Some concerns about mixed-use housing project in Orange Grove

Orange Grove will soon be abuzz with the City of Johannesburg announcing that a mixed-use housing project costing about R233-million is planned.

It is believed that some houses in Orange Grove that are owned by Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) will be demolished to make way for the construction of 29 units.

According to City of Johannesburg spokesperson, Nthatise Modingoane, the planing is at an advanced stage. Modingoane said a tender process had already been completed and residents were also consulted through their ward councillor, Eleanor Huggett to enable them to participate.

“The community was further consulted about the town planning issues and informed that a number of developments are coming to the area,” Modingoane added.

“There will be continuous stakeholder engagements throughout the project as is normally the case with any development of this nature. The ward councillor has been notified and JPC officials have engaged the councillor throughout the various phases of the project.”

Recently, there was a tribunal to look into the matters pertaining to the issues of the properties earmarked for demolition. The properties were reported to have been allegedly hijacked by unknown people.

“The outcome of the tribunal is complete, letters of objectors will be distributed by latest 9 March. We have been advised by the Town Planning Department that the letters will be circulated on the very same date which subsequently will be the commencement of the 28 days for any objections.”

Local labourers and small businesses were expected to benefit from this project and Modingoane said this would be done through local government which is led by the ward councillor.

Huggett said this project had been in the pipeline before she became the councillor and said some residents supported it and others were against it.

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“There is mixed feelings about this and it is because of the lack of proper infrastructure for the high density of the population now in the area.

“There is a lot of concerns such as collapsing water drains and lack of electricity supply,” said Huggett.

She also expressed concern about local labourers benefitting from the project as she claimed these developments were mostly awarded to private companies which employed their own workforce.

Hugget said some residents have expressed their concerns about the demolition of these houses because some people have legally leased the houses and hoped they would be found other accommodation.

Details: Eleanor Huggett 071 785 8068.

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