3. Urban Regeneration lessons from international projects
4.1 BACKGROUND OF THE POINT AREA
Point Waterfront Development is located in the Central Business District of the eThekwini municipal area, close to the beachfront (Figure 4.1).
Figure 4.1: Map illustrating the location of the study with inner city of Durban
(Source: Author, 2017).
The study area is located on the South of the CBD along the Durban beachfront to the harbour access channel, which is at the entrance to the busiest port in Africa (Figure 4.2). The area is known as the Point and it covers some 55 ha of land of which 10 ha is used by Ushaka Marine Word. The area is bounded by the ocean on the east, the harbour mouth and Mahatma Ghandi Road on the south and west, with Ushaka Marine World marking the northern area. It is recognised as the core commercial and retail zone within eThekwini (eThekwini Municipality, 2013). EThekwini Municipality has made a concerted effort to regenerate its CBD and attract investment back into the inner city. That has resulted to the rapidly transformation of Durban Point Waterfront from a previously run-down precinct into a multi-billion Rand property showcase. The Durban Point Waterfront is now one of South Africa's most
64 | P a g e significant and exciting property development and investment projects. It is destined to become one of Durban's most prestigious addresses, and a key tourist attraction.
Figure 4.2: Map illustrating the location of the study
(Source: ArchiGIS, 2017).
4.1.1. Pre- 1990: The Beginnings of the Point
The Point represents an important origin in the development of the City and Port of Durban. The Point represented the arrival gateway for many early travellers by providing together with the Bluff a safe refuge off the ocean. The Point became the first greeting of many “discoveries” and indeed a place for early colonialists, who in time would bring indentured labour from India arriving also at the Point. Entry into the Bay was continually under treat from the growth of the sandbar. This hindered the growth of the Port and the City. Various schemes were formulated to overcome this, including the failed attempt at creating a new harbour on the northern side of the Point through the establishment of a breakwater, only partially completed by Captain Vetch. It is rumoured that this failed effort had led to the bankruptcy of the city. Eventually the sandbar was removed and dredging of the entrance channel ensured continued access. This resulted in an increase in trade. The first railroad within Durban originated from the Point, the beginning of a busy harbour took place as more trade occurred, and the voyagers of many a keen sailor ended there, at that time, a cosmopolitan place and epicentre of Durban (Gounden, 2010).
65 | P a g e As the need for more landing space emerged, the Port entered a phase of expansion with new berths being developed south of the Port, in Maydon Wharf. Sadly, this started what had eventually become the steady decline of the Point as trade, and the consequent harbour activity moved away from the Point. Throughout the seventies and eighties, urban blight had set in as most of the Port related activities relocated from the Point. The Point went on to become synonymous with the many social ills of that time. However, its strategic location, colourful history, social significance and economic potential led to a series of attempts at urban renewal and the establishment of a Waterfront at the Point. Sadly, none of these initiatives materialised at any great scale. The need for the return of the Point to Durban, and its people, remained however firmly on the developmental agenda for Durban for years to come (Durban Point Development Company, 2015).
4.1.2. 1990 – 1999: Hope for the Point
A new era emerged within the country, because of the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC in 1990. A feeling of promise, hope and confidence soon overshadowed that of uncertainty and fear. During this period the Malaysian owned company, Renong Berhard, emerged on the scene with a proposal to purchase all the pockets of land in and around the Point precinct and invest in the urban regeneration of the Point. The first phase of land acquisition took place and the second phase, to complete the consolidation, was abandoned when the “Malaysian Flu” hit the world economy in the late 1990’s. During the latter half of this period, the land was effectively sterilised with Renong, Durban Municipality and the National Government still owning parts of the precinct, and little or no development capital being invested in the area. With other waterfront development in the rest of South Africa (even in Bloemfontein) the “Durban Waterfront” was a complete contradiction.
4.1.3. 2000 Onwards: Realising the Potential
In the late nineties, the then Economic Development Department of the eThekwini Municipality commenced with a series of interventions to turn around the economy of Durban and the rejuvenation of the beachfront, including the Point area, was one such initiative. The strategy was to create two
“bookends” that anchored the Golden Mile, where in the north and south, Suncoast Casino and the Point would serve as these “bookends” respectively. The relocation of the outdated Durban Aquarium would form the catalyst for the Point Development and Moreland Developments, a private sector developer, was appointed to prepare a business plan for the project. The area was largely run down and gives bad impression in general during early 2000s (Kirby, 2014).
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