ADDING to the list of abandoned, derelict government properties on the Berea which have become magnets for crime and pose health hazards, are the old Green with Envy nursery site on Vause Road and the old police station site on Moses Kotane Road.
Vising the sites last week, Councillor Chris Pappas described them as a “waste”. ” Although the properties are owned by government, the onus to keep them safe and clean does not fall on the city. The landowner, which is national government, is responsible for looking after the properties which they in most cases do not do. The properties then become a burden on the already over extended parks and health departments in the city who are required to intervene,” said Pappas.
He said many of the abandoned sites had the potential to be converted into worthwhile sites, depending on the area.
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“We have a number of NGOs looking to do good work on the Berea. There are some sites that would be good for housing, others could be community centres or youth empowerment centres. The list of possible uses for many of the government owned properties is vast,” he commented.
Pappas said in addition, national and provincial government, the Department of Public Works in particular, owed the city millions in unpaid rates.
“We could relieve that department of this burden and turn the vacant sites into functional community-orientated ventures,” he said.
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