Unique housing project for Walmer
Bobbi Sands
THE first phase of a unique R100-million housing project is nearing completion on the corner of Buffelsfontein Road and Victoria Drive.
The Walmer Link housing project – 85% of which is funded by the government – is aimed at stable income earners who do not qualify for RDP housing but are battling to buy homes.
The first phase, which is scheduled for completion by the end of April, comprises apartments available for rent, while future phases will incorporate semi-detached homes that can be purchased.
Developer Lance Del Monte, who is the executive director of development company The Home Market, said phase one comprised 347 apartments which were available in a studio (30m²), one-bedroom (43m²) and two-bedroom (54m²) units.
The units are semi-detached and rental will range from R800 to R2500 per month, depending on the income of the applicant and the size of the unit.
The income limit for tenants is between R1500 and R7500.
The Imizi Housing Association, situated at 7 Upper Dickens Street, will manage the complex and the tenants.
Each unit comes standard with kitchen cupboards with granite tops, a broom cupboard and stove connections.
"The units are all tiled and have aluminium window frames,” said Del Monte. "The two-bedroom apartments also have a balcony.
"There are also various green areas in the complex as well as children’s play areas with equipment.”
He said security in the complex would be in the form of one exit and entrance point with a boom-gate and biometric fingerprint access.
There would also be a 2.4m high electric fence and 24-hour security on site. There is also a section of land set aside for a primary school on the land.
Del Monte said this was the first development of its kind in Port Elizabeth and the name Link refers to the link between communities.
Phase one will allow 60 families – about 240 people – to move into the homes.
Access to the development will be via Victoria Drive. Del Monte said they were trying to arrange with Spoornet an access opposite 11th Avenue, Walmer. However this would mean a crossing of the railway line.
The entire rental development, which comprises five phases, is scheduled to be completed towards the end of December.
A later section of the development is the sale of 432 semi-detached houses. People who earn between R3000 and R15000 per month will qualify for these houses and bonds will be largely subsidised by government.
However Del Monte said they had still not had confirmation from government on how the finance linked individual subsidy programme would affect the development.
For info call: (041)373-1843.