Restoring Victorian glory to Norwood
NORWOOD - A NOTORIOUS problem-house in the neighbourhood, 52 Nellie Road, is soon to emerge in splendour as a 'grand old Victorian lady', thanks to the Norwood Residents' Association (Nora) and one history enthusiast.
Growing up in Norwood, Elain Steinberg fell in love with the suburb’s entrepreneurial, multicultural energy. Now a candidate agent with Seeff Properties, Steinberg, alongside colleague and fellow Nora member, Shelly Elkon, is determined to restore the boutiques-to-bistros Norwood of her childhood.
Their suburban renewal efforts have found a suitable outlet in the dilapidated Victorian-style house that has been a source of growing concern to the community.
Nearly 100 years old, 52 Nellie Road was, until recently, crumbling around an elderly couple, living with six dogs, and without either electricity or adequate water supply. Vegetation from the unkempt garden sprawled over the pavement, and neighbours complained about the smoke and smell from wood-burning stoves used to heat water and cook food.
“People actually shouldn’t live like that, and yet three quarters of South Africa does,” was Steinberg’s sympathetic comment.
Determined to rescue both building and occupants, Steinberg and Elkon located the house-owners to Cape Town, and arranged to sell 52 Nellie Road. This was no mean feat.
“It needs somebody with a serious amount of vision,” said Steinberg.
Fortunately, just such a buyer emerged. While the new owner of wishes to remain anonymous for the moment, he is, in Steinberg’s words, “passionate beyond words about history and heritage”, and intends to perform a complete and authentic restoration of the house.
Relieved of 60 years’ accumulated paraphernalia, the house now stands waiting for building to begin. Within a year, the neighbourhood can expect to see this neglected shell transformed with a Victorian frontage, an English paved garden, the addition of a second bathroom, and even a glass conservatory.
“It’s such an amazing life lesson that you don’t just throw out the old,” said Steinberg, who is excited by the positive impact of this restoration on the local community.
“We’re doing a little bit more than selling a house to make money… To be able to save something like this, I think, is really important,” she added.
