6.5 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNER SHIP (PPP) PROJECTS
6.5.3 BUILDINGS REQUIRING REHABILITATION
This project has been chosen to meet the needs of the residents of South Beach.
Therefore, it will be beneficial to the residents. Also, it will encourage the local economic development of South Beach.
a) THE OLD PRIMARY SCHOOL
The old primary school on the comer of Rutherford Street and Erskine Terrace is dilapidated and should be rehabilitated (please refer to Map 9). It is currently unused and can be rehabilitated and utilised as a museum. Three respondents identified the need for a museum in South Beach. The old school has broken windows and has been empty for a while. It creates a gloomy and unappealing sight that is non-profitable to the area. The eThekwini Municipality must work in conjunction with private developers to convert the unused school into a museum. eThekwini can buy the building and thereafter contract private developers to rehabilitate the school in terms of painting, repairing windows, and upgrading services, such as the water, plumbing and electricity, within the building. eThekwini can thereafter either sell the museum, or keep it as a council asset.
The museum should display purely local artworks and thereby market itself as completely ethnic and South African. A museum would draw tourists to South Beach and at the same time give local artists a chance to sell their artworks. Not only will the museum draw tourists to the area, but also locals. It will thus contribute to the local economy as well as add a pleasant sight to the South Beach vicinity.
An Analysis of a Degenerating Urban Area and Recommendations for its Renewal:
A Case Stndy of South Beach, Durban
Photograph 5: The old school on the corner of Rutherford Street and Erskine Terrace needs to be rehabilitated to reduce the adverse blight effects on South Beach
A good example of a museum that could be used as an example for the rehabilitation of the old school is the NSA Art Gallery in Berea. This art gallery has art works displayed on its first floor, and a restaurant on its ground floor.
The same concept could be used for the rehabilitation of the old school as a museum.
b) FLATS REQUIRING REHABILITATION
Some flats (19) also require rehabilitation. Please refer to Map 9 for the proposed buildings that require renewal. The flats on Point Road especially require renewal. There are many flats that are in a poor or dilapidated condition. In order to prevent the eviction of residents via redevelopment, the rehabilitation of these flats will have to occur. The services of the flats are in good condition.
Thus the aspects needing renewal in these flats are the paintwork, the gutters, the windows, the window frames, the gardens or hedges, and the elevators. The landlords need to start investing more money into maintaining their flats. In this way, the area can be sustainable in terms of aesthetics. Council needs to
An Analysis of a Degenerating Urban Area and Recommendations for its Renewal:
A Case Stndy of Sonth Beach, Dnrban
purchase buildings that are dilapidated, rehabilitate them, and sell them to people who are willing to buy and therefore own individual units, as suggested by Mr. Maharaj in his interview.
Incentives can also be provided to building owners, such as those mentioned earlier, in the suggested maintenance of South Beach. Incentives will encourage buildmg owners to renovate and rehabilitate their buildings. Such incentives are:
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Cheap labour that could be offered to the flat owners. The labour should be recruited by the building owners, and subsidized by eThekwini.o
Low-cost building materials that can be obtained directly from factories by the private sector developers, and facilitated by eThekwini, i.e.eThekwini is to approach the factory directly and thereby help the building owners with the access to these required materials.
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Subsidised or free building plans from eThekwini Municipalityo
An award to the best-renovated building, which will be presented by eThekwini MunicipalityFlats on Point Road and Rutherford Street especially require rehabilitation as well as the pocket of flats located on the intersections of both these streets.
Another pocket of buildings in need of rehabilitation is those on Masonic Road, and Hospital and Point Roads. Point Road requires the most rehabilitation, a total of ten proposed buildings.
Flats requiring rehabilitation can use its residents to help with the renewal process as almost all residents involved in this study said that they would like to get involved with the upgrading of their individual unit as well as the entire flat.
Residents said that they would like to help paint, and perform any small task that they were capable of. This shows the enthusiasm of the residents of South Beach, an imperative factor for sustainable renewal. Regarding residents, those who own their flats can also help to maintain these flats. In the case studies of Little Italy and Balingen, residents took the individual initiative to improve their dwelling. This in tum had led to the rehabilitation of the entire neighbourhood.
Residents must also be encouraged to take pride in their neighbourhoods.
Seminars and workshops must be held with the residents to increase their environmental awareness. As mentioned previously, in the observation study, litter is found at many locations, not only during peak seasons when litter can be caused by tourists, but off-peak as well. Therefore, residents, businesses and patrons of South Beach are liable for litter in the area. In order for residents to really appreciate their neighbourhood, they must be involved in its dynamics.
This will encourage them to maintain their neighbourhood. In order to keep the
An Analysis of a Degenerating Urban Area and Recommendations for its Renewal:
A Case Study of Sontb Beach, Durban
area litter-free; residents must be educated on methods of keeping their neighbourhood clean. This will make them understand how important it is to live in a healthy and clean environment.