Upgrade of rental units to start shortly

The City will soon begin upgrading its rental properties across Cape Town.

The upgrade, which has been divided into several phases to ensure that it is effectively managed, will improve quality of life for thousands of Council tenants. In addition to dealing with common maintenance problems such as water penetration in walls and floors, and fixing roofs, stairs, plumbing and rainwater disposal systems, upgrade work such as improving floor finishes, ablution facilities, installing ceilings and hot water systems where not previously provided will also be considered. Workers will also attend to public safety, paving and tree planting to add character to the generally dreary tone currently on most of these estates.

Phase one of the project incorporates the refurbishment and upgrade of some 7 700 Community Residential Unit (CRU) rental properties in various areas across Cape Town, including Kewtown, Scottsville, Scottsdene, Manenberg, Heideveld, Hanover Park, Uitsig, Woodlands, Connaught Estate, The Range and Ottery Marble Flats.

Planning the upgrade has been a herculean effort. All of the areas involved had to be surveyed to determine the condition and upgrade requirements of each rental unit; the City then appointed two implementing agents, BKS and Aurecon, to assist with project management.

Construction is now ready to commence in Kewtown, and work should be finished in December 2011. Tenants who are required to move out whilst construction takes place will be relocated to temporary accommodation.

The Kewtown residential units are located in Athlone in the area between Klipfontein Road and Jan Smuts Drive, off Eland Street. There are 320 units in the area that qualify for the programme, comprising 20 four-storey flats with 16 residential units per block of flats. Scottsville and Scottsdene will follow shortly.

Funding for the upgrade will be provided by National Government, according to the national CRU Policy, and is estimated at over a billion rand for the first phase alone. The project will be implemented in other areas as funds are received by the City.

“This project is an important part of the City’s plan to provide quality living environments for our residents and we are very excited to launch it,” says Mayor Dan Plato.