Update, 22 June, 8.30am
After some concern by residents of Illovo, the Johannesburg Property Company has responded to the issue of the carpark at the intersection of North Road, Corlett Drive and Oxford Road.
Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) spokesperson, Fanis Sardianos, the executive manager of Client Business Operations explained, “The JPC is currently going through a consultation process with City departments, entities and the ward councillor regarding the possible lease and/or sale of the property. Thus, consultation is taking place with the community through the ward councillor.”
He added that this is the normal process the JPC follows in re-looking at the assets it manages on behalf of the City for ‘retention or alienation’ based on need and demand by either the community or departments of the City.
“The decision whether to lease or not resides with the Council. After the consultation process is completed, the council normally considers comments from its departments and entities and determines whether the City will require the property for its requirements or not,” the spokesperson said.
He said that if any of the departments, entities, ward councillor or the community which the councillor represented objected, then the objections would be dealt with before the process could be taken any further.
Therefore, as it stands, the process had not been finalised and there was no Council approval to lease the property to Illovo Junction or any other person or entity, Sardianos said.
“Given the objections received from the community, a meeting is due to be held with City Parks and Zoo, together with the Transportation Planning Department before the end of June, regarding service delivery requirements and the future alignment to the urban design framework for the area.”
The meeting will be held on 5 July at 2pm until 3pm on site.
Details: Johannesburg Property Company 0800 002 587.
Share your opinions about the pending lease via our facebook page at Rosebank Killarney Gazette.
Earlier, 20 June, 2.20pm
The proposal by the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) to alienate the remainder of Erf 139 Illovo seems to have rubbed the residents up the wrong way.
The proposal stated that the property, currently being used as a parking area by the businesses in the vicinity, would either be leased or sold through public tender.
The memorandum made for public circulation then stated that recipients were requested to comment on the subject property indicating whether the proposal was supported by their departments and also advise if any of their services would be affected.
Ward 90 Councillor Martin Williams said, “When the JPC sends out notice about the proposed alienation of a property, as in this case, it usually means the intention is to lease or sell. Such notices are circulated to City departments and entities for consideration. My role as Ward Councillor is to alert the community”.
He said he had asked the Johannesburg Property Company to record all comments submitted on the set deadline. “Some residents think this property should be retained as a parking lot, others think it should be a park,” he said.
Commenting on behalf of the I LOVE ILLOVO Facebook Group and Illovo Triangle Residents Interest Group, Simone Puterman said that the area had reportedly been a park originally, before being converted into a parking lot.
“Although it was converted to open-air parking, the long-standing trees have been retained. In view of the City’s approval of increased densification between Rosebank and Dunkeld, and other developments in Illovo, public open space in the area is virtually non-existent. Accordingly, this property should be reinstated as a park,” she said.
The chairperson of the Melrose-Birdhaven Conservancy, Markus Scheuermaier believes that the site should be transformed into a public park, for the benefit of residents and commuters. “Ideally, the entire intersection of North Road, Corlett Drive, Oxford Road and Bompas Road should be upgraded by the City of Johannesburg. With proper facilities for commuters and the planting of additional trees.”
The conservancy was established in 2014 to develop and maintain a ‘green meander’ that would contribute to the City’s objective of a green, livable and sustainable city.
Owner of an apartment in Oxford Court, the adjoining building, Robyn Saul also voiced her opposition by stating that she had lived in the building for years during which time she watched the park move from a neglected plot to the car park, which not only preserved the majority of the lovely trees on that land, but also added immense economic value to the area.
“I strongly feel that the area is best served by retaining this existing parking lot. Street parking is already a huge problem in the area, with little space for visitors, residents and the minibus taxis. If the businesses are going to continue to thrive and boost our area, secure parking is an absolute necessity,” she said.
Williams stated that he had formally asked for a public meeting to be held before any decision about changing the current use of area was made. “You will be aware of problems with displaced people nearby and around the vacant property in the adjacent Ward 74. I trust the public participation process will be thorough and that a fair decision will be made,” he said.
The Councillor stated that the Johannesburg Property Company had advised that they would take the matter up with City Parks, Johannesburg Zoo and Transportation Planning before a meeting may be called through to his office.
Rosebank Killarney Gazette has contacted the Johannesburg Property Company for comment, but nothing had been received by the time of publication.
Details: Johannesburg Property Company 080 000 2587.
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