The City of Johannesburg MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) Cllr Mpho Moerane joined the Rosebank business stakeholders during the Rosebank Media Walk, which was hosted by Rosebank Management District (RMD) yesterday afternoon, 24 August 2021.
The walkabout was to highlight the successes and challenges facing the district, and to demonstrate the walkability of the neighbourhood.
The walk was led by representatives from RMD, Lerato Khiba (Rosebank Precinct manager), Nicole
Greenstone (Hyprop), chairperson of Rosebank Management District, and Justin Bass (Grapnel Property Group), chairperson of Lower Rosebank Management District. Also in attendance were neighbourhood stakeholders.
“It is such a pleasure to be here. I spend most of my time in the townships trying to attend to service delivery issues. This is truly a breath of fresh air. Rosebank is really beautiful. We are encouraged by all this. My office has been taking notes of all the issues raised here today and will send a report to the Executive Mayor to attend to them. The City is committed to addressing all issues related to service delivery,” said MMC Moerane.
The walk had a number of stops, with a speaker at each stop representing a different aspect of the Rosebank district to highlight key issues about residential, commercial, lifestyle, retail, tourism and social issues pertaining to area.
Renewed engagement with the City to support sustainable densification
With practical and financial support from the City of Johannesburg, RMD hopes to successfully resolve challenges caused by Rosebank’s rapid densification. These include sustainable upgrading of overburdened basic infrastructure; the establishment of a new dedicated taxi rank to accommodate an expanding commuter population; the eradication of rampant illegal parking and the maintenance of Rosebank’s neglected green spaces.
Despite the many challenges, Rosebank has continued to grow and attract investment. The precinct has been a hive of activity with new building construction projects all around over the past few years. The mall has undergone a series of facelifts as well.
Many Rosebank businesses, particularly retail and hospitality, were severely affected by the Covid19 lockdown restrictions. However, there are signs of recovery.
In 2019, the first phase of the multi-billion rand mixed-use development, Oxford Parks, launched on the corner of Jellicoe and Oxford Roads, and the construction of the 144 Oxford Road office block was completed in 2020.
In the coming months 1,500 Anglo American employees will move into the new Oxford Parks Precinct and the 144 Oxford Road office complex, joining a host of other established corporations in the district, including Standard Bank, Coca-Cola, Pepsi Co, Redefine, Total, BP, Sony and Life Healthcare.
The Gautrain plans to launch new midi-bus routes, including one to Parkhurst. Two new international hotels have been established in the area and hundreds of new residential units have been created.
Ensuring that Rosebank retains its status as a safe, clean and attractive business district, RMD continues to successfully implement supplementary services such as enhanced street cleaning, security, placemaking, marketing, and engagement with organisations tackling social issues such as homelessness.
“Cities across the globe need to develop strategies to deal with both the benefits and challenges of rapid urbanisation,” said Greenstone, the chairperson of the Rosebank Management District.
“The Rosebank node has enjoyed over a decade of construction and investment. The Rosebank Management District would like to highlight the importance of developing effective public-private partnerships to successfully deal with the complexities of urban life. We aim to create an attractive and sustainable environment that is welcoming and inclusive and takes into consideration the needs of all residents and visitors.”
New attractions:
Rosebank’s attractiveness is in its unique mix: a well-managed high-end retail and entertainment precinct offering all the amenities associated with high functioning city life. In 2021, more new attractions have been added and are on the way, including:
- Radisson RED Rosebank Hotel (Aug 2021)
- Soko District retail concept at Rosebank Mall (Aug 2021)
- Voco™ Johannesburg Rosebank hotel (late 2021)
- Chef David Higgs The Pantry at Keyes Art Mile (Oct 2021)
Rosebank’s transport links, abundant lifestyle attractions and amenities and high levels of walkability have helped accelerate its popularity among corporates and those looking to live the urban lifestyle.
Ends
For more information contact:
Stanley Itshegetseng
Deputy Director: Communication and stakeholder relations
Office of the MMC – EISD
Cell: 0837024778
25/08/2021
