THE realisation of a Glenwood Business Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) took one step closer to its July 2019 launch at a public meeting held this week to discuss the project’s progress.
With a firm 59 per cent support for the UIP from businesses located within the precinct, the bulk of the budget, around 77 per cent, will be channeled towards security measures to fight crime and grime in this area which is a noted hotspot for criminal activity.
The precinct is located between Lena Ahrens Road to the east, King Dinuzulu Road to the south, Alan Paton Road to the north and borders on Umbilo Road.
Addressing business owners and residents at the meeting, board member of the Bulwer Community Improvement Project (BCIP), Neil Lamble, said a private security company would be employed to provide a 24/7 vehicle patrol which would be linked to a control room.
There would be four street patrol officers, two during the day and two at night, who would be linked to the patrol vehicle via radio, as well as 60 ambassadors and six supervisors on the ground who would be tasked to monitor streets and hotspots and identify, report and prevent criminal activities.
ALSO READ: Keen interest shown for proposed Glenwood UIP
The idea behind the establishment of the UIP in the area was as a result of a seed sown by Mike Kingston, a property owner in Helen Joseph Road, who owns property in Cape Town.
“Mike, one of the directors of the BCIP, said the UIP concept in Cape Town was successful and the 10 UIPs currently running in Durban were shown to have made impact on the ground,” said Lamble.
According to Andrew Layman, a consultant for the SA Property Owners’ Association who promotes precinct management, businesses in the precinct have 30 days to lodge an objection to the plan.
“We have received 59 per cent approval, but any businesses in the precinct who are against the establishment of the UIP are advised to lodge an objection. When the application is ready to be lodged, the UIP will advertise again and businesses will be given another opportunity to object,” he said.
For enquiries or for objection forms, contact glenwooduip@gmail.com, layman.uip@gmail.com or chris@tapk.co.za.
Financial implications
BUSINESSES are the major stakeholders in the Glenwood Business UIP and landlords of businesses in the area will be liable to pay the increased rates.
Residents falling within the precinct area are able to make voluntary contributions to the UIP if they wish to.
The total budget required to effectively implement and operate the Glenwood UIP is R3.73 million in the first year, increasing to R4.2 million in the third year of operation.
To current rate randage for 2017/2018 for commercial property is 2.39 cents to the rand. In order to cover the budgeted costs of the UIP, an additional levy of 0.44 cents to the rand will be required. This additional levy translates into an extra R365.20 per month for every R1 million of the rateable value of a commercial property.
Services offered by the UIP
THE Glenwood Business UIP has four main focus areas it will work on in the area.
These services include monitoring and facilitation of existing services including work by the eThekwini Municipality, SAPS and private security companies, and provision and management of supplementary services including security, cleaning and general maintenance, landscaping and greening.
Another focus area is the provision and facilitation of marketing and placemaking initiatives including marketing, beautification projects and events. The final area is the realisation of social responsibility and projects addressing social issues will be looked at.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
