Residents unite against development
EMMARENTA – Greenside and Emmarentia residents associations have clubbed together to fight a development they say will change their suburbs.
The Emmarentia and Greenside resident’s associations have come together to object against a development they say will change their neighborhoods forever.
The proposed development will be on the corner of Gleneagles Road, Linden Road and Barry Hertzog Avenue and is proposed to have five storeys that will comprise of a shopping centre on the lower floor, offices and 89 residential units.
The joint associations held a meeting at Marks Park Sports Grounds in Emmarentia to discuss plans to object to this proposed development.
Emmarentia Resident’s Association chairperson Wolfgang Phoenix said that it was imperative that the residents object to the development while it was still in its planning phase as any later would be too late.
He said that the residents opposed this impending development because this development would change the face and nature of Greenside and surrounding areas, put strain on the existing infrastructure and place additional pressure on traffic. Phoenix said that residents were also afraid that if this proposed development goes ahead, more disruptive developments would follow.
“Most houses in the Greenside and Emmarentia area are older than 60 years and are protected by the National Heritage Resources Act, 25 of 1999 which means that no person may alter or demolish any structure or part of a structure which is older than 60 years without a permit issued by the relevant provincial heritage resources authority,” Phoenix added. He explained that in Gauteng, this authority was the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority of Gauteng (PHRA-G).
He alluded that this development was not right for the Greenside and Emmarentia areas but added that they are willing to engage with the developer to find something more suitable such as the development of townhouses.
“This development will result in many businesses suffering and that is why we want the residents to fill in an objection form. We are hoping to get 3000 objection forms filled in so that we are able to fight this developer and his plans,” he said.
Mohammed Seedat from Elderberry Investments (109) (Pty) Ltd sent the following statement in response to questions:
“An application was recently submitted to the City of Johannesburg to rezone the properties included in the proposed development. The development is of a mixed-use nature with 67 per cent thereof consisting of residential dwelling units and the remaining 27 per cent of a neighbourhood retail facility and offices.
“The proposed development will be an investment in the order of R225 million. The process is in the early stage and public participation is a component thereof. All objections and representations which are submitted will in due course be considered before a decision is made in respect of the application.
“The developer has investigated all relevant aspects of the proposed development, included the traffic implications and the availability of services. It is confident that the development will make a positive contribution to the area,'” the statement concluded.
