Historical Berea church transforms into boxing gymnasium
The church is to become a boxing gymnasium, with ancillary facilities.
CONSTRUCTION is underway to transform the property of the former Berea Presbyterian Church into a boxing gymnasium with ancillary facilities.
Residents alerted Berea Mail to activity on site last week, expressing concern that the church was being dismantled, the adjoining house had been demolished and jackhammers were tearing up the hall. In response to queries to the KZN Amafa and Research Institute, it was established that Amafa has approved the alterations to the church.
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“The building is a listed heritage resource and protected in terms of the Appendix 7 to the eThekwini Town Planning Scheme. The church is to become a boxing gymnasium, with ancillary facilities including a weight lifting studio, spinning studio, and a refreshments outlet in the hall and other buildings on site, all of which will be altered significantly. The house which had no heritage value is to make way for parking,” said Ros Devereux, Head of the Built Environment Section, adding that she felt it was a pity that the complex could not have continued to be used for its original function, however she assured Berea Mail that this development would see the church retained in its original form.
The neo-Gothic/perpendicular style Presbyterian Church was built in 1886. The walls of the church, which reach over nine metres in height, are made of a coloured clay brick and the stained glass windows fitted into the building were manufactured in England and shipped out to Durban, as was much of the original ironmongery and cabinetry. The church itself can accommodate a congregation of 300 people.
Devereux said the original hall that was attached across the width of the back of the church was to have been retained with some alterations and would become the weight lifting studio, and the hall on Lena Ahrens was meant to be brought down to lower ground level, however Berea Mail noticed after visiting the site last week, that it seemed like the only building left standing was the church. “I have asked the building inspectorate to check on it,” Devereux said.
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The property went on auction on 2 June 2016 after being purchased in 2012 for R5.5-million. At the time of the auction, Selvi Howitz, a representative from In2assets Property Specialists, said the owner purchased the property with the aim of building a gym in building structures around the church, but had put the entire property up for auction. However, not even a bid of more than R7-million could persuade the owner to agree to the sale of the property.
The owner has now been given approval to go ahead with renovations, after a long process which included public consultation.
