Anthony Davies (urban management consultant to UCT) is involved in establishing the proposed Groote Schuur Community Improvement District (GSCID) which will tackle ‘crime and grime’ issues.
The Groote Schuur Community Improvement District (GSCID) team is working hard to generate support from commercial property owners in the area to sign up for the GSCID before the cutoff date on February 25.
University of Cape Town (UCT) has already committed itself to a R4.5 million sponsorship of the establishment of the GSCID and signed up its 53 properties in the area at a recent public meeting.
One of the largest property groups in South Africa, Growthpoint Properties Limited, has also pledged its support for the GSCID. David Stoll, regional manager of Growthpoint Cape Town said: “As a board director of the Claremont CID (CIDC) I’ve seen firsthand the value that city improvement districts bring to an area. They preserve the cleanliness and safety of an area and promote the upgrading of public space while enhancing property values.
“It makes sense for us to be part of this initiative, particularly as many of our property portfolios fall within other CID boundaries such as the CIDC and City Central Improvement District (CCID).”
After the murder of Dominic Giddy on February 12 – the second UCT student to be murdered in the past four months – the formation of a CID in this area is more vital than ever.
UCT vice-chancellor Max Price said: “Our hearts go out to the Giddy family as they face this tragic loss. We spend millions on campus security to safeguard our staff and students against crime and we have been successful at driving crime down. UCT is a relatively safe campus yet students and staff become victims in the areas around campus where they live.
“UCT is this year leading the way in establishing the Groote Schuur Community Improvement District which I hope will reduce crime in the areas bordering on UCT and covering most residences and digs.”
Anthony Davies, coordinator of the GSCID and former founder and executive manager of the Claremont Improvement
The area outlined in red shows the proposed Groote Schuur Community Improvement District (GSCID) boundaries under consideration, which is along and adjacent to Main Road from Sans Souci Road at the Newlands swimming bath, to Anzio Road at St Peter’s Square in Observatory.
District Company, said this tragic incident highlighted the urgency of implementing a CID in this area.
“We are in the midst of an intense campaign to fulfill the statutory requirements to establish the GSCID. We therefore appeal to commercial property owners to agree by voting ‘yes’ for its formation on or before February 25,” said Davies.
The area under consideration is along and adjacent to the Main Road from Sans Souci Road at the Newlands swimming bath, to Anzio Road at St Peter’s Square in Observatory.
“Following a by law that was promulgated by the City of Cape Town in November 2009, CIDs will officially be known as Special Rating Areas (SRAs), but no doubt many people will still refer to them as CIDs,” said Davies. “There are 20 of these areas already established in the Cape Town Metropole and many of them have been operating for a long time.”
“In the case of the GSCID, levies will be charged to commercial property owners to fund this work. Residential property owners will not be required to pay levies, but benefit from a cleaner, safer, more pleasant environment. UCT proposes to partner with commercial property owners in this area to establish the GSCID.
For more information or to download the consent form visit www.gscid.co.za or contact the GSCID office on 021 671 9462.
