THE GLENWOOD Urban Improvement Precinct (GUIP) and the Berea Centre have teamed up to clean a ghetto that has long been an eyesore in the area.
Behind the block of flats on Noble Road, directly opposite Berea Centre, is an alley of what should have been a row of car garages.
Instead, the spaces were turned into living spaces where at least over 30 people now reside there.
“The people that live here have their own arrangements with the flats so we don’t want to interfere with that at this point in time. We just feel that we (have) to make this place better,” said Vernon Stokes, GUIP manager.
The clean-up has already started, Stokes said, with over two tons of dirt having been collected last week.
Stokes said they are planning on painting more murals on the walls to make the place more attractive.
“We are adopting 23 (spots) that we are going to go to and say ‘what does this intersection need’ for people to stop and say this is a nice place. We are going to go through each intersection with a checklist and say this needs a paint, that light is not working and so on. We have already done the power station, this corner here and more,” said Stokes.
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Stokes said the alley had developed a bad reputation as a hide out spots for pick-pocketers who rob students from the nearby Durban University of Technology.
Cleaning up the alley was brought to the GUIP’s attention by Richard Smith, Berea Centre’s general manager.
Smith said he believes beautifying the area near the shopping centre will attract more customers and more people into the area.
“The change does come, the longer you do it, the more it becomes a new norm. People actually start buying into it and mindsets start shifting,” said Smith.
Smith said they are planning on appointing ambassadors who live in the row of garages who will be responsible for the maintenace and upkeep of the area.
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