New look for Durban's old Ark

Situated on a prime development site just off Point Road near the Durban harbour is a collection of now-derelict old buildings that were for many years known as The Ark - until recently a safe haven for homeless and desperate people. By Ingrid Smit

Now these old buildings are about to undergo a construction metamorphosis that will see the Point Waterfront area become home to a brand-new brick and glass shopping centre topped by modern offices and serviced by undercover parking. Looking at the robust construction of the attractive, old-fashioned red brick Haymarket building and the parallel rows of barracks originally used by stevedores and which have weathered the onslaught of Indian Ocean weather for many decades, it is not difficult visualize the kind of mixed style, eclectic development that will take shape over the coming year.

"This development proposal has been well received by the eThekwini Municipality and should further enhance the already-substantial development upgrade of the Point Waterfront area of the city," says Tutu Mnganga, Chairman of the BEE property company Realtyworks Holdings Limited, whose subsidiary, The Stevedore Point Waterfront Co (PTY) Ltd, is to undertake the development. "It will breathe new life into the area" he says, adding that although the shopping complex should attract people from all over, it will become the heart of the Point, servicing mainly local residents.

The existing barracks will be transformed into a series of boutique-style retail outlets surrounding a sunken piazza that can be used for events such as exhibitions and displays. It will even be large enough to accommodate a full-size tennis court for exhibition matches. Wine bars, coffee shops, café-type restaurants and fast-food outlets will characterize the ground floor retail theme. Built above this and joining the roofs of the two barrack buildings will be a huge shopping centre featuring glass facades, solid glass doors and double-volume space.

According to Mnganga, that part of the old building formerly used for boat houses will be converted into four levels of parking, above which will be two floors of residential apartments with unsurpassed views over Durban Harbour. The offices are intended to attract young professionals such as lawyers, accountants and architects to the area, he adds.

Having already been granted a demolition order for those parts of the existing buildings that will not form part of the new complex, preparation work will be done during the remainder of this year with construction scheduled to start during the first quarter of 2007. "We anticipate completion of the entire project by the last quarter of 2007," said Mnganga. "In order to secure financing we have to 'sell' 80 percent of the anticipated 12 600 square metres of floor space. But the response has been so positive that we are nearly there already. "

"We are very excited about the results of a structural survey which has shown that the lovely brick walls and foundations are still robust and can be retained as a part of the development," Mnganga concluded. – Ingrid Smit

Readers' Comments
Where will all the shoppers come from?
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