Swakopmund waterfront moves forward

SAFARI Investments Namibia (SIN), the developer of the ‘Platz am Meer’ waterfront, yesterday said “the civil works is now sufficiently completed and contained to allow the construction of the buildings works to commence”.

“This exciting new development is to become a landmark in Namibia. Some speculative and unsubstantiated publicity has done its rounds, but will hopefully now turn into positive comments,” a statement issued by SIN read.

Civil works started in May 2012 and it was hoped then that the waterfront would be completed by the end of 2013.

This, however, did not happen, and some changes to the concept have also been made since then, with claims of deviating from the original plans being presented to the public.

SIN denied the claims, although some changes are expected. The original 100-room hotel is expected to be smaller, and may be a ‘boutique hotel’. SIN said the original aesthetic design of the hotel will however not be changed but a few alterations may be made with the original plan for the interior.

Henrike Pienaar of SIN told The Namibian earlier this year that the hotel has always been part of the company’s development plans for the waterfront. It was, however, planned for the second phase of the development, and will not be constructed during the first phase of retail.

She said the date of opening of the first retail phase will be from October 2015.

“Safari is confident the Waterfront, scheduled to open a first phase in the last quarter of 2015, will become a popular destination, not only attracting the community of Swakopmund to its diverse product choices and activities, but becoming the destination of choice even for those from other towns along the coast,” the statement read.

The entire project will include a supermarket and retail centre plus a hotel and luxury residential units. It is also expected to include a retaining wall and a breakwater and ski-boat launch, for the development’s marina.

According to SIN, the planning and earth and civil works phases took long; “in particular to ensure that the breakwater and civil works are sufficiently completed for the building works to commence and the site safely secured from the sea”.

The waterfront development has seen many financial and political challenges over the past decade, until Safari Investments Namibia managed to close its N$400 million deal with the Swakopmund municipality.

As to be expected, there were negative comments about Safari’s intentions regarding the nature of the development. Market surveys by Urban Studies however showed that the majority of residents supported the development; claiming that 95% of respondents’ views regarding the waterfront are positive; 85% of respondents regard the location as good to very good; and between 85% and 100% of respondents will support the development.

There are some people who question the result of the survey, claiming that it does not cover the Swakopmund community comprehensively.

SIN assured that ‘Platz am Meer’ will cater for and attract the wider community, and be accessible “for all to enjoy”.

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