THIS PLUM IS RIGHT FOR A PROPERTY PICKING

With upgrades to houses built in the 1940s and 1950s happening on every street in this leafy suburb, the area offers a wholesome sense of community and family life with good schools, access to public transport and major routes, and turnover in residential

A traditional double-storey house in the Plumstead area, where many of the homes were built in the 1940s and 1950s and are now being renovated and modernised by their new owners.

IFQUIET, leafy suburbia holds a special place in your heart, or you’re looking for the ideal place to raise a family, Plumstead is bound to be near the top of your list, says resident Philip Gordon.

“Plumstead really is about families. I grew up in the area, and after living all over the Western Cape, it has a unique air of wholesomeness and community,” he says.

“One of my favourite memories, from when I was eight, is riding my BMX bike up to Prospur to get hot, fresh rolls for Saturday morning breakfast. Now, with a son of my own, I’m looking forward to him doing something similar when he’s older.”

The history books indicate the land, named “rust” (rest) and

“werk” (work) by Dutch settlers and free burghers Hendrick Jergens and Johan Barrens, was first mentioned in 1762. When Englishman Henry Batt bought the farm in 1807, he renamed it Plumstead after a district in London. Today it is one of the largest suburbs in Cape Town and consists largely of houses built in the 1940s and 1950s, complemented by modern residences.

Mark Lewis, Just Property sales manager for Constantiaberg, says: “Always popular, this area has undergone major changes in respect of residential living.

“Along every street one sees renovations and upgrades. The annual turnover in residential sales is one of the highest in greater Cape Town. The proximity of good schools, nestling on the northern slopes of Table Mountain, is a primary factor driving property value.”

Investors, young families and first-time buyers all actively rotate through this area, creating constant demand, says Lewis.

Community safety is taken seriously and the area is known for its active Neighbourhood Watch chapter, says Gordon.

“The area is home to a number of good schools, and Plumstead High has produced three national cricket

If you are you an investor, first-time buyer or a family unit looking for stability and good schools, this is a fine place to call home.

MARK LEWIS, JUST PROPERTY SALES MANAGER FOR CONSTANTIABERG