South African Property Owner's View from a Jo'burg Loft

People are living here

By Sarah-Jane Boden

Believe it or not, people are moving back to the heart of Jozi. Here's an update on the buzz back home ...

This week we hung out with the who's shmoo on the luxurious balcony of a snazzy new loft apartment in Craighall Park.

Looking out at the rusty rooftops poking through Jozi's manmade forest contrasted with faux-Tuscan townhouses, the question had to be asked: Why would you pay R5 million for a penthouse in deepest suburbia when you can buy a breathe-taking penthouse for R1.5 million in the heart of Jozi city?

We believe that maybe it's because your average Jo Burger continues to believe that buying property in the city is still not a viable option ... yet ... We're not exactly sure what they're waiting for but we think that they're being a little too cautious and that they're going to kick themselves.

Just take a drive into the city centre across the impressive Nelson Mandela bridge ... it's not that hard nor that scary when you realise that everyone is just going about their business; as Athol Fugard wrote so succinctly People are Living There. The city is alive and pulsing, the economic boom that rocks our country finds its roots in the informal traders, the small business developments, the fresh shop fronts and bustling coffee shops and restaurants that now pack the streets.

In the daytime there is an energy, a buzz, unlike any I have ever felt and it's very very exciting. If you look up at the ragged frontlines of the assorted buildings you will notice an enormous amount of renovation work being done all around you.

Finding a building still for sale is as rare as dinner-table conversation about emigrating - finding a builder to do your bathroom renovations in the suburbs is even harder. Every builder and his grinder has jumped on the city renewal projects zolabudd, some for the tax incentives, some for the money but many for the thrill and challenge of rejuvenating our once world-class then neglected and now tatty but shaping-up hub...

Sexy city pads

Just ask Richard Rubin, the 30 year old ex-Durbanite but now proud and loud Jozi boy who is about to launch the first in a range of sexy inner-city apartment blocks in March - he'll tell you just how much the city is transforming and just how wonderful it is to be a part of it...

Richard's company Aengus Property Holdings has recently transformed an office block on Smal St mall (next to Carlton Centre) into 150 sexy city pads. They range in size from 30m2 to 120m2 and are finished with a stylish minimalist touch.

Richard believes that in order for the city to truly come alive that one needs your "middle-of-the-range" person living there, not your snotty wealthy type who will buy a city apartment for trendy sentiments; nor your low-end of the market client who already lives in and around the city in cheap run-down accommodation but without disposable income (yet...). He wants people who walk, work, love, shop, explore and play in the city and hence his plan to rent the apartments out to young movers and shakers who are on their way up in life. They may not be able to afford one of the high-end renovated apartments for sale, but they sure can afford to rent one of his.

In order to attract this market Richard had to make the lofts affordable but at the same time offer quality and style in the city. The rentals run from R1 750 up to R4 000 a month - isn't that cheaper than your average London bedsit? And believe us the views are to die for, darl. They're getting snapped up by the dozen as excited optimists stare out of the wide shiny windows onto the hustle of the Zuma case outside the high court buildings below and decide to pay the deposit.

Living on the edge

Of course there's the typical question of 'crime' and 'security' in South Africa in general and Johannesburg in particular - you must surely have heard by now how the crime in the city centre has radically decreased thanks to the camera's strategically positioned around the CBD. Entrance to the apartments is either via the guard and boom-controlled underground parking or through the swanky foyer where you use your finger-print to prove your identity. The building has strict security plans in place.

The fact is, Jozi people tend to love living in this crazy city and most have accepted the fact that we live 'on the edge' so to speak. The way we see it now, you could get hit going for milk at Woolies in the so-called safe and definitely mundane Northern suburbs or you could take your risks going for lunch at Nino's in Main st Bank City. Much of a muchness.

There's no denying that we live on the lookout and the possibility is often there but after a while you kind of get used to it and learn to live with it. In becoming less paranoid and petrified you soon start to forget about worrying about crime and it slowly moves into your subconscious ... you learn to live with it and deal with it, if and when it happens. Let's face it, living in Johannesburg makes you feel truly alive and if urban organised chaos is your thing, then this bursting, changing and growing city is your home.

But back to the $5mil buck balcony in Craighall Park and us hanging out with Jozi's cool crowd ... it was one of those events that we love getting invited to - young hip brands doing small events for the burgeoning "emerging market". They're great fun. You name it: Smirnoff, Nike, Levi's, Edgars, SABMillers, Club Coke, Spice Gold ... they're all trying to seduce urban hipsters into being their brand ambassadors - with differing degrees of creativity, seduction and success.

This event definitely scored high as we chillaxed in our new pair of jeans fitted by a celeb stylist on our arrival. We were blessed with the smooth sounds of Tumi and the Volume as we sipped on fruity Cape wines. If you ain't heard of the lyrical poet Tumi Molekane, best you get your hands on his latest album. Backed up with soulful Mozambicans Paulo (drums) and Tiago (guitar) from the sexy 340ml and with adept Dave on Bass, their groove is in the SA heart.

We love DJ Fresh

Across the room the very suave Snoop look-alike Bad Boy T posed in his sweat-shirt with GUGULETHU blazed across it (he's originally a Cape Townian). Thomas is one of YFM's golden boys who's recent poaching by Metro FM has got the media world into a frenzy - but note that this little move has nothing on the "big radio news" that DJ Fresh is moving to 5FM in July. Yes, you heard it, and you heard it from us, the airwaves will never be the same as the diversity that surrounds us finally crosses into the airwaves and transports us to the days we have been waiting for. We applaud 5FM for putting their money where their mouth is.

Fresh will certainly challenge the belief systems and perceptions of the average 5FM listener but at the same time he will challenge the other DJ's to be more than just talking rock heads - you go Big Dawg. We love DJ Fresh, how couldn't you love someone so visionary, so authentic, who makes the phattest house compilations for the perfect house party and a huge difference to young people's lives and educations.

Talking of Snoop, did you know that in the next few months we have Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, Sean Paul, Robbie Williams, Seether, Fat Boy Slim, Collective Soul and Metallica coming to our shores, just to name a few? Yebo Mf'ethu, we're having a jol in SA... here's looking at us!

Sarah-Jane Boden is the editorista of Represent.co.za. Visit www.represent.co.za