Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa July 2013 | Page 70

AREA REVIEW

BY ANGELIQUE REDMOND

5 Star Area

Sea Point ticks all the right boxes

S

ituated between Signal Hill and the
Atlantic Ocean, Sea Point is one of the
most densely populated and vibrant
suburbs of Cape Town.
Sam Wallis, a commander serving under
Capt a i n C o ok , w ho c a mp e d w it h h is
men there to avoid the smallpox epidemic
sweeping through the Cape, named Sea Point
in 1776. By the early 1800s Sea Point had
begun to develop as a residential suburb and
by 1839 it had connected with Green Point to
become one municipality. In 1875, a census
indicated that the combined population of
Sea Point and Green Point was 1425, and by
1904 this number had grown to 8839.
The liberal politician of the Cape Colony
a nd M P of Cape Tow n, Sau l Solomon
i n f luenc e d muc h of S e a Poi nt ’s e a rly
development in the 1800s. Solomon was
perhaps best known for his fight against racial
inequality in the Cape, although he was also
known as the founder of the Cape Argus.
During 1862, the opening of the tramline
in Sea Point f ur ther boosted the a rea’s
development with it gaining the reputation
as Cape Town’s first commuter suburb. On 1
December 1905, the railway line from Cape
Town had reached Sea Point.
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July 2013 SA Real Estate Investor

Today residential property in Sea Point has
become more sought-after, which has led to a
recent surge in the property values in the area.
Currently the average price of a house in Sea
Point is R 3 784 144. There are currently 434
properties on the market in Sea Point.
Divided by Main Road, there are t wo
areas of Sea Point. Above Main Road is the
predominantly residential area of Sea Point
with homes and guesthouses looking over
Table Bay and Robben Island. Below Main
Road exists the high-rise apartment blocks
and hotels, which face the sea. The Sea Point
promenade is a popular tourist and local
destination for jogging and walking dogs. Find
the locals here on a Sunday playing an intense
soccer match or walking their dogs
Sea Point is filled with locals from the area,
Green Point, and Bantry Bay, but it also has
a strong tourist population. Find the young
and hip in this area, as well as a large working
population. Ever y thing from schools to
nightclubs exists in Sea Point, drawing a large
crowd of vibrant people.

When to visit Sea Point?
Sea Point is located just up the road from
the V&A Waterfront, both on the Atlantic

Seaboard. The best time to visit this area
is during the summer, between November
and April, when the weather is fine and hot.
Winter tends to be cold and wet, but the storms
around Cape Town are a sight to behold,
especially when tucked up in your Sea Point
accommodation on the beachfront.

Close By attractions
Adelphi centre: Originally opened in 1974,this
centre on Sea Points Main Road has a plethora
of clothing shops, grocery stores, and boutique
items for your tourism de lights.
V& A Waterfront: This is a mall with a
difference; situated in a working harbour,
the Waterfront houses over 400 shops and
restaurants. Located next to this mall is the
Two Oceans Aquarium. This is a must-see if
you love marine life and / or have children.

Things to do near Sea Point
Right up the road from the Sea Point suburb
is Table Mountain the iconic f lat-topped
mountain for which Cape Town is so famed.
You can take the rotating cable car up to the
top or, if you are of the more adventurous sort,
take the tough hike through the forests and up
to the top. Either way, the views are stunning
and endless.
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