Once a derelict fertiliser plant, Improvon has revived the land on which Montague Park is built, transforming it into a mixed-use site with multiple benefits for users.
Once a derelict fertiliser plant, Improvon has revived the land on which Montague Park is built, transforming it into a mixed- use site with multiple benefits for users.
Stefano Contardo, developments executive at Improvon, explains that Montague Park’s land rights mean that, while a portion of the 62ha site is taken up by retail, the remainder is used for hi-tech industrial developments.
Currently, the retail component is occupied by Makro, a mega store which changes Cape Town’s shopping landscape by offering unparalleled – and unprecedented – variety and choice for shoppers.
Contardo says the development’s second element is an industrial park, which encapsulates hi-tech industrial facilities.
He says together, these facilities have done much to improve the living conditions of people within the immediate facility.
Most importantly, the site – which was previously polluted by nitrates from its days as a fertiliser plant has been entirely rehabilitated to become environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing and functional.
This has been achieved by thoroughly cleansing the soil, draining groundwater, and rerouting the river onsite in order to replant indigenous flora and attract more birdlife.
“This is a marked improvement on the empty site which used to attract vagrants, and was therefore a potential crime hotspot.”
He says a further positive spin-off is that the location of the warehouses and industrial park ensures that people are able to find work close to and shop closer to their homes.
“As a mixed use site, Improvon has created a space where entities are able to feed off each other.
“It’s only a matter of time before other retailers are attracted to the site, and shoppers will be able to meet a number of needs at once,” Contardo says.
Another important benefit for users of Montague Park is the careful design of all facilities, to ensure optimal accessibility.
For example, he says instead of the small yards typical of older buildings, Montague Park boasts yards with sufficient space to turn trucks around, thereby bypassing the common problem of circulation.
Furthermore, the majority of industrial buildings in Cape Town are built at grade and have limited clear space to the underside of truss within.
Montague Park’s facilities are built at dock height to facilitate offloading of trucks and boast a minimum of 8m to the underside of the eaves, making it possible for users to offload stock directly, and to store it in towering racks.
This results in cost savings, as tenants take advantage of volume and not only floor space, he adds.
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