Part 2 Supporting Documentation
2.11 Corridors of Freedom
2.11.2 Realising the Corridors of Freedom – The Medium Term Budget Infrastructure
In order to facilitate more development along the corridors in the form of a more compact and dense urban form and a greater mix of land uses, bulk infrastructure (water and electricity) must be of the highest quality and have the capacity to sustain this development. City Power has been allocated R342 million over the next three financial years for a range of projects relating to sub- stations and reticulation to enable the envisaged densification and redevelopment along the three corridors. Similarly, Joburg Water has been allocated R139 million for sewer and water upgrades within the Corridors of Freedom. Johannesburg Roads Agency will conduct traffic impact studies and stormwater master plans to guide investment in road and stormwater infrastructure. General road upgrades will also take place as part of the BRT implementation to facilitate pedestrian movement to the stations and general traffic circulation across the BRT route.
Safe neighbourhoods designed for cycling and walking:
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Significant walk and cycle ways construction will be undertaken within the corridors to link areas to the transit system and to promote healthy lifestyles; thereby contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. Convenient access to the BRT stations will also be achieved through improvements to collector roads. A number of pedestrian bridges and upgraded pedestrian crossings will also be constructed to improve safety of pedestrians, including access for people with disabilities.
Mixed use developments that will stimulate economic activity and create opportunities for
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emerging entrepreneurs:
Over and above the infrastructure investment that will unlock mixed use developments by the private sector, the City will also spend R8 650 000 on food co-production projects to ensure that there is food security in lower income communities such as Westbury. An economic strategy is currently underway to ensure that economic objectives, integral to long term sustainability, are met.
Diverse accommodation types and tenure options:
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On average, the population in the 3 corridors will increase from 7 436 people per square kilometre to 41 632 people per square kilometre. High density residential developments within the corridors need to support a range of typologies, densities and incomes. In order to realise the envisioned social inclusivity within the corridors, the City has to invest in acquiring land for affordable housing.
JOSHCO, the City’s high density social housing provider, plans to develop five projects within the three priority corridors over the next three years with a value of R269 million in Turffontein, City Deep, Pennyville and Marlboro. The Housing Department has plans for seven projects in the Corridors which amount to R225 million within the three year period.
Integrated access to a range of social amenities (Parks, Public Spaces, Libraries, Social Halls,
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Clinics etc.):
The vision for the provision of social amenities is linked to the creation of spaces that will unite residents. The strategy is to cluster a number of varied facilities together in an integrated environment that discourages fences and pockets of isolated public facilities and encourages multi-use facilities in multi-storey buildings in character with high rise environments envisaged along the BRT and around transit stations. The social facility clusters are spaces to implement innovative solutions on green buildings and the use of public places.
In order to construct a sustainable urban community the necessary social facilities need to be provided to the Corridors to support the increase in population. The City is investing extensively in social facilities that fall under its jurisdiction within the Corridors within the next three years. This includes:
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Libraries – R6.8 million over three years in fi ve projects.
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Community Halls and Sports Facilities – R109 million over three years in thirteen projects.
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Clinics – R54 million over three years in fi ve projects.
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Social Support Facilities – R14 million over three years in two projects.
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Inter-governmental cooperation is required to align provincial and national budgets to this initiative in order to ensure that their services such as schools, healthcare, social welfare grants and policing, are provided to serve the increased population demands.
Ensuring a quality urban environment also requires quality public spaces. City Parks is to spend R125 million on 17 projects within the three Corridors over the next three years. The Johannesburg Development Agency, responsible for public environment upgrades, is to undertake seven projects in the three year period within the Corridors. These projects amount to R 152 million.
1 Empire/Perth Corridor – Proposed Interventions
The BRT Phase 1B has been fi nalised and operational since October 2013. The focus of the City’s investment in the medium term is therefore to improve the existing bulk infrastructure to support increased development, improve public environments and social facilities, as well as linkages to the public transport facilities.
Figure 3: Medium term budget allocation by department/Municipal Entity to the Perth/Empire Corridor. Yr 1 = 2014/15; Yr2 = 2015/16; Yr3= 2016/17
Priority Precincts: Precincts Interventions 1 Knowledge Precinct (Auckland Park)
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Construction of a safe pedestrian crossing at Campus Square to enhance pedestrian o
experience and alleviate risks to safety.
Construction of cycle ways to link the Universities from UJ Kingsway Campus to Doornfontein o
Campus, via Wits University.
Redevelopment of Westdene Dam Recreation area into a multi-purpose regional facility.
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Apart from providing community facilities and recreational open space it will act as a key structuring element within the corridor that provides pedestrian links to the BRT and the opportunity for major densification around the facility.
Milpark Precinct
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Detailed urban design and traffic solutions to enable the development of a mixed use o
Regional Economic Facility (formulation of economic strategy currently under way to provide further inputs for the precinct).
Construction of the Owl Street cycle and walkway linkage from the BRT station to 44 o
Stanley Road and in future, to link through to the proposed mixed use development on the Egoli Gas site.
Brixton
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Construction of a pedestrian link from Langlaagte Station to Brixton along Jill Street with o
the broad benefit of improving pedestrian experience but also improving the Jill Street Business environment.
Social Cluster Upgrade along High Street link including upgrades to Brixton Park, Library o
and Sports Fields.
Westbury
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Upgrading of the Union Stadium Precinct as a high quality community facility: Stadium o
Upgrade, multipurpose buildings, park, various sports facilities.
Upgrading of the Westbury Clinic into a state of the art facility, offering comprehensive o
primary health care services and incorporating green building interventions served by an upgraded distribution facility.
Upgrading and redevelopment of 3 parks to create safe community open spaces and o
improved environmental quality.
Safe Pedestrian crossing at the Westbury Station for school children and users of the transit o
service. The pedestrian crossing will create a vital link between Westbury and adjoining areas with job opportunities.
Upgrading of the Westbury Library.
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Construction of cycle and walkways along Kretchmar, Dowling and Steytler Streets to create o
safe and interconnected movement and links with surrounding area and opportunities.
Pennyville
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Mixed Use Development at New Canada Station: Development of the new rental housing o
stock and the upgrading of the public environment to support a joint project with Prasa.
Upgrading of existing rental stock.
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Construction of a multipurpose centre.
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Development of new sports fields.
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1 The projects listed will be undertaken between 2014/15-2016/17
Noordgesig
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Development of the social precinct which includes upgrading of the swimming pool, park, o
library and the recreation centre.
Upgrading of the clinic into a state of the art facility, offering comprehensive primary o
health care services and incorporating green building interventions served by an upgraded distribution facility.
2 Turffontein – Proposed Interventions
Turffontein provides an excellent opportunity for housing a large population in close proximity to the Inner City and its job opportunities. A feature of city expenditure in the Turffontein in the next three fi nancial years is the therefore the quantum of dedicated funding to social housing (JOSHCO) and other high density residential developments (Housing). The emphasis is also on creating a strong non-motorised transport based infrastructure based on cycle and walkways to link the area to the Inner City.
Priority Precincts: Precinct Interventions Key Intervention
Implementation of a safe, reliable public transport system. Funding has been made available in
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the medium term to solidify Turffontein as a development corridor that is anchored by a reliable transit system.
Figure 2: Medium term budget allocation by department/Municipal Entity to the Turffontein Corridor. Yr 1 = 2014/15; Yr2 = 2015/16; Yr3= 2016/17
Turffontein Precinct
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Construction of new affordable rental units.
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Rotunda Park Renewal: Major linear park and recreational space extending from Rotunda o
Park along De Villiers Street supported by cycle and walkways with trading facilities.
Wemmer Pan Precinct
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Upgrading of the Wemmer Pan Park to create high quality regional facility that is integrated o
into the surrounding area. It will also provide the opportunity for the creation of high density housing in the area. The project includes releasing some of the land for housing and recreation facilities.
Upgrading of Pioneer Park will also be done as an integral part of the broader Wemmer Pan o
Precinct in order to provide high quality regional facilities and to activate the edges along the dam.
City Deep Industrial and Freight Hub
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Road and Traffi c Management for the City Deep Industrial freight hub.
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City Deep Mixed Social Housing Development.
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Upgrading of existing social housing Stock to create a better living environment.
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Investing in the Market of the Future o
3 Louis Botha – Proposed Interventions
Establishing the Rea Vaya infrastructure within the Louis Botha corridor is the City’s fi rst priority.
The focus of the City’s investment in the medium term is furthermore to improve the existing bulk infrastructure to support increased development, improve public environments and social facilities, as well as linkages to the public transport facilities.
Figure 1: Medium term budget allocation by department/Municipal Entity to the Louis Botha Corridor. Yr 1 = 2014/15; Yr2 = 2015/16; Yr3= 2016/17
Priority Precincts: Precincts Interventions Key Intervention
Implementation of Phase 1C BRT Projects, including construction of the dedicated lanes and
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stations, non-motorised transport infrastructure and inter-modal transport facilities and a depot.
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Orange Grove
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Major redevelopment of Patterson Park Recreation Facility to include a new library, upgraded o
park and recreational facilities, safe pedestrian access and sports fields and opportunity for an integrated higher density residential development.
Developing the Orange Grove Triangle Precinct into an attractive public space that can o
anchor redevelopment.
Redevelopment of the Orchards Clinic into state of the art facility, offering comprehensive o
primary health care services and incorporating green building interventions in a multi-storey building.
Upgrading of several existing local parks to activate the public amenities for residents.
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Alexandra, Marlboro and Wynberg
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Improving the walkability within these areas, including construction of the “Great Walk”
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from Alexandra to Sandton, by providing extensive non-motorised transport infrastructure including a new pedestrian bridge across the M1-motorway.
Construction of a new multi-level inter-modal transport facility at the Watt street interchange o
to integrate taxi, BRT, bus and pedestrian movement, while creating an impetus for economic investment into the area.
Construction of new higher density housing and mixed use precincts.
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Balfour Park
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Developing new higher density housing for a range of income groups.
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Yeoville and surrounds
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Upgrading of a range of existing social facilities such as the Esselen Street Clinic, Yeoville o
sports and recreation centre and park and Hillbrow sports and recreation centre.
4. Conclusion
Developing the Corridors of Freedom is a long-term development programme that requires all City stakeholders to work towards the broader vision. The City is demonstrating through its medium term budget its commitment to investing in the provision of infrastructure and services to support private sector initiatives. The City is also developing incentives and enabling mechanisms to facilitate private sector investment in the Corridors.