Airfield park’s fate unclear
Residents of Airfield are upset about the proposal to develop parts of the Phil Erasmus Park, saying the ''green lung'' belongs to them.
An advertisement for a townhouse development was recently placed in the park, which is situated on the corner of Meteor Street and Fury Avenue.
Residents said they had not received any notification of development in the park prior to the advertisement going up.
A number of residents attended a public meeting in the park, arranged by Andrew Radloff, a resident in the area, on Saturday, February 14.
According to Radloff, approximately 40 residents, only two of whom supported the development, attended the meeting.
Radloff has instigated the formation of the “Airfield Action Group against development of town-house complex in the Phil Erasmus Park” and he said most of those present immediately signed up with the action group.
Radloff said 66 Airfield households have signed the petition against the development so far.
Clr Gerrie Kriek also attended the meeting, as he is the ward councillor of the area and will investigate whether approval was given to have a section of the park developed.
Genesis Projects is set to prepare the area for development and sales, but building can’t commence until the proper procedures have been followed and Ekurhuleni has approved the project.
It is unknown whether or not all the proper procedures to develop the park have been followed.
On the Genesis Projects website, www.genesisprojects.com, it is advertised that the park is ready for development and that the units are ”now selling”.
The site shows plans to erect fourteen units on the area bought, which lies in the Phil Erasmus Park.
The website further states that the units should be ready for occupation by the second half of 2015.
The entire complex will cover an area of 4159 square metres.
Kriek told the City Times that the community would be informed of all the plans as soon as they are finalised.
At the time of going to press, the plans were not yet finalised and no date had been set to inform the public of the plans.
The Ekurhuleni Metro was approached for comment, but had not yet commented at the time of going to press.
