Fears of City CBD threat
Would the Empangeni Central Business District (CBD) disintegrate should a proposed John Ross Interchange Business Park be given the green light to evolve into a future ‘shopping mall’? That was the burning question among Councillors at the uMhlathuze Executive Committee meeting in Richards Bay last week. Developer, Laurusco Developments, applied to amend a previous Council resolution to allow for increased floor space to accommodate a potential retail investor. Following rezoning approval from Council last year to facilitate development of the business node spanning approximately 38 hectares, the developer was approached by a large chain store.
More space
The investor required more floor space than that provided for.
The development, located on the N2/John Ross Highway interchange midway between Richards Bay and Empangeni, envisages a business park coupled with twin petrol filling stations and a retail component.
Councillors deliberated whether approval would cripple the Empangeni CBD, leading to inner city decay. ‘Instead of the development focus being the provision of flexi-space for light and service industrial and office uses, it is now changing to retail/shop uses,’ said Senior Manager: City Development, Lindani Khoza.
‘It is perceived this larger retail floor area could lead to the development of a shopping mall, which is likely to inhibit the growth of the existing CBD which have not reached its full potential yet,’ said Khoza.
Saturated
However, City Mayor, Zakhele Mnqayi, said in the next five to 10 years existing shopping malls could be saturated due to various residential developments underway in Richards Bay and Empangeni. ‘We need to adopt a long-term vision. With the Carsdale and Waterstone developments in Empangeni, this will be a very different town with a large influx of people into the area. ‘We must not kill development, especially if a developer is attracting tenants,’ said Mnqayi.
Support
Councillor Louis van Zyl supported the Mayor’s call. ‘Decentralising shopping centres is popular throughout the country. ‘It’s not the case that Empangeni will die. The Power Spar in Empangeni has the biggest turnover in South Africa. That’s Empangeni for you,’ said Van Zyl.
But Councillor Harvey argued that the development could decentralise Empangeni. ‘The same situation arose in eShowe when a mall was established and the CBD suffered as a result. ‘We would hate to see it happen to Empangeni.
Council eventually resolved that the developer be advised on the correct procedure to follow to facilitate such a development.
The development is a joint venture with global paper and forestry group Mondi and local BEE investors.
Do you think the Empangeni CBD will suffer as a result of such a development or will it create a healthier and competitive business environment? Send your comments to zulobs@zululandobserver.co.za
