Development of shipping-container retail centre in Melville
MELVILLE – The shopping center built out of shipping containers is scheduled to open in March 2015.
What was previously Faan Smit Park, is now to become 27 Boxes, a design and retail centre in the middle of Melville.
The design of the centre will reflect the vibrant, trendy and somewhat bohemian character that made Melville famous, transforming it into a bespoke shopping centre and parkland.
The development will also offer 200 parking bays, providing a secure and convenient centre for shoppers, casual visitors and shopkeepers alike.
Known for its innovative building techniques used in the conversion of the Newtown grain silos into student accommodation and the successful shipping container apartment block in Windsor, Citiq has designed a retail centre with 2 400 s qm of contemporary retail space for the Melville site, built entirely from modular units, using 63 shipping containers.
Citiq CEO Paul Lapham hopes the centre will revolutionise retail shopping. “Affordable shop space and being geared toward the needs of small entrepreneurs, artists, creative people and food lovers, 27 Boxes will provide an ideal environment to attract shoppers and encourage visitors to linger and enjoy what’s on offer from the eclectic mix of tenants.”
The monthly rental on a container shop will be from R1 600 per month, making a shop accessible to almost any business. Permanent shops will be complemented by pop-up shops available for periods of as little as a week, allowing the centre to constantly change and evolve in terms of tenant mix and culture.
Start of construction:
Most of the action will happen from 3rd Avenue. In order to prevent delays and excessive maneuvering of vehicles into the development, the developers have applied to remove one tree in 3rd Avenue where the current gate is to the land.
Phase one – earthworks:
Construction on the earthworks for the 156 bay car park will start from the last week in September. In order to prevent dust into the street and businesses on 4th Street, the developers will erect a barrier with containers and a banner that shows what the development will look like behind the banner. Earth works will take about 30 days.
Phase two – construction of the car park:
The construction of the car park is expected to take two months after which the pre-manufactured modular units will be brought to site.
Phase three – erection of modular units:
In order to reduce noise as much as possible, most of the construction on the modular units will happen off site.
After the slab of the roof of the car park had been completed, the pre-manufactured modular units will be positioned onto the slab and as the manufacturing of these units develops, the units will be erected on site.
The construction of the park and landscaping will take place at the same time as the modular units are erected. Close to 45 new indigenous trees will be planted in the park area.
Walkways will be constructed, and the outdoor gym and the children’s play area will be improved and enlarged.
The total construction period is expected to be four months when shops will be opened for shop fitting on 1 February 2015 and the official opening of the development on 1 March 2015.
Details: Construction and related matters Arthur Blake 083 501 2189; marketing and space allocation Andisa Kani 082 885 3331; on-site matters Kobus Britz 082 921 1217.
