Liquor store won't budge
2009-01-29
Anne Kruger
A DEVELOPER in Franschhoek in the process of demolishing the Huguenot Hotel, has run into problems. Robert Maingard, Durban businessman, plans to construct a small upmarket retail shopping centre on the site, but demolition was stopped last week because the owner of the liquor store on the site refuses to move. Maingard has now been forced to go to court for an application forcing the liquor store to vacate the premises. Meanwhile demolition has stopped. According to Maingard, the liquor store does not have a long term lease, but is rented on a monthly basis. Notice was given last year that the shop should move by the end of October so that demolition could start, but trading by Diamond Liquors on the site continues (now through a side entrance). Maingard plans a shopping centre of about 20 stores on 2500 square metres on the site, with underground parking. He has already redeveloped a number of properties in the town, including Le Franschhoek Hotel. Maingard is also the owner of the Dieu Donné wine estate where an upmarket restaurant has opened and has purchased the building housing the Pick n Pay store opposite the Huguenot Hotel. “Pick n Pay has a lease for the next few years, but in about four or five years’ time it can also be developed as an upmarket retail centre, to complement the new centre on the site of the Huguenot Hotel. “Not everybody is happy with the changes, but I believe the centre of Franschhoek must be upmarket to be tourist friendly.” Maingard is also in the process of developing the La Cotte farm. He plans to develop a high quality 14 room bed-and-breakfast facility with a restaurant and a number of single residential erven.
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