Ponte gets a revamp

Renovation of the highest residential block in the city – and at times, the most infamous – is underway, now that the entire area, from Ellis Park to the Hillbrow Tower, has undergone a remake.
JOBURG"S most infamous block of flats has not had the easiest history but after a false start or two, the Ponte building in Berea is going to be getting the revamp it deserves.

Rising tall: Ponte is undergoing a revampRising tall: Ponte is undergoing a revampUnder the control of long-time building owner the Kempston Group, it is hoped that the building will be restored to its former glory. “The building offers a very unique lifestyle in that it was one of the pioneering mixed use projects and offers great security options for inner city living,” says the Kempston Group’s spokesperson, Jason Kruger.

Built in 1975, Ponte gained acclaim for its unusual design as a hollow cylinder. Standing at 173 metres in height, it is Johannesburg’s second highest building and the tallest residential skyscraper.

It has always been a furnished rental block, and boasts 470 flats. Renowned for its views of the city, it was hot property until the late 1980s when it fell into decay after drug lords, gangs and criminals took occupation. It remained the black sheep of the skyline until 2001 when a newly-installed security system made it a safer place to be.

However, it was no longer the sought-after location that it had originally been. This led to the birth of a redevelopment project headed by property company Investagain, under the leadership of David Selvan and Nour Addine Ayyoub, in May 2007. The two had big plans for the building, including decorating it to include different lifestyle categories.

These fell into three décor categories: Zen-Like, Moroccan Delight and Old Money. Plasma-screen TVs and granite table tops completed the look in each of the flats. Interest in the development was high, and the building seemed set to become prime real estate, complete with a retail floor.

Negotiations
However, the project failed; it came crashing down in 2008. Negotiations over ownership of the building followed, but the Kempston Group retained possession of Ponte. “We considered various alternatives at the time, but due to the proposed upgrade of the area for the World Cup, amongst other reasons, the directors decided to invest in refurbishing the building,” Kruger says.

“Currently the plan is to complete the refurbishment work and restore the tenant base. Our target market will be middle-income tenants such as nurses, police officers, inner city government officials and those working in the mining and banking houses still operating out of the CBD.”

The leafy entrance to PonteThe leafy entrance to PonteWork on the building is progressing nicely, and the renovation of the residential units is largely finished, according to Kruger. This leaves the retail area. “The commercial area will initially be restored to its basic potential and then we will probably tailor the balance to the requirements of the commercial tenants,” he says.

An exciting development in the revamp is the installation of eight high-speed lifts, replacing the current lifts.

Fifa World Cup
Kruger says that, overall, the residential work is approximately 95 percent complete, while the commercial work is expected to be complete between April and June 2012. Improvements to the area, including the Ellis Park Precinct, Hillbrow and Berea, by the Johannesburg Development Agency ahead of the Fifa World Cup have contributed to making the neighbourhood a more desirable place to stay.

“We are also pleased to see the resurgence of the Golden Lions [rugby team] and with that, it has once more attracted many Joburgers to the area, all of which is assisting in improving the perception of the area,” he says.

Contributing to the area’s rejuvenation is the presence of the Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which offers affordable and reliable transport to people living in both the building and the area.

Ponte, now known as Ponte City, therefore has a variety of selling points with which to attract people and revive it to its original allure. There is one in particular that you just will not find the same of elsewhere, though, according to Kruger: “It has some of the best views on offer in Joburg, especially at night.”