Residents object to six-storey building
AUCKLAND PARK – Residents say the student's building will negatively affect their suburb.
A plan to build a six-storey flat building to house students on the empty strip of land between Campus Square and Streatley Avenue in Auckland Park has attracted a number of objections from local residents.
Residents said this is not according to the town planning principles and it will negatively affect all the properties on the hill to the north of Campus Square and 1st Avenue Melville.
The Melville Resident’s Association (MRA) and Auckland Park Resident’s Association (APRA) argued that when the entire Erf 1114 was rezoned, the strip of land was designated as a buffer zone between Campus Square and the historical residential suburb.
“We objected because they have gone against agreements,” said APRA’s officer for planning development, Willem Coetzee.
APRA and MRA submitted their objections to the council in December.
Coetzee said their association submitted 50 objections.
He said the land in question was not meant for high buildings because of the heritage nature of the area with properties that are over 100 years old.
MRA’s Andrew Marais said, “A six-storey building contravenes the town planning principles which dictated the existing zoning.”
He said they are not opposing development plans but they are against the high buildings being erected there.
“Imagine having a six-storey flat in a suburb – even Campus Square has just two-storeys,” said Marais.
The private developers have put in an application to change the zoning of the strip of land to allow for student housing for the University of Johannesburg.
Ward 87 Councillor Amanda Forsythe said there are a few things that need to be considered in the objection process:
- Lack of student housing adjacent to the university and, as a result, a proliferation of communes in our suburbs.
- The proposed property is close to the university, shops and the Rea Vaya bus route where densification is already planned.
- This strip of land has been problematic for some time, as it is never maintained and has become a home for vagrants and criminals.
Councillor Forsythe concluded that she does not necessarily approve this development but she wanted to give a little practical input.
Johann Jordaan of the Century Property Development said they haven’t seen the objections by the residents and they are only aware of one objection.
He said they were going to check with the council.
Related article:
Combined residents associations hand over objections to the City
