Out with the old and in with the new

Revamps in Vredehoek making it a popular suburb

VREDEHOEK is becoming one of Cape Town’s most desirable areas to live in as a wave of urban renewal refreshes the suburb.

With a new MyCiti bus route serving the area, Vredehoek is also benefiting from the upg r a d i ng o f s e ve r a l o l d houses into modern apartments with lifts and parking by Signatura, the private label brand of John Rabie, founder of Rabie Property Developers.

Signatura has sold out two developments in Vredehoek: Horizons and Altino, both in St James St r e e t . The f i r m’s newest venture – also in St James Street – is called The Outlook.

“Home owners want to live in Vredehoek because it is an established area that is close to town and has wonderful views of the mountain, harbour and city. Its cosmopolitan vibe and little restaurants, bars and quirky shops echo that found in areas of Sydney, London and New York, which are also undergoing renewal,” says Rabie.

“Since the 1950s, the way people live has changed dramatically and The Outlook reflects this. It consists of four two- bedroomed apartments each with two bathrooms, and one three- bedroomed penthouse, all with remarkable views. In addition, we’ve added a lift and a secure parking garage with two bays for each apartment – amenities that virtually no other block in Vredehoek offers. By working carefully with the architect, Juan Bernicchi, we have situated the building to accommodate on-site parking for nine cars, which is a rarity in Vredehoek. The project will also be a secure development that is petfriendly, with a braai and entertainment area.

“In addition, each apartment will have a spacious terrace and some have front and back gardens, which is also unusual for Vredehoek. We have found that modern buyers and young professionals want the security and convenience of a lock-up-and-go lifestyle, but also want to take advantage of Cape Town’s summer by having a sizeable outdoor area.

Rabie says Signatura sold out its previous two developments in record time – Horizons within two weeks, and a waiting list accumulating for Altino before it was publicly advertised.

“Globally, there is an uptick i n t he property market as investors slowly recover their confidence. In addition, buyers are taking longer before deciding to spend and are looking for value for money, return on investment, long- term saleability and the overall lifestyle package.”

See www.signatura.biz.

DESIRABLE: An artist’s impression of The Outlook in St James Street, Vredehoek, where construction has started.