Prison doors open - for housing
2005-03-10
Malané Bosman
THE old Paarl Prison in Berg River Boulevard will soon open its doors to new inmates.
The department of Public Works has finally, after years of negotiation, agreed to sell the land for development.
The tender to purchase the prime site was awarded to Mbekwempower Investment CC, with Small Medium Macro Enterprises (SMME) building contractor Moeftagudien Arnold as director.
Other members of the company are education inspectorate Makhosandile Ndzuzo, security officer Mzwandile Tiyo, World Vision co-ordinator Pumla Mgayi, building inspector Robert Meyer and labour relations consultant Jongihlanga France.
Paarl architects Malherbe Rust has been involved with the planning of the upmarket security village with office blocks since the beginning of 2004.
The main section of the historic prison, with its granite walls, heavy metal studded entrance door and courtyard, will remain intact.
A final decision has still to be taken on the best use for the structure with its thick walls, small windows, iron doors and concrete ceiling.
The developers propose erecting 18 housing units of approximately 150 sq/m on 340 sq/m plots.
Nine of the three-bedroomed units are to have access from Fourth Avenue and the other nine from Patriot and Devine Streets.
A further four studio apartments with roof gardens will be erected above the single level offices, with parking underneath.
Texture and paving, flat and pitched roofs, louvred windows and roof gardens are all mixed into the Cape style.
The final go-ahead for rezoning is being awaited from Drakenstein Municipality.
Tenants now lease the former warder's houses on a monthly basis from the Department of Public Works.
A first presentation of the proposed development was met with approval from Heritage Western Cape, who has to grant permission to rebuild the nearly 70 year old "Hof Street" Prison.
Historical data dates the prison site to 1804, when the farm De Straat, as it was then known, was allocated to Stephanus P Jordaan.
Ownership was transferred to the State in 1936. The only building then on the land, a homestead at the corner of Patriot Street and Fourth Avenue, has long since been demolished.
For the past 13 years, after the last prisoners were moved, the prison has fallen into disrepair.
Except for the occasional video and film being made behind the walls and in the cells, the prison has stood empty, allowing space for squatters to move in.
People with knowledge of the social history or significant heritage issues concerning the prison site, can contact the heritage consultant, Elzet Albertyn (fax 021 872-0904 or email to lzalb@ mweb.co.za).
More
News
|
