Could the quarry be a decoy for development?

Donald Cameron, De Waterkant

The story "Have your say on quarry redevelopment" (Atlantic Sun, Thursday April 24) refers.

In the overbuilt De Waterkant, my wish is to keep the green space in the Strand Street scenic drive and not turn it into a car park. The green space land belongs to the City. Why are they doing this? 

They say it is required for bus and car parking for the new sports stadium across the road in the quarry, which is currently heritage land that also belongs to the City. The Enterprise and Investment Department of the City (Director Lance Greyling) said "creates an enabling environment to attract investment". 

The quarry proposal will not attract investment. It is unbankable.

The initiative will rezone a Heritage Site and green space into development land. This will be very valuable - perhaps R800milion valuable -  for high rise residential and AirBnB development. Local communities would resist this.

Could the quarry be a decoy by the City to rezone land in a way that avoids objections and then sell it on to Cape Town developers?

• Eddie Andrews, the City’s deputy mayor and mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment, responds: 

The intention is to transform the quarry site into a multi-use community precinct that integrates sports, culture, economic activities and tourism in a unique setting. The design proposes the following interventions, among others:

• Sport facilities which include a multi-purpose rugby sized astro-turf sporting pitch, cricket practice nets, a spectator stand, multi-purpose hardcourt, clubhouse, changing rooms, facilities management and booking office
• Economic and tourism opportunities which include a market space and trading areas, Bo-Kaap food and spice market and restaurant
• Promote heritage and cultural opportunities among which an exhibition and museum space and multi-purposes meeting space. Opportunities to incorporate the community living heritage into the concept design are also currently being explored
• Accommodate existing municipal Utilities, Safety and Security – the existing electricity sub-station and switchgear infrastructure will be retained and the Metro Police accommodated in refurbished and new operational buildings
• Improve the public realm by creating a clearly defined and attractive entrance to the site, improving pedestrian walkways in Hudson and Strand Streets, implement traffic calming and pedestrian crossings, and plant additional trees and landscaping

The proposed redevelopment of the Strand Street Quarry has been extensively workshopped with stakeholders for nearly three years. Numerous workshops and meetings were hosted in an effort to involve interested and affected parties. The intention of the extensive engagements is to find a balance between different communities’ proposals/input and a way forward that addresses concerns and aspirations for this site as far as possible.

In the end, the City wants to pursue the best possible outcome that is in the interest of surrounding communities and one that will benefit Capetonians for decades to come.

Part of the proposal is the creation of a managed parking area along Loader Street, opposite the quarry site. In the consultation meetings between the City of Cape Town and members of the De Waterkant Civic Association on the proposed parking area abutting De Waterkant, a middle ground was discussed and the City responded by removing bus parking bays and demarcating permit parking bays on the Site Development Plan, as a direct result of these discussions.

These permits will be issued for the parking bays that are to be used on a first-come first-served basis, in line with the parking permit system that is currently applicable in De Waterkant, should the proposed redevelopment be approved by all of the authorities involved in this process, including Heritage Western Cape, the Western Cape Government (DEADP) and the South African Heritage Resources Authority (SAHRA).

 The City published the land use application for the proposed redevelopment of the Strand Street Quarry site on Thursday April 17 for public comment. This includes the City-owned land mentioned. The closing date for comments is Friday May 30.  Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to make use of this opportunity to submit comments on the proposed LUM application.

All of the comments received will be considered as part of the assessment of the application as stipulated by the City’s Municipal Planning By-law and other relevant City policies.

More information is available at: www.capetown.gov.za/general/redevelopment-of-strand-street-quarry