ALEXANDRA RENEWAL PROJECT

PRESENTATION

BACKGROUND• Alexandra Renewal Programme started in 2001• A number of documents were developed even before the

ARP, In 1998 for instance 3 Volumes of Greater Alexandra Development Framework were developed by the Eastern Metropolitan Local Council

• On the 2&3 December 2004 a Summit was held to review the ARP and it dealt extensively on Allocation and Relocations issues

• The life of the ARP officially came to an end in March 2011 • The programme was extended recently by the Provincial

Government.

BACKGROUND• A political pronouncement was made by the MEC for Local

Government and Housing, but no formal commitment could be obtained.

• The Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) was established to upgrade the living conditions and human development potential through the creation of integrated and functional settlements.

• Focus is on implementing solutions that would address the social, economic and infrastructure challenges and not only housing challenges.

BACKGROUND

• The Provincial Department of Local Government and Housing, and City of Johannesburg are jointly spearheading the project.

• ARP is accountable to both structures politically and administratively, and therefore the budget comes through these 2 departments.

Key Achievements: 2001 to DateHOUSING DEVELOPMENT

• 8 500 families relocated out of Alexandra• 1 400 housing units built within Alex• Alex Transit Village built (550 units)• Marlboro Transit Village upgraded• M2 (Nobuhle) Hostel Upgrading Phase1• Ext 7 Housing ( 1400 units)• 520 rented rooms – Botlhabela village• Emergency housing facility• Marlboro Flats (50 units)• Ext 9 (K206) – 2 964 units• Ext 10-1071 units

Key Achievements 2001 to DatePHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

• 10km of road in Old Alex upgraded• 3km of road on East Bank surfaced

Spatial Framework developed• Upgrading of water mains• Construction of water reservoir• Outfall sewers upgraded• 46 000 waste bins distributed• 10km of road in Old Alex upgraded• 3km of road on East Bank surfaced• Jukskei Park Pedestrian Bridge

•London Road widened•Ext 7 Pedestrian Bridge •Vasco Bridge

•London Road bridge upgraded

•Electricity supply upgrade and

12 000 connections

•Wynberg/Pan Africa intersection

•Spatial Framework developed

•Upgrading of water mains

Key Achievements 2001to DatePHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

(Cont)

• Construction of water reservoir

• Outfall sewers upgraded

• 46 000 waste bins distributed• 9km sidewalk upgrading• Upgrading of existing cemeteries• 15km road build and upgrade

9km sidewalk upgrading• Upgrading of existing cemeteries• 15km road build and upgrade

• 9km sidewalk upgrading

• Upgrading of existing cemeteries

• 15km road build and upgrade

Key Achievements 2001 to DateCOMMUNITY FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT

• Alexandra Police Station upgraded (Wynberg)

• New Alex central police station built

• People Centre Built• All 18 Schools upgraded • Alexandra Development

Forum established

• ATV Storage Facility• Diepsloot Multi Purpose Centre• Phase1 –Kwa Bhekilanga• Altrek Sports Facility Upgrading• Athletic/Rugby Facility• Alex Stadium

Key Achievements 2001 to DateSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

• Teachers Training and Resource Centre

• Ekukhanyisweni Primary School

• Gordan Primary School• All clinics upgraded• Crèche converted into child

and family resource centre• Edenvale HIV/Aids Support

Clinic

• Edenvale Pharmacy• Edenvale Outpatients• Helipad• Bombani Safe House• East Bank ECD facility• River Park Library• History of Alexandra (Book Published)

Key Achievements 2001 to DateECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Wynberg City improvement District established• Economic clusters developed & set-up (retail, auto, construction)• Tourism Hub• Business Place Operational• Auto Hub Operational• Pan Africa Mall• Pan Africa Taxi Facility • Green Economy (2 Cooperatives Successfully Set-up for Re-cycling &

Manufacturing)

Key Achievements 2001 to DateENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT

• Jukskei River Open Space: Phase 3

• Greening of Far East Bank ext. 8• 3 500 trees planted• 2 community Parks• Jukskei River Open Space:

Phase 3• 2054 trees planted

• Phase 3 Jukskei park• River Bank Protection

• Storm water kerb inlets upgraded

(120)

• Phase 1 Yard ablutions upgraded

• 91% Environmental compliance in

projects

HOUSING

Ext 9 (K206)1229 RDP (give-away) housing units1695 Affordable rental units

Ext 71389 RDP houses

HOUSING

Eastbank520 Affordable rental units

HOUSING

Marlboro50 RDP flats

HOUSING

M2 Hostel98 Social housing + 286 Affordable rental units

HOUSING

Ext 8181 RDP houses

HOUSING

Riverpark870 RDP houses

HOUSING

Old Alex350 Social housing units

HOUSING

Vasco Bridge

GENERAL INFRASTRUCTURE

CURRENT PROJECTS• Infrastructure/housing:Complete allocations of Ext 9 (K206) where currently the block-by-block

approach is used. To date 1299 Primary units and 1665 rental units have been allocated;– Completion of the social Cluster homes in Ext 7;– Completion of Ext 10 (1 057 units);– River park rental housing (450 units);– Linbro Park – planning and design;– Continuation of Electrification;– Construction/upgrading of Hostels and development of the hostel precinct:

* M2 Phase 2- 82 units * M2 Phase 3- 660 units

* Helen Joseph Ext 52-150 units (Planning & Design)* Ext 31 (84 units as part of M1 hostel redevelopment)

CURRENT PROJECTS…

• Social: - Construction of the Mental health clinic

- Alex Hospice- Cleaning & Development of the Iphutheng school precinct

• Economic:- Construction of the Shared Industrial Production Facility (SIPF)- Development of the Tourism hub- Linear markets

- Development of Retail & Office Block

FUTURE PROJECTS

• Infrastructure/housing:- Land acquisition and construction of 5 500 units in

Linbro Park; - Upgrading and installation of engineering services,

electricity, storm water and sewer upgrading in the new developments;

- Lombardy West BNG flats;- Mixed use development in Marlboro.

FUTURE PROJECTS…• Social:

- Thoko Mngoma clinic; - Riverpark Multi purpose centre – clinic and retail

space

• Economic:- Alexandra Commercial square;- Private sector investment – Hotel;- Thohoyandu Alex guest project

ARP CHALLENGES

• The life span of the ARP - Creates instability- Housing allocation challenges- New developments- Economic and social challenges

• Funding – insufficient budget• Long administrative processes e.g. SCM • Alexandra land restitution• Frankenwald land matter

ARP CHALLENGES…

• POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN ALEX:

The ARP finds itself inundated with having to answer to community petitions and balancing different group interests.

This includes getting preemptive court orders to protect developments from invasions by political groups.

Orchestrated marches and unrest

THANK YOU!!