The Orange Grove Residents Association has backed a blueprint for the development of Paterson Park and its surrounds which has the approval of the City of Johannesburg.
The blueprint, (Paterson Park Precinct Plan) which has been in existence now for several years, entails the relocation of the City’s depot utilities of Pikitup, Johannesburg Roads Agency and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo to make way for the proposed development of about 837 units of inclusive or affordable housing.
The delay in the relocation of these depots means that development on these parcels of land cannot be made.
The proposed development will encompass market-related and inclusive housing dwellings, an upgraded recreation centre and the establishment of an expanded Paterson Park for residents along the lines of The Wilds in Houghton which has provisions for walkways, lighting and park furniture.
According to the association’s chairperson Roger Chadwick, the Paterson Park Precinct was formulated in 2005 and went through several revisions over the years and finally the Paterson Park Precinct Plan was approved and adopted in 2016.
The developers will have to ensure that they follow Green Building Council best practices in developing the housing and use methods for conserving and recycling water, among other concerns.
There will be areas for social facilities, small scale retail and office uses in keeping with the scale and functioning of the park. The development will complement the Orchards Project art precinct on Louis and Pine roads, and there will be safe pedestrian access over Paterson Road between the recreation centre, the park and the BRT station on Louis Botha Avenue.
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