Berario residents up in arms over 48-room student building project

The community is outraged following the discovery that there will be student accommodation built, consisting of 48 rooms, below a shopping complex.

Stand 353 in Berario at 185 Arkansas Avenue has become the centre of a fight between community members and the City of Johannesburg.

Residents and shop owners at the shopping complex recently discovered that the City had approved plans for a 48-room student residence.

Earlier in the year residents noticed building happening below the shopping complex.

After enquiring with the Ward 88 councillor, David Hensman and various departments at the City they realised that the plan had been passed regardless of the legal challenges it had failed to address.

A resident who asked to remain anonymous stated that he had conversed with the owner of the property and was told about the plans.

He stated that the information he received came from City officials who would not want to jeopardise their careers.

He said, “I met with the owner and he told me that the rooms are below the stores and he plans to have a rooftop beer garden as well.”

This information pushed this resident to make a noise about the issue and he informed the rest of the community.

According to the anonymous source, the project was halted by the owner of the property and not the City.

This along with the lack of action to resolve this matter has pushed him to believe that the City has not been completely honest with residents who had ideas that there were corrupt elements involved in the approval of the project.

Residents are mainly concerned with how the City entities such as the Johannesburg Roads Agency, emergency services, water and sanitation all approved of this.

They collectively sent objects to the City Council.

After engagements between all the relevant parties, the project was halted temporarily to allow further investigation on the matter. They believe that the project will result in service delivery in the area deteriorating due to the large and sudden increase in people.

Ward 88 councillor David Hensman responds:

David Hensman has noted and confirmed that he has been in contact with affected residents.

He stated that he has forwarded the objections and complaints of the project to the Acting Chief Building Inspector and the chairperson of the Planning Oversight Committee.

Hensman said, “This is a sensitive issue which is being handled at the highest level.”

He added, “On 26 October 2018 myself and Nicolene Jonker met with Acting Chief Building Inspector, Patricia Mazibuko, who promised to investigate this matter.”

In addition to that Graham de Kock, chairperson of the Planning Oversight Committee has also been briefed and he is making enquiries.

He added that he is currently awaiting feedback from the City and is asking residents to give him time to work on the matter.

With respect to the grievances of the residents, Hensman did state the building is not necessarily underground but is rather on a sloping property.

This could be one of the reasons how the plans were approved along with the owner of the property stating he will ensure that the ventilation of the students will be the necessary standards.

Hensman would like to remind residents that he is doing all he can to attend to the issue.

He said, “The role of any elected councillor is limited to oversight and he cannot be seen to interfere in the legal process for approving building plans.”

The chief building inspector is the only person who can give informed feedback on whether due process was followed in approving this building plan, which she is currently investigating.

This is a developing story and updates will be made as and when they become available.

Check our website for the latest update on the matter, www.northcliffmelvilletimes.co.za