SA Affordable Housing November - December 2018 // Issue: 73 | Page 7

NEWS
6 000 affordable rental
units earmarked for Parow
The City of Cape Town has identified several vacant City-owned sites and
derelict buildings in Parow that currently attract anti-social behaviour. The
City proposes investment in these underutilised sites which will result in
the provision of affordable rental units.
www.SAAffordableHousing.co.za
T
he City has identified unused parking lots, run-down
City-owned buildings and undeveloped City-owned
sites in Parow that are proposed to be developed for
affordable housing opportunities.
City-owned sites that have been identified for
development are grouped into four sub-precincts and are
broadly speaking located in the vicinity of the railway
stations in Parow, Tygerberg, Elsies River and Avondale.
The sites are either derelict, underused or undeveloped.
Given the proximity to the railway stations and the easy
access to public transport services, these sites are
considered to be ideally located for the development of
affordable rental units.
“Some of these sites are unused parking lots and others
are neglected City-owned buildings that could be converted
or demolished. Those who are currently living in the vicinity
of these sites will be aware of the crime and anti-social
behaviour. By making these sites available for the
development of affordable rental units we are tackling many
challenges at once.
“Local residents from Parow will benefit because it halts
anti-social behaviour and crime and grime that are associated
with these unused sites; the new investment will halt the
further degeneration of the areas surrounding the stations; it
will lure investment from the private sector that could
regenerate the greater Parow area; and we can provide
households with affordable rental units in complexes that are
well-managed and conducive to family life,” says the City’s
mayoral committee member for Transport and Urban
Development, Councillor Brett Herron.
The City’s Transport and Urban Development Authority
(TDA) presented the proposed Parow Precinct Development
Plan, consisting of the four sub-precincts, to Subcouncil 4 in
August. The sub-precincts fall within these subcouncils and
both subcouncils gave its in-principle support for the
proposal during these meetings. Next, the City will submit
the proposal to council for in-principle approval that the City
can dispose of the sites and assets.
Together the four sub-precincts consist of 10.3 hectares.
It is estimated that these sites could be developed over time
to provide at least 6  000 affordable rental units that are
located within walking distance of railway stations and other
City of Cape Town has identified several vacant City-owned sites
and derelict buildings in Parow that currently attract anti-social
behaviour. The City proposes investment in these underutilised
sites.
public transport services, shopping centres, schools and
public services.
Several of these sites will have to be re-zoned prior to
any development being permitted. The support from the
subcouncils to facilitate investment, and improving these
derelict sites is the first important step in rejuvenating
the area.
“It is also important to note that Parow is relatively close
to the Cape Town central business district (CBD) and located
within the Voortrekker Road Corridor Integration Zone
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018
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