Residents attend focus group meetings
"It is vital that these neighbourhoods be enhanced through the provision of quality affordable housing, social amenities and public open space to improve the lives of vulnerable residents of the city."
The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), along with its consultants, hosted focus group sessions with community representatives and property owners on January 30.
“The purpose of the meeting was to get input from smaller groups of residents, users, property owners, educational and non-profit institutions as to the future vision and development of the Inner City Eastern Gateway.
“The City of Johannesburg is developing an Urban Development Framework and Implementation Plan for the area, which will guide land use rights, policy and future city investments for this strategic part of, and gateway to, the Inner City of Johannesburg,” said development facilitation manager, Ms Nicolette Pingo.
Furthermore, Ms Pingo said the part of the city has historically and currently played a critical role as a transition area for low and middle-income residents.
“It is vital that these neighbourhoods be enhanced through the provision of quality affordable housing, social amenities and public open space to improve the lives of vulnerable residents of the city.”
Residents of ward 66 (Bertrams, Lorentzville, Judiths Paarl, Bez Valley and Kensington), ward 65, ward 61 (Troyeville, Jeppestown and Fairview) and ward 123, attended the focus group meeting as it was vital for the City of Johannesburg to receive input from key stakeholders.
The Urban Design Framework and implementation plan must be responsive to the needs of local stakeholders as key partners in the future of the study area.
“Critical, everyday knowledge of the area is key to shaping the development vision and catalytic interventions the city will implement. A holistic model of future development of the area must take into account inputs from different role players to ensure development is inclusive,” said Ms Pingo.
At the meeting, a presentation was made on the status quo analysis of the area and key interventions in the area.
Stakeholders were invited to share their thoughts on the work conducted so far and provided insight into key aspects of concern and opportunity in the study area.
Suggested interventions for catalytic neighbourhood developments were welcomed as part of the discussions.
Ms Pingo said the meeting will ensure that local input that is applicable will be incorporated into the City of Johannesburg’s planning efforts and implementation in the study area.
The area has seen increasing private investment, discussions on how such investments can align with city planning and how the city can incentivise further investment and development. This will have major impacts for the area as a whole.
