We South Africans rely heavily on shipping containers, regardless of whether we realise it or not.
They carry food, clothes and fuel for all our favourite vices from every corner of the globe to our isolated coastal corner of Africa.
We might not like them, but we need them.
Property developer and Westdene resident Arthur Blake can also attest to their versatility, having embarked on several building projects employing these large steel boxes.
Blake now turns his attention to Faan Smit Park in Melville, a dormant green space that has been passed down from lessee to lessee and subjected to neglect for years.
He plans to turn the park into a mixed urban development which includes various retail outlets, a play area for children, some green space and multi-story parking.
Retail space will be occupied by deli’s, microbreweries, artists , coffee, flower and gift shops . No flea market stuff.
His plans have been met with opposition from apprehensive Melville home owners, who contend that old Melville needs more green space – not another row of shops.
They are particularly concerned with parking congestion, vagrants and the development not blending in with Melville’s distinct ambience.
“I would like to have a park in my suburb where I can take my child to play… I am opposed to this development,” said Lance McCormack.
McCormack and other residents have noted with concern that Blake has already started moving shipping containers onto the site. They accuse Blake of blatantly disregarding their objections submitted to the City of Johannesburg in an attempt to push through with the development at all costs.
“What a sad day when we have no say in our own suburb and a green space can be raped by someone with money who knew the right people,” resident Aimee Nel retorted after spotting the shipping containers at their new home.
However, ward 87 councillor Amanda Forsythe explained that Blake isn’t contravening any law, amid concerns that the first containers were dropped off without the Department of Urban Planning and Development’s stamp of approval on the Site Development Plan (SDP).
“No ground can be broken at Faan Smit until the SDP is approved, however, as the lessee of the property, Arthur Blake may store containers and material on the site. I checked with the Johannesburg Property Company,” Forsythe confirmed, emphasising that Blake procured the company which possessed the lease agreement.
Despite public disapproval on various platforms, Blake maintains that he has the support of most of Melville.
“I’ve engaged with the residents on a very broad base and I would say more than 90 percent of the people really want something to happen in the park,” Blake told Northcliff Melville Times.
“Like with anything, there are a few people who are against it. But what I found is that those people don’t know what they want to happen in that space.”
Third Avenue resident Kobus Taljaard supports Blake’s plans.
“Keep in mind that the city’s development committee plans to build high-density accommodation in all available areas to accommodate the influx of people to the city,” he explained.
“We could one day find a high-rise block of flats there, more people – and more noise.”
“Would we rather have a complex that adds value and public spaces that closes at 6pm or a high density block of flats?”
“We must think before we just resist change, the park is an eyesore and the council will not make it a park, we must realise that,” Taljaard wrote in an email to fellow residents.
