The City of Cape Town, residents, and nominated Caretakers have been collaborating over the past year on the Public Realm Strategy for District Six. The purpose of the strategy is to visualise how the public open spaces, places and streets in District Six can be used to create an inclusive vibrant community, and a sense of place and belonging. The outcome of six co-design workshops and four public meetings will be on display for public viewing and comment next week.
‘I want to extend a warm invitation to residents and all of those who have participated in this process to please attend the Open House meetings and view the work done to date. This is also an opportunity for those who attend to give further input and comment to enrich the public realm vision for District Six,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
Open House days will be hosted at the Cape Town City Hall, Parade Street entrance, as follows:
• Thursday, 9 June 2022, from 14:00 to 20:00
• Friday, 10 June 2022, from 09:00 to 15:00
• Saturday, 11 June 2022, from 09:00 to 15:00
Caretakers nominated by the community have participated in six face-to-face co-design workshops since mid-September 2021, the content of which has been recorded and shared with the wider community.
‘The purpose of the Public Realm Strategy is to enhance the quality of the streets and public spaces in District Six, taking into account the area’s unique heritage, its legacy and former vibrancy. It is also intended to create more sustainable communities and living. We are focusing on how the streets and spaces between buildings can be developed – these are the public open spaces where the community used to meet, interact, and socialise. We will conclude this initial year-long process with an investment framework and guidelines for the public spaces and streets in District Six where we remember the past, share in the present, and work towards a shared future,’ said Alderman Andrews.
The strategy will be finalised by the end of June 2022, if all goes as planned, and will be used to identify a project or programme that can be implemented from 2023 onwards following further detailed design work, to realise some of the findings and outputs.
‘For the new financial year, starting 1 July 2022, we have budgeted R600 000 for the planning and detail design of a project within District Six to build on the work we have done. Thus, residents will not see something tangible immediately, as we need to do the design work first before we can implement. Safe to say, we will keep residents informed right through this process,’ said Alderman Andrews.
Findings from the Public Realm Strategy have informed the draft Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF) for District Six that will serve before Council for approval in due course.
All of the information and content related to the public realm strategy is available online:
The link to the content generated to date is as follows: https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/planning-portal/Spatial-Plans-and-Frameworks/district-six-neighbourhood-plan
Residents can also submit comments via email: D6publicrealmstrategy@capetown.gov.za
The LSDF and related Public Realm Strategy are aspects that the City can implement. They are separate from, but will enhance the housing project of the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development that is currently under way as part of the restitution process.
Source: City Of Cape Town