Construction on the iconic Jewel City redevelopment in the Johannesburg CBD is forging ahead.
The project is set to change the face of Johannesburg’s CBD and revitalise six city blocks that have been closed to the public for decades. Work has started on the first new residential building in Jewel City and, in addition, the first residential conversion of an existing building on site is now underway. The Jewel City redevelopment initiative is a substantial investment in Johannesburg by Divercity, a new investment fund that is renewing and re-energising South Africa’s urban centres with unique inner-city precinct development. By remodelling Jewel City’s existing buildings and constructing new buildings of over 40 000sqm, the fund aims to convert a formerly closed-off area of the city into a thriving, modern inner-city neighbourhood.A crescendo of activity
The master programme for Jewel City has been orchestrated so the development of all six buildings of the first phase will be completed at the same time. “There will be a crescendo of activity as those buildings that require less time for completion are progressively added to the active construction programme,” explains Derrick Pautz, Atterbury Development Manager.Residents are expected to move into their Jewel City apartments from November this year as the first floors of residential development are completed. Upper floors will become available first, moving down the buildings until all floors are finished with Phase 1 completion in April 2020.
The amenity-rich mixed-use precinct also includes commercial space and parking. There is already good progress on leasing the development’s first 14 000sqm of commercial space, which includes a primary and high school, and medical facilities. “Jewel City is enjoying excellent buy-in from major national retailers, which are showing keen interest and commitment,” reports Pautz.
