters as well as good paving and street furniture.

JONO Trust planners (acting behalf of PRASA), in their rezoning application, broadly agree with the conditions above, and see the station forecourt as “a key open space in the city that must accommodate for a range of civic and pedestrian uses.”

Their application includes reference to the re-design of the forecourt, which notes that it will be achieved:

• In a manner that allows and supports active edges that front onto the square.
• So that the new concession areas related to retail functions edging the square do not interfere with the pedestrian and evacuation functions of the square.
•  By establishing a civic-scale canopy that defines the Adderley and Strand Street corner.
• By removing the existing covered walkway in order to redefine the extent of the square.

In relation to existing and desired pedestrian flows, the applicant:

• Only allow two vehicular access points from Old Marine Drive, enhancing the entrance by creating a designated pedestrian forecourt.
• Retain the existing access points into the station.
• Retain the pedestrian routes from Riebeek Street and the Adderley Street MyCiti station across Adderley Street.
• Establish an A-grade pedestrian sidewalk along Adderley and Strand Streets by reducing the width of the existing ramps.
• Construct a pedestrian crossing at Adderley and Strand Streets with a new signalised A-grade crossing.

Furthermore, the forecourt will be reduced and reshaped, keeping the station precinct as a valuable open and public space.

The City of Cape Town Environment Resource Management added that the view of Table Mountain is significant and has to remain. In response, height datums (by Heritage agencies) have been established in order to protect the view. Another point was raised about the pedestrian area that should be clearly separated from the vehicular area of the forecourt.

By Garth Prins

Image Credit: dhk architects

Source Credit: futurecapetown.com

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