SA Affordable Housing January - February 2020 // ISSUE: 80 | Page 24

PROJECT
Green at an affordable rate
By Eamonn Ryan
For The Parks Lifestyle Apartments in Riversands, the developer
Century Property Developments (better known for upmarket
developments) has taken many themes of its luxury estates and
brought them to the inclusionary, affordable end of the market.
T
project. Free uncapped WiFi can be offered, for instance,
because the number of units reduces the cost-per-unit
to approximately R50/month – much lower than any
individual resident could obtain, as the estate owns the
fibre reticulation. This cost, as well as many others, is
included in the monthly rental.
“The majority of the units run off solar power, as well as a
sophisticated heat pump system. Another unique feature is
a greywater system: the bath and shower outlets flow into a
separate tank where it is cleaned and reused for irrigation.
This is important because Joburg is going to run out of water
just like Cape Town almost did, and these units consume
about half the water that a normal house does,” says Corbett.
Another Waterfall feature is that Century has its own nursery
alongside the estate and landscapes all the common areas
with low-water indigenous plants and trees.
The Edge certification means LED lights are used and
buildings are orientated for maximum light and energy
his Edge-certified (green residential certification
system) development consists of 1 880 bachelor, one-,
two- and three-bed apartments available only for rent
in the fast-growing Riversands area, adjacent to Steyn City in
Fourways. Rentals for units in the four-floor buildings range
from R3 800 to R8 500/month. The development, 65% of
which is funded by Nedbank and the balance by Century,
boasts a secure gatehouse with biometric fingerprint access
manned 24/7, while tenants benefit from a variety of free
weekly activities and events for kids and adults. Communal
facilities include walking paths, kids’ play parks, braai
areas and sports fields; free WiFi in each apartment; and a
clubhouse with swimming pool.
Century CEO Mark Corbett says The Parks takes its
upmarket ‘Waterfall’ concept and makes it more affordable,
with a school and clubhouse inside the estate, as well
as the other abovementioned facilities. It can achieve
affordability of such extras through the scale of the
Construction on the entrance to The Parks affordable housing development currently underway.
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