THE eThekwini Municipality has unveiled its plans earmarked for several sites along the Durban beachfront.
Recently, a number of businesses along the Durban Promenade were issued notices to vacate their premises, including Circus Circus, Bike and Bean and Durban’s Mini Town, in order to make way for new development.
According to the City, the ‘upmarket developments’ form an integral part of the City’s Proactive Land Release Strategy.
“The strategy, adopted in September 2021, enables the Municipality to be proactive in alienating surplus land, assisting the City to achieve its developmental objectives, stimulate economic activity and black economic empowerment, as well as promote economic transformation in the property sector,” explained head of the City’s Real Estate unit Thapelo Mmusinyane.
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“In the period between May 2021 and November 2022, a total of 25 properties were advertised and 10 awards were made to new lessees. All 10 awards were made to companies that are 100% owned by historically disadvantaged individuals. On the beachfront, in particular, properties that have been affected are Circus Circus, Bike and Bean and Mini Town.”
According to Mmusinyane, Bike and Bean will make way for North Beach Lifestyle, a restaurant that has seen a R300 000 investment injection.
The popular Circus Circus site is currently being renovated.
“This will make way for a stunning fusion of Africanism and Art Deco and will be christened Durban Beach Café. The vision of this establishment is to create an iconic tourism-destination restaurant while capturing the spirit of the city. The anticipated opening for this venue is October 2023, and it will create 45 jobs after construction, including absorbing the staff currently employed by Circus Circus.
“The much-loved Mini Town, which has been one of the city’s most popular places to visit, will undergo a total transformation, with a mixed-use hotel development which will encompass arts and crafts, kiosks for small businesses, retail spaces, a salon and spa, dining and others. This will create approximately 150 jobs with a R170m investment by the lessee on a 30-year lease,” Mmusinyane said.
The news comes after the recent closure of Durban’s Funworld, which closed its operations on May 1.
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