PARKHURST – Although residents and visitors still have to pay to park on 4th Avenue, a consultation visit by Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau was proof that the city council had taken note of the suburb’s stance on the issue.
Tau was joined at the suburb’s recreation centre by city officials, residents, community stakeholders and members of the press.
Transport department director Lisa Seftel said the city council was committed to “transit-oriented development, urban regeneration and safer streets”, and a commitment to partnerships with an active citizenry.
Highlighting some of the Parkhurst problems, Seftel said there were insufficient “well-located” parking bays to support increased development and neighbouring residents were inconvenienced by patrons parking in side streets.
There was also a lack of public transport and cycling routes, some restaurants encroached on pavements, and sidewalks were shoddily maintained.
“Our vision for 4th Avenue is of an attractive, vibrant street with a focus on high-end retail and [an] evening and weekend restaurant node, respective of the surrounding stable residential and other land uses,” said Seftel.
Proposed solutions included law enforcement by building inspectors and Metro police, new developments would need parking plans, there needed to be scheduled road maintenance, and partnerships with local businesses to develop unique signage and street furniture.
Seftel said additional proposals included proper parking demarcation; paid parking during evenings and weekends as opposed to during weekdays; long-term parking spaces used in conjunction with shuttle services and a total ban on parking in residential side streets.
She also suggested an enhanced development of the node by way of temporary road closures of a section of 4th Avenue on certain nights for businesses to have open-air restaurants, markets and exhibitions.
In his address, the mayor said it was evident that paid parking was useful in some areas, but, for various reasons, it wasn’t working in other areas.
Tau added that each of the 25 nodes examined by the city council had its own “regional character”.
“An unmanaged urban environment can have a bad impact on areas,” he said. “We need to look at what is in demand in an area, and the solutions must respond to the demands.
“We can’t shy away from the responsibility to manage the urban environment. We want feedback and ideas from communities.”
MMC for Development Planning, Ros Greeff, echoed MMC for Transport, Christine Walters, and the mayor’s call for greater community participation and asked residents and other stakeholders to email comments and suggestions to the council.
Details: stanleyc@joburg.org.za
