A major new development puts the Bo-Kaap at risk.
Objection Deadline - 18 February 2016.
“Bridges not Barriers” is a campaign spearheaded by the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association to resist inappropriate and insensitive development in the Bo-Kaap, Central Cape Town. It also aims to contribute to the wider dialogue around the kind of city we want to live in.
A Sketch-up model on Google Earth showing the proposed development in its context (courtesy Rick Brown Architects)
A new development has been proposed on the city block bounded by Buitengracht, Rose, Shortmarket and Longmarket streets. The proposal is for a 19-storey mixed-use building with 249 residential units and 324 parking bays accessed off Shortmarket Street and with approx. 5000m2 of commercial and retail on the ground floors. This proposal is 60m high on Buitengracht St and 38m high on Rose Street. It is MUCH LARGER AND HIGHER THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE AREA, with the exception of the unattractive and out-of-place Chris Barnard Memorial Hospital. The developers need approval from the City of Cape Town to proceed, and they have asked for comments and objections from Bo-kaap residents and other interested and affected parties.
The Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association as well as many other interested and affected parties are strongly against the development, in its current form, but are in favour of sensitive, appropriate and inclusive development.
Learn more, by reading the Summary of Development Objection or Submit an Objection to the city.
For an indepth analysis, download the comprehensive report written by Professor Fabio Todeschini, an architect, city planner, urban designer and heritage practitioner commissioned by the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association, some local property owners and other interested and affected parties. The report objections to, comment on and representations about the proposed developement.