Housing Indaba in April 2022 and was acclaimed as a significant urban renewal plan for the city , and a project of great interest .
During a visit to The Prime , Public Works and Infrastructure Minister , Patricia De Lille , praised the public private sector collaboration at Maitland Metro and described the regeneration project as “ a prime example of how human settlements developments should be done in our democracy with affordable and welllocated housing close to work opportunities and transport .”
“ In this vital linking zone , we are pleased to be repurposing a predominantly industrial area for mixed-used residential living , meaning there is no displacement of an existing community ,” said BlueBuck Development Manager , Vuyo Mthi . “ In fact , our primary objective is to develop significant new inclusionary housing opportunities near the city centre . South Africa ’ s recent public and private housing strategy has over-emphasised mega projects placed in urban peripheries . These have forced lower income households away from amenities and exacerbated urban sprawl . In contrast , Maitland is centrally located in Cape Town , has exceptional public transport options , and is already a mixeduse suburb consisting of residential , industrial , commercial , educational and community properties and amenities . These factors all make Maitland Metro an excellent location for inclusionary housing ,” Mthi said .
Urban Design Framework “ We have commenced work on an integrated programme of urban renewal , in collaboration with the City of Cape Town , the Maitland City Improvement District and other land-owners in the area ,” said BlueBuck Projects Managing Director , Shaun Reznik . The vision for the node has been focussed by dhk Architects and Urban Planners , whose urban design framework is based on the idea of creating a safe , diverse , and inclusionary residential and working neighbourhood , with a unique sense of place at an appropriate human scale . The urban design framework incorporates a landscaping and greening component , including a public plaza on Camp Road , extensive greened pedestrian walkways , pocket parks , and a park will be developed under the M5 flyover to activate this neglected space so that it can host a variety of recreational activities such as mini basketball , chess , mini football , and mini soccer . In partnership with the City of Cape Town , play infrastructure , street furniture and lighting will be incorporated to make these public spaces safe and usable , together with large feature trees for shade .
Follow-up projects scheduled to commence in 2023 include a new 200-unit residential building and a further mixed-use development , with significant retail and commercial opportunities . www . maitlandmetro . co . za
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