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A planned upgrade is set to improve trading conditions on the Grand Parade. The upgrade project will be phased over two financial years, says Stuart Diamond, Mayco member for assets and facilities management. R6.5m has been allocated for the Grand Parade operational management and upgrades, he adds.
“The Grand Parade is a well-known public space. However, in recent years, various factors have led to the site becoming unsafe with an increase in criminal activity and antisocial behaviour. One of the biggest challenges is the structural and functional deterioration of the trader kiosks on the north-western portion of the site,” says Diamond
These kiosks were built in the 1980s.
The proposal is to demolish the row of small kiosks, Diamond says, which is “in line with the Phase 2 Revitalisation Concept, agreed to by the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee, which recommended demolition of the kiosks”.
The row of kiosks closest to Plein Street will then be refurbished and the spaces will be made compliant with South African Bureau of Standards regulations. The rear of the existing kiosk service yards will be converted into small kiosk spaces to accommodate the existing traders in the row to be demolished. This will see the number of trading kiosks remain the same, Diamond adds.
“The traders will benefit from improved trading spaces and they have been engaged throughout the planning phase of the project. There will be a level of inconvenience to trading during the construction phase, but this will be managed and traders will be kept informed of progress during this time,” he says.
The upgrade will also see internal alterations made to the first floor of one of the kiosks to accommodate Law Enforcement, to improve policing and security on the parade, Diamond explains.
The project will upgrade the existing ablution facilities on site and complete the approved Phase 2 paving as partially implemented for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
“The Grand Parade is a provincial heritage site (PHS). There is an existing heritage impact assessment (HIA) for the site produced prior to the 2010 World Cup with design indicators. The proposal is sensitive to the heritage restrictions and has aimed to adhere to the recommendations in the HIA. This includes the demolition of the small row of kiosks. The kiosks to be upgraded are not older than 60 years. However, since the site is a PHS, an application is being submitted to Heritage Western Cape for a permit to proceed.”
Work is set to commence in the current financial year, Diamond adds, subject to the approval of building plans.
