Developement

In 2002 in response to the urban degeneration of Braamfontein, Sappi along with the JD Group and Liberty Properties decided to upgrade the entire corporate area bounded by Hoofd, Simmonds and Stiemens streets up to Bertha Street in the west. The Civic Theatre park and the National Ballet School were also developed all in a joint venture with the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), the development arm of the City of Johannesburg.
The City of Johannesburg funded the rest of the upgraded area, developed by the Johannesburg Development Agency from Stiemens street down to and including De Korte street and from Bertha street to Joubert street extension including the area around the Council Offices.
The JDA team created an intimate public square on the east side of Bertha between Ameshof and Stiemens streets. They have also upgraded the whole of Juta Street between Loveday Street and the M1 off ramp. The same urban designers and professional consulting team was used by both parties so that conformity of design and quality of finished product would be uniform. The design team created distinctive on street lighting designed to cater for pedestrians as well as vehicles as well as distinctive paving patterns, street furniture, benches bollards etc, all of which combine to give a unique look and feel to the development area.
While a series of projects have already been completed, some future plans for Braamfontein include a new reception centre for the council offices, pedestrian linkages through to Constitution Hill, upgrading the alleyways between buildings, providing public art and street toilets, re-opening of the historic Alexander Theatre, new primary health care clinic, lots of new residential apartments, and more pavement coffee shops.
Other improved road and rail links will make commuting between Braamfontein and the rest of the inner city easier. The future Gautrain Rapid Rail Link involves a modern state-of-the-art rail connection linking Johannesburg with Sandton and Pretoria as well as Johannesburg International Airport.
For more information visit www.jda.co.za/braamfontein/index.stm