The City of Johannesburg will spend more than R150-million, over the next four years, on the redevelopment of the Rotunda Park Precinct as part of the extreme makeover of Turffontein, southeast of Johannesburg.

The redevelopment of the area, one of the oldest suburbs in Johannesburg, forms part of the City’s Corridors of Freedom’s transit-orientated developments.

The Turffontein Corridor will cater for nearby suburbs of Turffontein, Kenilworth and Rosettenville. Already plans have been approved for the R2 billion mixed-use housing development project in the South Hills area.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning Councillor Roslyn Greeff says the Rotunda Park Precinct is a priority project that will be undertaken in three phases.

“Work on the R12.8-million first phase has started. It is expected to be completed by November,” says Greeff.

Phase 1

Phase 1 involves the upgrade of Park Crescent around Rotunda Park, the upgrade of High Street North, the Northern Gateway (at the intersection of High Street and Turf Club Road) and the upgrade of the Eastern Gateway (at the intersection of Turf Club Road and Main Street).

“This is a public environmental upgrade. The contractor has been appointed and the team is now on site. This phase will include the upgrade of the Turf-Main streets intersection,” she explains.

Phase 2

Phase 2 of the initiative – the estimated R 47.7-million Linear Park project– will start later this year after extensive consultations and workshop sessions with the public.

The park, on a 2km stretch along De Villiers Road, is a greening project that forms part of the public environmental upgrade. The road will be split and a park erected in between “to create a green public open space”.

Phase 3

Phase 3 is scheduled to start in the 2017-2018 financial year. It will involve the extension of the De Villiers Parkway towards iconic landmarks.

Turffontein, one of the oldest residential areas in Johannesburg, has been in steady decline over the years. Greeff says the redevelopment of the area will attract investors, especially in the housing sector.

“We want the private sector to come on board and develop affordable housing. We want them to build upwards, buildings that will accommodate more people. We want to see more people move into this area,” she concludes.

–Joburg.org.za