A R100-million property devel- opment project is under way in Jeffreys Bay which will house 38 luxury houses and two apartment blocks.
The development is rising at the space which was formerly the Kabeljauws Caravan Park.
Now known as the Kabeljauws Beach housing development and estimated at more than a R100-million, the project will see 38 residential units and two apartment blocks built over three years.
The former caravan park was once a popular spot for both national and international tourists.
Dr Chris Mulder from CMAI Architects in Knysna said the project was quite unusual as there were not that many places in the country open for beachfront development anymore.
“The caravan park was between 70 and 80 years old,” he said.
“We applied for rezoning and environmental approval which we got and it’s quite unusual because it’s the only place in the country that I know of that has protection for storms, extreme weather and the rise in sea levels.”
He described Kabeljauws Beach’s design as contemporary but stylish and not over the top.
Intended for the five- hectare site would be 29 sites for row houses consisting of 38 residential units, four sites for single residential dwellings made up of eight residential units, two sites for apartments and also a restaurant.
Mulder said there was a lot of interest, but added that unlike 10 years ago, people wanted to feel, touch and smell a property before signing anything as they had probably been burnt by developers in the past.
The project took three years to get off the ground as it had to get approval from the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
He said the project had created between 60 to 80 jobs for the people of Kouga, with more permanent jobs expected once the project was up and running.
“Once the project is completed, there would definitely be permanent jobs for people for administration, maintenance contractors and the likes,” Mulder said.
He added there would be a restaurant, shops and a small commercial area.