The garden town of Amanzimtoti on KwaZulu-Natal's upper south coast is undergoing a renaissance characterised by massive new development, which in turn is attracting growing volumes of home buyers to the area.
According to Charles Alterskye, principal of Acutts Amanzimtoti Coastal, they are being drawn to the seaside town which runs 14 kilometres along the coast, for a number of reasons. These include its competitively-priced residential and holiday stock, effective new anti-crime initiative, job opportunities and unique lifestyle that offers country living within the parameters of one of the country's best-managed Unicities. Bordering on thriving industrial zones such as South Gate Industrial Park, Prospecton, Jacobs and Mobeni, Amanzimtoti has nevertheless managed to retain its flora-rich heritage with the buy-in of developers with an environmentally responsible approach, says Alterskye.
And nowhere is this more apparent than in Arbour Town, a new R1,5 billion mixed-use development being built around resident Natal Mahoganies and other indigenous trees, he says.
Situated on the old Umbogintwini Golf Course and encompassing the entire AECI residential village, the development is the brainchild of Keystone Investments, which bought the 89 hectare site from AECI in December 2004. On completion - by 2010 latest - it will comprise a 450 unit sectional title residential village, a 75 000m2 regional shopping centre and a 45 000m2 value centre, says Arbour Town's sales manager Jenny Pate.
The residential component, Arbour Village, has seen extensive upgrading of the existing houses that were once home to AECI employees. While retaining their unique Natal Colonial character, the units have been fully revamped with quality finishes such as granite tops, down lighting, basin and sink mixers, and high ceilings. With the developer's keen appreciation of the local flora, it is not unusual to see decks being built around trees or treating them as focal points by leading right up to them. The homes also come with patios, in keeping with the South African love of outdoor entertaining, stoves and under-counter ovens as well as television and phone points. The same architectural style and attention to detail will be echoed in the 300 soon-to-be-built homes, she says, with buyers having a choice of 60 different floor plans. While essentially living in one giant garden, homes will be assured privacy by picket fencing, natural vegetation or screen walls.
All units are generously proportioned, with the smallest single bedroom home being 60m2 and the largest around 300sq.m. Top-end homes, which comprise four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a double garage, are selling for R2 million, while entry level units are priced at R525 000 – very much in keeping with market prices in Amanzimtoti, Pate says.
Launched two months ago in a whisper campaign, the first phase is more than 70 percent sold, with buyers hailing from all race and age groups: the youngest are in their early twenties while the oldest to date is an octogenarian. Pate says interest has been particularly strong from families, who relish being able to live in close proximity to one another yet retain their independence. This has precipitated a number of purchases of large homes by parents and smaller units by their offspring.
The high level of security in and around the complex, in the form of electric perimeter fencing, access control and guard patrols during day and night, is another major draw card for buyers, she says. Security is further heightened by the presence of just two access gates, which are manned 24/7.
Meanwhile, earthworks on the value centre, which will accommodate major outlets not usually found in mall-type environments, have started. All going according to plan, Pate expects it to be completed in September 2008.
And finally, The Galleria shopping centre, which is scheduled for completion exactly a year after the value centre, already has the majority of its national anchor tenants in place. – Ingrid Smit
For more information contact Jenny Pate, ARBOUR TOWN (Pty) Ltd, tel (031) 904-1360 or 0834433588.
Photos: Two views of the units in the new Arbour Village, the residential component of Arbour Town.
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