Suburb greener, cleaner, more secure

IT IS impossible to list all the changes and improvements that have taken place over the past 16 years, however, no one will deny that the Green Point of today is an entirely different place to what it was in 2001, says Marc Truss, CEO of Green Point City Improvement District.

Here are key steps he points out:

There has been a massive improvement in terms of lighting, paving and greenery (planting trees) throughout the entire Green Point area.

One good example is the new look and feel of St Andrew’s Square as you enter Green Point from the city centre.

“We were responsible for this improvement and believe the lawns and trees surrounding Prestwich Memorial (the original home of Truth Coffee) has made a tremendous difference. It is a beautiful green, open space for the people of Cape Town to enjoy, and it does a great job in inviting people into our area.”

Harbour Edge was one of the first big residential/ commercial developments in the area, and this was a catalyst for more to come, such as Soho, Metropolis, Dockside, Keyside, The Victoria Foundry, Sovereign Keys and Somerset Square.

In terms of the Green Point City Improvement District security team on the ground, they started with four foot-patrol staff, one vehicle and a total of 10 staff. The staff complement is now over 30, with four vehicles. It has 12 officers on active duty all day and works with two law enforcement officers.

For cleaning the area, it has used the services of Essential Cleaning, as well as Straatwerk, which provides employment for homeless people in the area.

Green Point CID officers are on active duty all day in the area.