The public engagement process for the City’s Woodstock Hospital property has begun. The goal of this initiative is to generate investment and revitalisation for the Woodstock neighbourhood while also providing much-needed affordable housing, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: Future of the nearly 900 people living in Woodstock Hospital hangs in the balance
These sites were the target of planned building hi-jackings after the Western Cape Government announced that social housing would be developed at Woodstock Hospital, which was to be sold to the City.
Calls for cash contributions to ‘sustain and build’ the unlawful occupation followed the building takeover.
A restraining order prohibiting Reclaim the City from ‘inciting others to enter or be upon the property for the intention of unlawfully occupying or invading’ was issued to the City by the Western Cape High Court in October 2018. This signalled the beginning of maintaining facilities management and quickening the affordable housing planning process.
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‘The public participation period runs between 27 September and 27 November 2024 and we are so eager to hear from our residents, the Woodstock community as well as interested and affected parties,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Carl Pophaim.
He added that with some 10 000 opportunities for affordable rental housing opportunities in the pipeline in urban centres across Cape Town, the metro firmly believes that our plans for this site as a mixed use market and affordable housing development will be a game-changer, bringing much-needed affordable housing, and an economic boost to this area.
‘The total extent of the property, valued at approximately R87 million, including a potential residential development yield of approximately 500 units, comprising open market and social housing, will be disposed of subject to the provision of affordable housing. All due process is being followed in ensuring we progress definitively on this long awaited development.
‘We look forward to a constructive and meaningful public participation process on this valuable project. My directorate has worked hard against so many obstacles and complexities, including the unlawful occupation and hi-jacking of the building, to move the project toward this point. The illegal occupation of the Woodstock Hospital site has been the single biggest delay to this development.
‘The City will conduct engagements with the unlawful occupants as part of the broad public participation process to be undertaken for the disposal of the property. The response for the existing occupants will be dependent on the socio-economic profile of the households. The City intends to engage the households on the options available to them to determine the appropriate response for each household in terms of Council policy and legislation.
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‘The City is a pioneer in progressive land release and packaging for affordable housing opportunities near urban centres around the metro. It is seen by many organisations, even among lobby groups, as one of the most progressive governments in SA especially as it pertains to land and development packaging to unlock social and affordable housing.’
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