Alan Straton

Central SRA plans for 2017

Firstly a thank you and apology to all owners who have signed already and are anxious to see the SRA implemented; “Thank you for your continued interest in the Central SRA and apologies for the infrequent updates which we will remedy going forward.”

The collection of votes is being stepped up a gear this year as the Central SRA attends and presents at SAPOA meetings and Body Corporate Trustee meetings.

The Central SRA interim committee, in time honoured Port Elizabeth tradition, is reaching out to discuss face to face the plans for the Central area and will be announcing two more dates and venues for Public Participation meetings as well.

The tentative dates for the next round of Public Participation meetings are 11 and 16 February (Dates, Times and Venue to be confirmed).

Another round of posters and flyers will precede the meetings.

A final word – if you would like to get involved and make space or materials available to help promote the Central SRA please do feel free to do so.

Second Public Participation Meeting

The second public participation on the path to forming the Central SRA took place at the Mandela Bay Development Agencies offices in the Old Tramway Building.

Once more a positive meeting with good input from all. The Central SRA’s thanks go to the MBDA for making the venue available.

Sandile and Dave — Sandile Rexwana (Ward 5 Councillor) and Dave Hayselden (Ward 3 Councillor)

Images from First Public Participation Meeting

The first Public Participation meeting for the proposed Central SRA was held at the Union Cricket Grounds on Park Drive.

The meeting was well attended and many questions were answered. The interim Committee felt that the overwhelming majority of owners were positive and evidence of this was seen in the high volume of Consent Forms being signed.

Podium — Rod Carradice, Sandile Rexwana, Shane McLean, Kenrick Brown

Ward 5 Councillor Sandile Rexwana makes a point. Behind him is Rod Carradice and to his left is Shane McLean

Central SRA Interim Committee Members: Anthony Adler, Robert Lourens, Carole Law, Shane McLean, Cathy Wanvig, Ron Pask, Kenrick Brown and Rod Carradice.

Mrs Claw on her beloved Central

Carole Law writes:

Lots of very exciting things are happening in Central these days! As you know Mrs Claw has always been and always will be passionate about her beloved stomping ground.

The Valley is the very latest hip and happening hot spot in PE! Whoop whoop!!

What with the craft beer breweries, restaurants, markets and other exciting projects all now finding a new home there, it certainly is one of the Bay’s best kept secrets!!

The beautiful Donkin Village is an awesome newish enclave where many young creative minds have chosen as their new home, conveniently close to the CBD which is part of the urban revitalisation project so skilfully being managed by the MBDA.

On “The Hill” the gracious Edward hotel stands majestic as always, overlooking the stunning Donkin, where Mrs C in her younger days happily ran the many functions as her job as banqueting co-ordinator for the late great Roy Lombard!

Whites Road is home to the beautifully and stylishly renovated Opera House which Mrs C believes is one of the oldest if not the oldest theatre in the country.

Across the road from the Edward you have the newly renovated grand old lady The Grand Hotel! Many happy memories here Skatties and ready to make many new ones!

Along Belmont Terrace the magnificent Atheneum beautifully restored, housing an Art Gallery, small restaurant and the little Theatre amongst other things.

Bird Street is fast becoming the “Art Route” of this beautiful part of Central envisioned by the MBDA, home not only the NMMU Art Department & Artec but many other art Galleries including Anthony Harris’ Gallery at the top of Bird Street and if rumour is to believed, shortly, Colin Wells famous picture framing business!

The majestic High Court previously Mrs Claw’s old School – Collegiate (let’s not go there dolls lol) is at present undergoing major renovations – (also situated in Bird Street) – this is where where Shirl and Mrs C tend to while away the day almost daily, hoping not to miss any drama at present unfolding ………

Anthony Adler has chosen his beautiful property in Russell Road as the newish home to his extremely successful National Glass Distribution now expanding into the space previously home to Colin Wells Framing …….

Kudos to all who have made and are making Mrs Claw’s dreams come true!

The Gutsche family with the PE Club, Ken Denton with Donkin Village, Anthony Adler for always keeping his properties in pristine condition , Mark Stemmett for the Grand Hotel and many others who are all making a huge and positive contribution towards establishing Central as an area to be proud of (thanks Tony Jones for your assistance with this last sentence!!)

The next step towards really making Central the most desirable place to be is obviously the creation of their very own SRA! Successful cities globally are now being run by SRAs!

This concept, as residents of Richmond Hill will confirm, is definitely not structured to replace the work the municipality is responsible for and what ratepayers pay for, but to enhance the area putting in place very necessary additions such as manned security cameras, proper waste management i.e recycling, dedicated Crime Prevention patrols etc etc not included in the municipal responsibilities. SRAs are run by the homeowners and are completely non political/racial/sexual etc etc!

To this end Mrs Claw is urging and imploring all property owners to attend the vital meetings arranged to inform the uninformed about the proposed SRA for Central which will be hosted by a very hardworking dedicated, enthusiastic passionate interim (note interim) committee who have worked extremely hard nearly every week for over a year to come up with an awesome plan which will not hurt your already overburdened pockets! The small amount of money it will cost you will be worth spending as it will also increase the value of one of your most expensive assets!

Keep an open mind and BE THERE – you will be surprised and inspired!

First Central SRA Press Release

The first Central SRA press release was sent out today, ahead of the first Public participation meeting at the union Cricket Ground on 29 November 2016 from 17h30.

Please visit and share ON the sites that publish our Press Release (list below):

The Actual Release:

* PE’s Historical Heart to receive a jumpstart from the community
* Resident support for new SRA
* SRA’s supports historical heart of Port Elizabeth
* Making St Georges Park and Central safe again
* Unique Online process enables Central owners to consent to SRA
* Call for Central SRA

Desirous of forming a Special Rates Area for Central, at a meeting held at the Mandela Bay Development Agency on 11 November 2015, Central residents, property and business owners appointed an interim committee to take the necessary steps towards the establishment of the Central SRA. Based on a fundamental need to improve the area that the residents of Central reside in, the property owners within the Central area will now formally apply for the registration of the Central SRA.

A Special Rating Area is a geographic area within the jurisdiction of a Municipality, determined or to be determined by the Municipality Council in terms of Section 22 of the Municipal Rates Act 6 of 2004 as an area within which an additional rates amount shall be levied by the Municipality and paid over to a community owned Company for its sole use in improving aspects of service delivery within that geographic area.

A number of Public Participation meetings are planned for residents on 29 November at the Union Cricket Club and 1 December at the MBDA, Tramways Building. Both meetings will be from 17h30 to 19h00.

The Central SRA website (www.centralsra.co.za) is active and allows residents to quickly determine the exact amount that each will contribute towards the Special Rated Area as well as allowing each owner to complete and sign an online consent form.

Feedback from the Public Participation meetings and via the web site will allow residents and owners to gain clarity on the formation of the Central SRA.

Speaking from personal experience the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay gave the Central SRA the thumbs up saying; “The Richmond Hill SRA has been a huge success, mostly ridding the area of serious crime & grime. The rejuvenation of this suburb has resulted in improved cleanliness, massive property value appreciation and the establishment of a popular restaurant hub. For just a small rates increase, the residents of Richmond Hill have benefited immensely.”

Interim Central SRA committee member Kenrick Brown says; “Applying best practice from lessons learned in the formation of the Richmond Hill SRA the creation of the Central SRA will ensure that the residents of Central achieve a unified and cohesive voice. This coupled with an independent budget will allow for a pro-active and aggressive approach to improving security, cleanliness, and maintenance within the central area. Furthermore it will allow for better cohesion in working towards complementing the various urban renewal services and infrastructure projects being implemented by government and their various agencies.”

The demarcated area for the Central SRA comprises a total of 4 131 properties all falling under Ward 5 on the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

Ward 5 Councillor Sandile Rwexwana welcomed the proposed establishment of a Special Rated Area in Central saying, “As a resident in Richmond Hill I have seen the benefits that an SRA brings to an area. For example, during the recent Municipal Workers strike the SRA mobilised to clear the streets of rubbish – a direct benefit to residents and business in the area. As the DA Ward 5 Councillor for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality I support the establishment of the Central SRA and welcome the benefits that it will bring to property owners and tenants in this vibrant and historical area of Port Elizabeth.”

“SRA’s are not politically driven and empower neighbours to decide for themselves what improvements or additional services they would like to see implemented in their suburbs – as a consequence SRA’s could also be seen as an importance agent for dialogue and understanding within the broader context of Nation Building,” concluded Sandile Rwexwana.

Welcoming the formation of the Central SRA Mandela Bay Development Agency CEO Pierre Voges said; “As the driving force behind Urban Regeneration within Nelson Mandela Bay tasked with providing support in promoting economic and tourism development the MBDA welcomes the formation of the Central SRA and looks forward to the accelerated service delivery that this will bring to the historic inner city of Port Elizabeth.”

“During the World Bank/Urban Land Institute (ULI) weeklong visit to the City in November 2015 the visitors indicated that SRA’s, City Improvements Districts (CID’s)/Business Improvement Districts (BID’s) are the most powerful tools to eradicate urban decay,” concluded Voges.

All municipal buildings, schools, and places of worship in the Central SRA demarcated area will be exempt from the special SRA levy. This effectively exempts approximately 350 properties from this special levy, as per the NMBM Budget and Treasury system.

Fresh from launching the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism App on the cities iconic Donkin Reserve, NMT CEO, Mandlakazi Skefile expressed her support for the formation of the Central SRA saying; “The NMBT Tourism offices are are in the heart of the Central area across the road from one of our cities main international tourist destinations – the Donkin Reserve. The formation of the Central SRA will contribute to the preservation of our historical buildings in the inner city as well as improved safety for the many tourists who will be exploring the area with the NMBT App.”

Central SRA plans for 2017

Second Public Participation Meeting

Images from First Public Participation Meeting

Mrs Claw on her beloved Central

First Central SRA Press Release

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