The Developer Journal Issue 1 | Page 18

INDUSTRY EXPERTS

INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Edison Property Group a time for integrated design

Mixed-use development in South Africa started gathering momentum in the late 1990s . It aimed to re-connect people with their workplaces , homes , shops and leisure activities , especially as road congestion continued to increase in our major cities .
With the rise of industrialisation in late 19thcentury South Africa and the introduction of governmental zoning regulations , the urban design of human settlements evolved from traditional mixed-use patterns to disconnected residential and commercial spaces .
In recent years it has become clear that this mode of development can divide communities and often discourages collaborative growth , so trends in urban development indicate a move back towards a more integrated design model . Enter modern mixed-use development , which can provide numerous socio-economic benefits and narrow the divide between people and their needs .
Mixed-use urban design offers users a blend of retail , restaurants , offices and multi-generational housing and hotels , while preserving traditional “ village ” centres . Its benefits include greater housing diversity and investment opportunities , compact development , greater community spirit , and pedestrian and bicycle-friendly environments
– the starter kit for a “ smart city ” of the future . Edison Property Group ( EPG ), a subsidiary of South Africa ’ s largest black-owned power company , the Edison Corporation , is a big player in KwaZulu-Natal , and the force behind mutiple casinos and shopping malls across the country . But their magnum opus is Oceans Umhlanga – a mega mixed-use development project in collaboration with Ducatus Property Group .
“ With the current rate of development in KwaZulu-Natal , I believe the province will be the fastest-growing economy in South Africa within the next three years ,” says EPG chairman and founder , Vivian Reddy .
Having carried out trend analysis abroad , EPG decided to use the 231 000 m 2 of prime land they had acquired in the heart of uMhlanga for a mixed-use development offering an affluent blend of retail , hotel and residential components . “ Oceans Umhlanga is an exclusive offering which will cater to the