Mayor takes hands with role players to give momentum to inner-city renewal

Inner city property developer Jeffrey Wapnick has welcomed the invitation to regularly engage with Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink on CBD renewal.

The first such meeting took place at the end of January when initiatives were already undertaken by City Property to help and assist the city.

Initiatives such as cleaning and painting dustbins and lampposts, fixing pavements and stormwater drains as well as clean-up projects around Church Square, the addition of flowerboxes and flowers and the supply of a public ablution facility, were discussed.

Brink said that the metro will be engaging several role players in the inner city to keep the renewal momentum ongoing.

The metro is also giving effect to the renewal by employing the Tshwane sustainable and better buildings programme to tackle derelict and illegally occupied buildings.

Brink renewed the metro’s commitment to an inner city that serves all its residents.

“We visualise putting into place a long-term growth and development strategy and visioning process aimed at improving the quality of living across the city, and boosting economic development and attracting investment,” said Brink.

He said the focus will also be on beautification of the inner city to enable tourism to take off again.

To rebrand, the metro recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tshwane Tourism Council.

Brink pointed out that the city will be joining up with role players who will be initiating projects giving the inner city some much-needed tender loving care.

He thanked Wapnick and said the metro could not do this alone and appreciated support and assistance.

To Wapnick it is positive that the metro and developers are aligned on providing a clean and safe area for the people of the city.

“We see ourselves as community builders – making a difference where possible. We aim to provide the people of the Capital City with offices, shops and apartments that fit their needs and wants,” said Wapnick.

Wapnick said an example is the Church Square revival project, which restores the precinct to its former glory, acknowledging its heritage all the while being accessible to all citizens who use it daily.

He believes the government’s commitment to the Capital City is also evident in the R3-million upgrade of the reserve bank.

It makes him excited that value can be added to the people in the inner city.

“It may seem like a simple thing, but something as small as the flower boxes add some vibrant colour to our city, and so too some of the artwork. When it comes to our core business of property management, we like to renew our properties and provide spaces that meet, and exceed, the needs and wants of our clients,” said Wapnick.

He believes the people of Tshwane desire and deserve a clean, safe place that makes them feel at home.

In addition to the flower boxes, art, and city clean-ups, he believes they have also added value to the city by upgrading our properties.

“Over the last two years, we’ve upgraded the Shoprite building in Helen Joseph Street. We are busy with the conversion of an office block used for archiving into medical suites next to the Louis Pasteur hospital that will address the need for healthcare in the city,” explained Wapnick.

The company also recently added a couple of laundromats inside inner-city residential buildings and feedback from tenants has been very complimentary.

Wapnick believes “the city is alive, and there is a heartbeat that is like no other in South Africa”.

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