SA Affordable Housing May - June 2020 // ISSUE: 82 | Page 29

PROJECT
AMENITIES CENTRE ON THE SHOPPING MALL
Phase one of Sky City already established its own retail
centre, with the Sky City Mall the hub of the development
since its opening in April 2019. The mall is being developed in
three phases – of which phase one includes the convenience
centre of 10 000m² with 40 different shops on residents’
doorstep, expanding into a regional mall of 32 000m² as the
development progresses – serving approximately 181 000
people in the catchment area.
The mall is in fact a big attraction for the entire area.
Infrastructure for the new zoned business area adjacent to
mall is currently being completed.
Living in Sky City gives access to:
• Affordable private school
• Public schools
• Sky City Mall
• Public transport hub
• Play parks
• 17 Community facilities such as churches, crèches,
clinics, council and social facilities
• Sports fields
According to its marketing promotion, “This development
has beautifully-designed entrances, pavements and
artistic elements that create appealing aesthetics with a
unique atmosphere that blends in with the pristine clean
surroundings and indigenous landscape.”
Although the area is not yet fibre connected, internet
access is provided to all rental units. Security consists of
the most modern automated system with residents having
complete control over their personal access control, and
guards having no control over who can and cannot enter.
This is managed by biometrics and an app, with residents
buzzing in visitors. There is also armed response. Motion
detection cameras are in the process of being installed along
all perimeter fences.
“Two things we take exceptionally seriously are security
and maintenance. If so much as a lightbulb in a unit pops,
we fix it to make sure the complex is always well-maintained
and not reliant on tenants, in case they were to replace bulbs
or any components with cheaper substitutes. The security is
aimed primarily internally – with 5 000 rental units across
Gauteng we have a strong vetting discipline that performs
all background checks to ensure no unwanted elements are
accepted as tenants.
Hlatshwayo explains that notwithstanding the amenities in
the development, it was not seen as necessary to go further
with communal facilities or community relationship building
beyond entertaining kids outdoors. This is because the mall,
situated across the road from The Bronx, is already a focal
point that caters to most entertainment and convenience
needs. For instance, many units (and especially bachelor
units) will not require washing machines or driers as a
convenient laundromat is on site.
However, each block of buildings at The Bronx is built around
a sunny courtyard where residents can congregate socially.
Wolmarans explains that the mall and school have been
built ‘at cost’ to encourage their viability but are not managed
or owned by the Cosmo Central Group. The Sky City Mall is
managed by the GMI Property Group and the Royal School Sky
City is managed jointly by Royal Schools’ management team
and the PIC (Public Investment Corporation).
CENTRAL DEVELOPMENTS
1 - 4: The Bronx and environs.
1
2
3
4
www.saaffordablehousing.co.za MAY - JUNE 2020 27