Historic building near destruction
2007-10-25
Lise Beyers
A historic building near the Paarl Mall is slowly but surely being carried away brick by brick by vandals.
This house, which was built in 1812, belonged to local veterinarian Pietie van Aarde, who sold it to allow access from the N1 to the Paarl Mall.
The house was purchased by the Mall developers who in turn sold it to Mark Philp whose intention was to develop the property into a vehicle showroom.
This however fell apart when the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) blocked this development due to the fact that the property is situated at a crucial off-ramp from the N1.
They also implied that they might need the use of the property at a later stage for road widening.
The transaction was then declared nul-and-void and the property was re-auctioned by Auction Alliance and sold to Cape Town businessman, Theodore Bassett.
Bassett has plans to convert these premises into an office park - restoring the vandalised home to its former glory and adding buildings in the old Cape style.
“A traffic impact study has been done and I have been negotiating with various roleplayers such as the Heritage Foundation and the Municipality. I believe that permission will be granted to make my plans a reality.”
Because of the historical value of the property, the old homestead may not be demolished. Yet vandals have already ripped most of the plumbing out, removed floors, wooden doors and frames and even the old air-conditioners.
Baths and toilets have been removed, leaving only holes on the ground.
An antique fire-place has also been removed.
Currently a security company has been deployed to keep vandals out, but the damage has already been done.
Bassett added that he was very upset about the damage which has been done to the house and was in the process of establishing which party should carry the costs hereof.
* In the mean time, the entire Paarl Mall area is getting ready to spread its wings.
Last week building started of a Total service station on a piece of land between the Mall and McCarthy Toyota, inclusive of a boutique shop and car wash.
Mall management is currently negotiating with Fruit & Veg City to be established between Nedbank and the Foodcourt entrance. This shop will built specialy for them.
Atterbury Properties (owners of the Mall) have also purchased some land between the Paarl Mall and the highway which will be developed into the Paarl Mall Value Centre.
This development has already been submitted to Council for approval.
Another development is also on the cards at the entrance to the mall, where a piece of land has been earmarked for a Paarl Lifestyle Centre, focusing on furniture, homeware and lifestyle related tenants.
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