With an influx of students and young professionals, Braamfontein has enjoyed quite a rebirth over the past few years. This is thanks, in part, to the fact that WITS, UJ and other tertiary institutions in Johannesburg can’t offer sufficient accommodation for students. While students alone can’t uplift a neighbourhood, the success of Braamfontein lies in the fact that the neighbourhood has become appealing to young professionals and business owners. While there might not currently be much property for sale in Braamfontein, sooner or later, new developments will have to meet the demands of property buyers.
In the past the area wasn’t particularly appealing to a younger, professional crowd, considering it’s home to the City of Johannesburg’s government, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Joburg Theatre Complex as well as Wits University.
Byron Cornish, a Seeff Licensee in the area, states that 95% of the enquiries their branch receives is regarding student rentals. “The majority of students looking for accommodation are from WITS due to the close proximity, but there is also a large demand for the UNISA based universities, like Rosebank College, Damelin and Boston College to name a few. There are also many small Technikon’s and colleges in the area, making Braamfontein a true student hub.
“Students will generally always favour Braamfontein as it is within walking distance of the universities; it has also become a cultural student hub with an incredible vibe making it the ‘cool’ place to live. Although Braamfontein will most likely always be a student area, it has also become a hotspot for outsiders wanting to experience a part of JHB CBD that is safe and fun.”
There has been a huge emphasis on security in the neighbourhood of late, and now that the dust has settled on the Braamfontein facelift, property experts agree that not only was the gentrification of Braamfontein a major success, but more young professionals would move here in a heartbeat if there wasn’t such a shortage of suitable accommodation.
