Golden Acre residential development scheduled for completion in December

The residential development at the Golden Acre Precinct in the CBD is scheduled for completion on December 1, when tenants are expected to begin moving in.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis on Thursday led a guided walkthrough of the site, marking a key milestone in the redevelopment of the city’s central commuter and retail hub, a project aimed at revitalising the inner city through improved safety, affordable housing and upgraded public spaces.

Hill-Lewis was joined at the site by mayco member for economic development James Vos, City officials and members of the Golden Acre development team.

The visit focused on progress made on the residential component of the development, public safety initiatives around the site, and upgrades to key commuter routes, including the pedestrian bridge linking the precinct to the transport interchange.

Hill-Lewis said the redevelopment represents a significant investment in Cape Town’s inner city.

"The Golden Acre redevelopment is an important step in strengthening one of Cape Town’s most vital commuter precincts. Projects like this play a key role in revitalising the CBD by bringing people closer to work opportunities, improving public spaces, and supporting a safer, more accessible urban environment," he said.

Construction is under way on the conversion of the existing office tower into inner-city residential rental accommodation. Once complete, Lesego Majatladi, director of Gracht Asset Managers (Pty) Ltd, said that the development will deliver well-managed housing aimed at "young working professionals who require proximity to transport and employment opportunities in the CBD, addressing the city’s "missing middle" housing gap."

Roelof Delport, director of the developers, said safety has been a major focus, particularly given the precinct’s past challenges.

"This part of the city has experienced degeneration and has become known for being unsafe, with issues such as pickpocketing and other criminal activity," Delport said. "We have called on the City and neighbouring property owners to assist in improving the area."

He said additional security measures are being implemented, noting that much of the crime historically occurred outside the property.

"To improve the city, we need to make this area safer. We are employing more officers and also need peace officers to keep moving around the precinct. Most crime happens outside the property," he said.

Delport said the introduction of residential living is expected to play a key role in improving safety through increased activity.

"We believe that by bringing people into the space, they will help keep it safe. By providing a place where families and children can live, we will do everything in our power to keep them safe," he said, adding that safety improvements around the adjacent train station have been prioritised.

"Our vision is that if we offer an affordable product, we will have fewer vacancies. That’s why we are not pushing rents up and ending up with empty units," Delport said.

Vos described the redevelopment as an important economic catalyst for the CBD, saying it would support local businesses, strengthen footfall and bring people closer to work opportunities.

The Golden Acre Precinct is situated at the centre of Cape Town’s largest public transport interchange, surrounded by the city’s main taxi rank, rail station and central bus terminus.

The next phase of the redevelopment will include upgrades to the retail environment and surrounding public spaces, focusing on improved lighting, pedestrian flow and commuter safety.

Cape Times