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Monday, January 24, 2005 - Web posted at 7:46:26 GMT Hotel plan in final phase LINDSAY DENTLINGERWINDHOEK'S last remaining vacant city centre plot is set to give way this year to a multi-million-dollar development consisting of a luxury hotel, upscale apartments, a business centre, shops and restaurants. |
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Work on the development is set to start before the end of 2005. For years residents have used the large open area opposite the Kalahari Sands Hotel for parking, as a bus terminal and for informal trading. If developed to its full potential, the value of the complex could reach a staggering N$750 million. The value of the planned development is expected to be lower than this, though. The United Africa Group bought the prime plot in March for N$10 million, but is still in negotiations with the municipality on its development plans. Nico van der Westhuizen of Quadrant Namibia is co-ordinating the development project for United Africa. He told The Namibian that the intention is to create a square that would be accessible not only to residents working there, but also to the public. At present the design incorporates open paved spaces and pedestrian walkways linking the complex to buildings across the road and to the Zoo Park. Urban designers from South Africa have been roped into the project to consider designs that would be aesthetically pleasing and in keeping with the rest of the City. "We have spent a lot of time, effort and money on the environment," said Van der Westhuizen. "We would like to create a place people would like to go to." More than 1 600 basement parking bays will be created, some of which will be for public use. The bus services and informal traders currently operating in the area will also be accommodated in the new development. INVESTOR INTEREST Van der Westhuizen said feasibility studies still had to be done before deciding what kind of hotel and apartments would be built. He did, however, indicate that an international hotel group has expressed interest in the venture. Several local and foreign investors are also interested. The City's Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Sibindi, says while the City has little control over the type of development that would be built, consultations were ongoing to ensure that it would be in keeping with the rest of the City. "We don't have much input in what they are going to do there, but whatever development it's going to be, it should fit into Independence Avenue," she said. Just over seven years ago, plans to build a five-star hotel on the same plot collapsed. A Malaysian-owned company, Freedom Square (Pty) Ltd, won a tender in 1995 to buy and develop the property. Two years later, the Malaysian outfit entered into a preliminary deed of sale with the municipality for N$15 million and paid N$2 million as a deposit. The Municipality's Chief of Corporate Communication, Ndangi Katoma, confirmed that the final deed of sale was only signed in March because the City "needed to do some things", including consolidate the property, which was divided into two parts. Last year, the directorship of Freedom Square changed when the Malaysians resigned and United Africa Managing Director Haddis Tilahun and his wife Martha became the new appointees in August. The company now falls under the United Africa Group, which already has hotels at Walvis Bay, Ondangwa, Oshakati and in Windhoek. When the Malaysians first revealed their plans to build the country's first five-star hotel, critics feared it would be an eyesore, while the hospitality industry maintained that the market was already saturated. Van der Westhuizen has given the reassurance that no building on the property would be higher than the Kalahari Sands Hotel. Buildings closest to the Supreme Court would be one storey lower than the court buildings, while others would not be higher than the municipality's Town House building. United Africa is expected to submit its revised development plans to the City by the beginning of next month. Van der Westhuizen said it was hoped to begin the massive earthworks before the end of the year. |
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PO Box 20783 - Windhoek - 42 John Meinert Street Tel: +264 (61) 279600 - Fax: +264 (61) 279602
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