A PROGRESSIVE vision for a new, innovative Buffalo City development rising out of the derelict sleeper site has been unveiled by the University of Fort Hare (UFH).
Transnet is sitting with an agreed- upon Buffalo City Metro offer of sale for the site, a 20-hectare chunk of prime land adjacent to the central business district.
UFH vice-chancellor Mvuyo Tom said: “We call on Transnet to sign the BCM offer and for the land to be released as a matter of urgency.
“We are unable to proceed with a feasibility study, nor can we raise funds for this most essential urban transformation project.”
Local political and business leaders also urged the state company to release the land from its balance sheet.
Professor Leslie Bank, UFH director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research, said the city suffered from “doughnut development”, likening it to “a hole in the city’s heart”.
On Thursday, BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha said a recent city lekgotla agreed to set a limit of 21 days for turnaround time on building plans to speed up development.
In an exclusive interview, Tom said their 2030 Campus-City Vision was founded on the idea of a “triple-helix” synergy of government, business and scholarship.
Tom said: “We seek to construct a vibrant African front door through which everyone will walk through to a dynamic, mixed, multi-use precinct made up of mini-clusters.”
He said: “We see the new CBD as a gateway to the Eastern Cape and its economic opportunities, rich intellectual history and tourism.”
The 38-page document includes specific plans and projects for both the Alice and Buffalo City campuses.
The plans, drawn up over a six- month period by a team of experts in urban planning, design and development, were approved by the UFH council recently.
Bank, who co-coordinated the project, said: “The power of the vision is that it brings everything and everybody in BCM together.
“The three components of the triple helix are already present in the metro, but are disconnected and fragmented, which has negatively affected development.
“Now we see a glimpse of what we want to be – a competitive, dynamic, connected Eastern Cape, African city.”
Tom, UFH deputy vice-chancellor and head of planning Dr Jabulani Mjwara and Bank said: “We followed the successful global best practice of design, where city-centre campuses are global leaders, such as in Silicon Valley and Harvard (campus) where universities are the new engine rooms of a city. They create knowledge-driven urban growth.”
The proposal dovetailed with all the city’s existing urban regeneration, infrastructure and corridor plans, including transport for Duncan Village and Mdantsane.
“All these routes come to the city centre, so poor people can access the city at the cost of a cheap ticket,” said Bank. —
Fort Hare plans new Sleeper site campus
A PROGRESSIVE vision for a new, innovative Buffalo City development rising out of the derelict sleeper site has been unveiled by the University of Fort Hare (UFH).
Transnet is sitting with an agreed- upon Buffalo City Metro offer of sale for the site, a 20-hectare chunk of prime land adjacent to the central business district.
UFH vice-chancellor Mvuyo Tom said: “We call on Transnet to sign the BCM offer and for the land to be released as a matter of urgency.
“We are unable to proceed with a feasibility study, nor can we raise funds for this most essential urban transformation project.”
Local political and business leaders also urged the state company to release the land from its balance sheet.
Professor Leslie Bank, UFH director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research, said the city suffered from “doughnut development”, likening it to “a hole in the city’s heart”.
On Thursday, BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha said a recent city lekgotla agreed to set a limit of 21 days for turnaround time on building plans to speed up development.
In an exclusive interview, Tom said their 2030 Campus-City Vision was founded on the idea of a “triple-helix” synergy of government, business and scholarship.
Tom said: “We seek to construct a vibrant African front door through which everyone will walk through to a dynamic, mixed, multi-use precinct made up of mini-clusters.”
He said: “We see the new CBD as a gateway to the Eastern Cape and its economic opportunities, rich intellectual history and tourism.”
The 38-page document includes specific plans and projects for both the Alice and Buffalo City campuses.
The plans, drawn up over a six- month period by a team of experts in urban planning, design and development, were approved by the UFH council recently.
Bank, who co-coordinated the project, said: “The power of the vision is that it brings everything and everybody in BCM together.
“The three components of the triple helix are already present in the metro, but are disconnected and fragmented, which has negatively affected development.
“Now we see a glimpse of what we want to be – a competitive, dynamic, connected Eastern Cape, African city.”
Tom, UFH deputy vice-chancellor and head of planning Dr Jabulani Mjwara and Bank said: “We followed the successful global best practice of design, where city-centre campuses are global leaders, such as in Silicon Valley and Harvard (campus) where universities are the new engine rooms of a city. They create knowledge-driven urban growth.”
The proposal dovetailed with all the city’s existing urban regeneration, infrastructure and corridor plans, including transport for Duncan Village and Mdantsane.
“All these routes come to the city centre, so poor people can access the city at the cost of a cheap ticket,” said Bank. —
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