Concrete eyesore gone soon
PLETTENBERG BAY - The future owners of the concrete eyesore on Plett’s prestigious Signal Hill are set to correct history and build a luxury residential development on the property in keeping with the high-end neighbourhood.
The demolition of the concrete structure, replacing it with several high-end luxury residential dwelling units, is expected to compliment surrounding properties. It will put to bed a near-40 year-old dispute over the property after it was sold on auction a year ago. Pretoria-based Feenstra Group, a large commercial development and investment group with a mixed-use property portfolio exceeding R4b, according to its website, was the successful bidder.
Demolition going ahead
Feenstra Group’s legal adviser, Francois Burmeister, said the new owners had no issue with the tender advertised by Bitou Municipality for the demolition of the structure. Burmeister said the demolition will go ahead and the eyesore structure - which originally made provision for an 18-bedroom hotel - will be replaced by an exceptional and state-of-the-art luxury residential development more in keeping with its surroundings.
He said Pieter Feenstra, the chairperson and CEO of the group, has a vision of an iconic, prestigious, high-end and luxurious residential development fitting in with the surrounding properties.
Burmeister added that there were a number of historical administrative obstacles that needed to be overcome before the group can start building the new development.
“We need to ensure that the rezoning of the property and everything else is aligned and statutorily correct before we proceed with the new development.” Burmeister said as far as the outstanding rates bill is concerned, the Feenstra Group has come to an agreement with the current registered owner, Cyco Sales.
He said going forward they visualise the demolition of the existing concrete structure, that is not in line with the group’s vision of the development of the property into something remarkable. “We have no problem with the demolition running its course”.
Neighbours have recently called for action by the municipality and drew up a petition, as the crime situation around the property has deteriorated, according to the Plettenberg Ratepayers and Residents Association.
The eyesore will be replaced by a state-ofthe-art luxury residential development
Obstacles
More than a year ago, the council passed a resolution for the structure to be demolished. On 24 November the municipality advertised a tender for the “demolition of existing partially completed building structure on erf 156, Plettenberg Bay”. The tender closes on 26 January next year.
There was also uncertainty over the ownership of the property, that was owned by Cyco Sales before it was sold by High Street Auctioneers at a live and online auction from the Bryanston Country Club in Sandton on 8 September 2022, for R8m. “We are not sure of the ownership status of the property and whether it has yet been transferred to the party that had the winning bid in last year’s auction of the property,” said the ratepayers association.
Steve Pattinson, the ratepayers association chairperson, said in a recent newsletter to members, “It has been nearly two years since Council withdrew the rights to a hotel development on the unsightly, illegally constructed structure below Signal Hill.
“A tender has finally been advertised for the demolition, in accordance with a 2016 court order to demolish. It has become a serious crime hotspot, so we are pleased the municipality is finally fulfilling its obligation after an inexplicably protracted and tardy process.”
In his interview with Knysna-Plett Herald, Burmeister mentioned concerns over the current status of the property and noted that once the administrative obstacles are overcome, the new development will start in about 12 months.