Estate Living Magazine Precinct Living - Issue 33 | Page 22

metre office component and a 10,500-square-
metre warehouse section; and also Torre Lifting
Solutions, Dimension Data (facility division)
and Amrod, all constructed by Atterbury. They
join well-known Midrand corporate HQs such
as Norvartis SA, Group Five, Vodacom and
Northam Platinum.
Waterfall Country Estate, a stunning 640-hectare
security estate between Woodmead and
Kyalami, attracts top-end rentals from people
associated with these businesses. ‘Since more
corporates have moved into Midrand, the
market has been very dynamic for us. Rentals
average around R38,000 a month, and homes
in the estate are top-end, costing up to R52
million,’ says sales agent Jessica van der Walt.
Meanwhile, construction started earlier this
year on Old Mint Park, a prime industrial
development fronting the N1 highway
between Midrand and Centurion, directly
opposite the future Samrand Gautrain station.
The R800-million project is a joint venture
between Atterbury and Old Mutual Properties,
and entails the development of a new
65,000-square-metre industrial park. ‘Old Mint
Park’s prime position in a major established and
growing business node central to the Gauteng
business hub makes it a great asset for business.
It benefits from excellent connections to major
transport routes, sweeping highway visibility
and convenient surrounding residential,
education and healthcare facilities,' says
Atterbury development manager Derrick Pautz.
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Transport
Transport presents a predictable challenge as Midrand booms, with traffic
becoming increasingly heavy on the Allandale Road and New Road exits. To
alleviate it, developers are hoping people will increasingly use public transport,
such as taxis and the Gautrain buses travelling to and from Midrand Gautrain
station. There are also dedicated Uber pick-up and drop-off points at the Mall of
Africa, a first in a South African retail development.
In addition, Atterbury Property Development has built a new overpass bridge
crossing the N1 highway, and carrying four lanes of traffic, as well as a pedestrian
walkway and a cycle lane. This creates a new east-west transport route linking
Midrand and Waterfall City.
So for Gautengers who’ve routinely whizzed past Midrand on the way to Pretoria
or Johannesburg over many years, it’s all quite mindboggling. It’s the inevitable
consolidation of two cities in what will ultimately become a 50-kilometre expanse
of urban development.
Helen Grange
Looking for leisure in Midrand?
Attendant to the rash of commercial and residential developments in
Midrand is the proliferation of eateries and chilled things to do.
The well-known restaurant chains are all in Midrand now, but one of the
most vibey over weekends is definitely Life Grand Cafe, in Waterfall Corner.
Indeed, diners in the wider Midrand area are spoilt for choice now, with
eateries like Col’Cacchio in Dainfern Square, Imbizo Shisanyama Busy
Corner in Ebony Park, Milhaus in Kyalami on Main shopping centre, Kream
in Mall of Africa, and Windmill on Main in Kyalami (which sells organic
produce grown on its property) all getting excellent reviews.
Riversands Farm Village, once a quick stopover to buy home-made chicken
pies, is now a leisure centre, with food stalls, a play centre and its own craft
brewery. On weekends when there’s live music and other big music events,
it really comes alive.