Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
What’s driving Century City’s success?
CENTURY CITY SPOKESPERSON AFTER more than 17 years of development, Century City has matured into a beautifully landscaped, well-functioning, mixed-use precinct that is home not only to some of South Africa’s most respected blue- chip companies, but has a rapidly growing number of middle- to upperincome residents.
From a relatively undeveloped site hosting a shopping centre, a theme park and a few office buildings 10 years ago, Century City has transformed into a thriving mixed-use estate, harmoniously accommodating a wide range of commercial, retail, leisure and residential components, and it has become an outstanding example of new urban planning in practice.
What has attracted more than 500 busi- nesses and 3 000 home owners to Century City?
Chris Blackshaw, CEO of the Century City Property Owners’ Association ( CCPOA), the non-profit company responsible for the day to day running of this city within a city, says that in all their satisfaction, surveys carried out among businesses and residents over the years, the following factors were identified as being the most important drawcards to life at Century City: Quality of life; World-class amenities; Safety and security; Accessibility; and Landscaping.
Strategically located on the N1, the 250ha precinct of Century City is centrally situated with regard to the greater Cape Town metropole, providing convenient access to and from the Atlantic seaboard, southern, northern and West Coast suburbs, and the south east metropole.
Public transport to and from Century City, says Blackshaw, has become extremely convenient, as the area is well serviced by train, bus and taxi routes, and Cape Town’s world-class MyCiTi Bus Rapid Transit system, which will be adding a major trunk and three additional feeder routes next year.
“And for private motorists, the upgrade to the Koeberg Interchange at the intersection of the N1 and M5 highways has significantly reduced t r avelling t i me t o and f r om t he southern suburbs.”
Century City is richly served by a range of retail, leisure, natural and educational amenities. Not only is the precinct home to Cape Town’s premier shopping centre, Canal Walk, offering a wide range of outstanding specialty and general retailers among its more than 400 shops, restaurants and cinemas, but numerous other convenience retail outlets, hotels, restaurants and coffee bars.
It is also home to Ratanga Junction theme park, which operates its rides during most school holidays and special bonus days, with its conference and function venues open 364 days a year. Rides will next open for a 10-day Jol in July from July 11 to 20. of worship, including a prayer room in Canal Walk and four churches.
Century City, he says, is a wonderful place for walking or jogging.
A measured trail winds its extremely picturesque way along the banks of the Grand Canal and around the banks of Intaka Island, Century City’s 16-hectare nature reserve.
Intaka Island, an award-winning wetlands reserve, is home to more than 120 species of birds, many of which are migrant visitors from the northern hemisphere, and is a popular spot for bird-lovers.
Visitors are welcome to wander the 2km of pathways by themselves or to take a guided tour. A boat tour is also available.
In recent years, a number of Century Citybased sports clubs and leagues have sprung up. The Century City Canoe Club and the Century City Athletic Club have both grown exponentially while regular Century City Corporate Touch Rugby leagues are held on Central Park. Five-a-side league football is also run at the new six-court Fives Futbol arena.
An annual Century City Sports Festival, which includes a 10km Century City Express road race, is staged in the first quarter of the year and this too has grown exponentially over the past six years, attracting thousands of participants in different sports codes from canoeing and canoe polo to road circuit cycling races, a dragon boat regatta, cricket tournaments and soccer and rugby five a side leagues.
Blackshaw says other outdoor activities include the hugely popular Natural Goods Market which is held on the Central Park Oval on the last Sunday of the month from October to April every year and where visitors can enjoy organic bubbly or craft beer while browsing a great selection of quality products and delicious food, with live music and children’s entertainment adding to the equation.
An inaugural night market will be held at the Intaka Island Eco- Centre on Friday, June 27, from 5.30pm, where delicious winter warming fare will be on offer. Running parallel with the Natural Goods Market is an “Art on the Island” exhibition in the Intaka Island Eco-Centre, where a range of local talents, including photography, fine art, and embroidery, are showcased, complemented by a wine-tasting.