Cape Town - Social activist group Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU) has slammed the City of Cape Town for “reneging on their commitment to use the Green Point Bowling Green as a site for affordable and mixed-income housing”.
The City invited interested parties to add their public comments on the further leasing of the land to three institutions on a short-term lease.
The City, however, contended that a portion of the land, which they manage, was earmarked for mixed-use development and affordable housing.
In a statement, NU said on Thursday that the City’s leasing of the land at R3 000 per year provides “no benefit to the wider Cape Town population” and the “ongoing approach to the bowling green and other well-located pieces of public land demonstrates a worrying lack of vision and urgency”.
Head of organising at NU, Buhle Booi, said: “If the City followed through on its commitment to develop the site as planned, it would not only provide desperately needed, well-located, affordable housing, it would generate additional municipal revenue in the form of rates, and improve the financial and environmental sustainability of the City, by increasing densification.”
NU attorney Jonty Cogger elaborated on the constitutional rights underpinning the organisation’s objection.
“Public land should be used for public benefit. In the context of our profound housing crises, it is immensely frustrating to see the City either renege on, or once again delay its plans to develop the site into affordable and mixed-income housing.
The City spent a considerable amount of money getting consultants to develop plans for the site to be developed for mixed-use housing,” said Cogger.
The City said: “The City confirms a portion of the property is already earmarked for mixed-use development, including affordable housing, as part of the City’s Land Release for Affordable Housing Priority Programme.
In the interim, the property has been leased to a crèche, bowling and bridge clubs for a three-year period with a six-month cancellation clause.
“The initial three-year lease term has ended and council, as required, advertised its intention to renew the lease agreement for a further period of two years and 11 months while the mixed-use developmental plans with an affordable housing component on a portion of this site are being finalised.
The comment/objection period closes on 7 November, 2022,” the City said.
“There is no choice between affordable housing or other community uses – the City plans to do both on this property,” the City said.
Cape Times