“This is deeply disappointing and worrisome. It has been in the pipeline for over ten years and been through two political party administrations,” said Helen Rourke, Programme Manager at the Development Action Group. “We appeal to the City Council to expedite the review of this application and resolve any unanswered queries,”
Read more...https://www.groundup.org.za/article/council-delays-its-decision-social-housing-project/ ... See more

“The decision today is unjustifiable. Council is a total and utter shambles,” says housing activist

Council has referred it back to the next council meeting for further “information/clarification”. Is this code?

No, the decision today is unjustifiable. Considering how long it has taken to get to this point and the amount of work that has gone in to making this project feasible, we need clear and good answers why Council has kicked this into the long grass again.

Cllr Dave Bryant in particular needs to stand up and lead the ward he represents. We are in the midst of a housing crisis and nothing can excuse Council’s lack of urgency and vision when so many people are being evicted. If one Councillor spent a day at the Magistrates Court they would weep at the delay.

We don’t need the land for just one social housing project approved in well-located areas, we need hundreds! And this project demonstrates a model that could unlock land for social housing across the inner city and surrounds. Council is a total and utter shambles. ... See more

"In this shrinking economy, the rising cost of living, prevalent corruption and lethargy, we are facing an uphill race against a ticking clock of discontent and dissatisfaction. Despite close to 2,400 informal settlements nationally, the same land developmental rules apply to a hotel in Sandton, as to an informal settlement. It is no surprise that addressing the issue of urban land and housing has little light at the end of the tunnel." Development Action Group
https://www.voices360.com/what-could-a-different-urban-housing-and-land-programme-look-like/ ... See more

Check out this brilliant article by Catherine Stone @ futurecapetown

‘The Salt River market redevelopment project still has to be built, and that will not be before the middle of next year. To get there, and further, will require tenacity, dogged commitment and collaboration between the City of Cape Town, Communicare and the community of Salt River, for the good of all Capetonians – who should rally behind making this happen. Enough of the legal wrangling, enough of the policy dilemmas, enough of objections. Let’s build!’

http://futurecapetown.com/2018/08/salt-river-market-site-is-a-major-opportunity-for-well-located-integrated-housing-in-cape-town-lets-build/#.W9BEwmgzaUl ... See more

All, Housing Salt River Market site is a major opportunity for well-located, integrated housing in Cape Town : Let’s build! Future Cape TownonAugust 23, 2018/Comments closed by Catherine Stone In 2012 Cape Town’s city planners started a project to package well located land to be developed in a m... ... See more