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With two Halala Awards under its belt, the
Affordable Housing Company is making waves in the inner city.
IN the inner city, office blocks are being
turned into homes and schools, all part of efforts by the City and the private
sector to improve Joburg's CBD.
Providing affordable housing in the CBD
And these efforts were rewarded by the Johannesburg
Development Agency (JDA) in its annual Halala Joburg Awards, handed out on 11
June; on this night, Affordable Housing Company (Afhco) walked away with two
awards.
Initially focusing on redevelopment and the
sale of inner city flats, Afhco changed its strategy in 2001. The company now
develops residential rental flats and manages these properties.
Conversions
"Since 2001, Afhco has focused on creating quality inner city housing. We have
developed a cost-effective model for the conversion of empty commercial space
into sustainable affordable housing," said Renney Plit, the company's chief
executive.
Its two awards were in the Living Joburg, not houses but homes category for
Sambro House, and in the Caring for Joburg, supporting Joburg's citizens
category for CityKidz
Primary School.
Plit said that the inner city was no longer
just a place people passed through; it had become a home to many.
"The perceptions of the inner city are
changing; many people are realising that the city has evolved into an area that
provides a unique lifestyle, with accommodation, shopping and entertainment all
within easy reach."
CityKidz Primary School
In September 2007, Afhco got the opportunity to buy a vacant
school in Goud Street,
in the inner city. It was an opportunity the company grabbed - initially
planning to convert the property into affordable flats.
Filling the need for affordable, quality schooling in the inner city
After considering the building and its
position, however, it realised there was a need for a school. Afhco formed a section
21 company and bought it; the Johannesburg Development Agency gave R150 000 in
support of the school.
"Afhco established the school to fill a
desperate need for quality schooling in the Johannesburg inner city. There is a growing
shortage of schools, particularly with the rapid growth of residential
apartments," said Plit.
"Most schools in the inner city are located
on the upper floors of high-rise, derelict buildings with no natural light and
no playgrounds. This is not conducive for learning, especially when kids are in
their formative years."
Built in the 1940s, the property is about 4 000m2 in size. The building takes up 25 percent of the land and the rest
provides a big area for the children to play. The school has nine classrooms, a
hall, computer room, a sick room and administration offices.
There are separate facilities for pre-primary
children, who have their own jungle gym. All learners receive fruit and
fortified energy drinks. There is an after-care centre where the children are
able to participate in drama, arts and crafts, offered by volunteers from
Childline.
Renovating the school cost about
R2-million.
"Afhco is currently subsidising the school
to the extent of about R100 000 a month. This subsidisation will drop to about
R50 000 a month next year with the start of Department of Education subsidies,"
he said.
The school accommodates 210 learners, from Grade
R to Grade Seven and it still has a space for 40 more pupils. Each child pays
R300 a month. There are bursaries for the children who cannot afford to pay
school fees.
"We do not want any child to have to leave
the school due a temporary financial hardship on the parents such as
retrenchment."
The school is secure with palisade fencing,
a security guard and a street patroller.
Sambro House
Sambro House, the other Afhco award-winning project, is at 29 Kruis Street, Marshalltown.
It is a combination of the Spareco building and Sheffield House, which Afhco
combined to make the project economically viable.
Inside Sambro House
The development cost R22-million. The
building accommodates families and individuals earning between R3 000 and R11 000
a month. It has 121 bachelor and one-bedroom units.
"We accommodate this sector of the market
by providing apartments ranging from R1 100 to R4 200 a month [rent]," said
Plit.
Sambro House has one caretaker, two parking
security guards, three control security guards and three cleaners. Plit said
there was a demand for this type of accommodation.
"The demand for accommodation in the inner
city has grown substantially over the past few years. This is partially due to
the increases in transport costs from outlying areas; the city has become a
convenient hub, which provides cheaper access and shorter travelling times to
all major business centres."
In all, the company now has about 3 500
rental units and another 6 500 in development. "Afhco is recognised as the
leading provider of rental accommodation in the Johannesburg inner city and offers its
tenants an opportunity to enjoy a vibrant city lifestyle at an affordable price,"
Plit concluded.
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