George a return to good ol’ days of country town living with future twist
THERE’S something quaint about Acsa’s George Airport. There’s something nostalgic about the baggage collection area that separates the apron with its waiting planes from the public reception area on the other side of the security doors, there are with no steps to climb or travelator to ride as you pass from one area to the other.
Although the building was upgraded for the Fifa World Cup in 2010 (so it’s wonderfully slick and modern), you can’t help but feel this is definitely how things used to be done in the good ol’ days. You know – when flying was fun.
It’s much the same with the city itself.
George has grown rapidly (from about 63 000 people at the turn of the millennium, to about 200 000 in 2011), but it retains the feeling of a country town. This is possibly because you can see the Outeniqua Mountains from almost anywhere, so you’re always in touch with nature.
Eden region opportunities
As the capital of the Eden region – most of us know it as the Garden Route and Klein Karoo – it’s the financial hub of the southern Cape coast. It’s leading the way in terms of attracting new industries like business process outsourcing, contact centres, ICT and so on, and in offering incentives for investment.
And with them – opportunities for homeowners
“It’s a buyer’s market at the moment,” said Remax Outeniqua property consultant Desire Fouche (who has 95 properties listed with
privateproperty.co.za ). “The prices that people are advertising seem to be creeping up even in areas like Denneoord – which is traditionally where first-time buyers look for bargains – although it seems that the actual prices the properties are selling for remain much as they have been for the last while.
“But this does point to- wards a new confidence in the market.”
Buyers flocking in
George was currently experiencing an influx of buyers from other parts of the country, “although they’re being cautious”, she said.
“But it’s a great place to live: with the growth of the Saasveld Campus of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, and with excellent private schools like Glenwood House, George is attracting more and more young people, and more and more families with children.”
And with easy access (it’s about half way between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth) and cutting-edge healthcare, it’s a popular retirement destination too.
Spotlight on developments
The city was expanding eastwards towards new developments like Kraaibosch and Blue Mountain Village (a mixed-use precinct where residents live, work and play), Fouche said.
“And that’s definitely where the spotlight is shining at the moment.” – Private Property