Two more malls in pipeline
THOUSANDS of jobs will be created with two new malls planned for Nelson Mandela Bay – one at Coega Village and the other in Uitenhage. The Vulindlela Centre at the village in Wells Estate is still in a proposal phase, while earthworks have started at Corkwood Square in Uitenhage.
Coega Development Corporation marketing and communications head Ayanda Vilakazi said the CDC was awaiting a final decision on a zoning amendment application for the site of the proposed new shopping centre.
The application for the property in Addo Road was approved yesterday by the human settlements committee, pending approval by the full council.
Vilakazi said the proposed R200-million Vulindlela Centre would service the entire Motherwell and Wells Estate community and also those in the Vulindlela accommodation and conference centre, formerly known as Coega Vulindlela Village. Bluewater Bay and nearby Sundays River, Colchester and Cannonville shoppers would also benefit.
The construction phase was projected to generate 2500 jobs and the operational phase about 1000 jobs, Vilakazi said.
The centre "should mitigate current community needs and meet the needs of the future as investment gains momentum in the Coega IDZ".
The CDC is already in negotiations with national retailers and possible anchor tenants. The mall will consist of retail space, offices, medical suites, licensed restaurants and a filling station.
"The project is at a sensitive stage and we are deep in discussions with the metro and the human settlements department for approval for commercial land use," Vilakazi said.
"But we are confident following the recommendation by the human settlements directorate that approval will be given."
In the agenda of yesterday's committee meeting, it states that a larger business site will enable the diversification of funding for the Coega Village, which costs the CDC R852000 a month to maintain and manage.
Meanwhile, the Corkwood Square Mall in Uitenhage is being developed by Keystone Investments, a Durban- and Johannesburg-based real estate development company.
Company spokespersons were unavailable for comment yesterday, but on the Keystone Group's website the mall is stated as having a planned gross lettable area of approximately 40000m².
"The major anchors such as Checkers, Pick n Pay, Woolworths, Edgars and Game have all expressed interest and leases are currently being concluded with all the major nationals," according to the website.
There would also be improvements in the road network, including an overpass above the railway line near the centre at the entrance to the town.