The Herald (South Africa)

Nature-lover’s paradise for sale

- Shaun Gillham gillhams@tisoblacks­tar.co.za

Five sea-facing stands in 235ha of indigenous bush awash with birdlife at Maitland, Port Elizabeth, will go under the hammer at month-end – and they might just go for a song.

Described as a rare opportunit­y seldom seen on the market, the land, which borders the Maitland Nature Reserve on the western outskirts of the city, will go on auction at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the Bay at 11am on November 29.

The collection of freestandi­ng properties, according to Pieter Geldenhuys of Bidders Choice, who will be conducting the auction himself, borders the Blue Horizon Bay area and offers a private beach as part of the sale.

Confirming the auction was a “stressed sale”, with owner Tuffsan 178 Property Holdings being described on the Buyers Choice website as being “in liquidatio­n”, Geldenhuys said the property in its entirety was last valued about five years ago at R10m.

Zoned as a “lodge developmen­t”, the residentia­l stands will be on offer either as separate, individual units or as a collective, single property.

Terms and conditions of participat­ion in the auction include a R10,000 refundable registrati­on fee, being in possession of Fica documents to register, a 10% deposit and a 7.5% buyers’ commission plus VAT on the fall of the hammer.

“While there is no reserve price, the sale is subject to approval. I expect the offers will come more from those wanting to develop the property as a whole, rather than buyers of individual stands, but we will have to see what happens on the day,” Geldenhuys said.

“The property represents an opportunit­y to develop a luxury tourist offering in an environmen­t which not only has sea views, but also sweeping views of indigenous bush. A hotel or main lodge can also be accommodat­ed on the site.”

He said the units would be sold with a complete developmen­t package that included architectu­ral drawings, site plans and layouts, developmen­t cost estimates, suggested contractor­s, environmen­tal rights authorised by the Eastern Cape department of environmen­tal affairs, and sewage plans.

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