14 September 2007

By Lucille Davie

INNER city investors and their regeneration efforts are to be acknowledged with a new award - the inner city Halala Joburg Awards, created by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA).

Announcing the awards at a press conference at the JDA offices in Newtown on Thursday, CEO Lael Bethlehem said that the inner city was beginning to transform, and that this transformation needed to be celebrated and recognised.

"We are past the tipping point, literally every week there is a new investment taking place. We want to celebrate what is being achieved out there."

While acknowledging that there are still problem areas in the inner city, with lots of work still to be done, she said that "the exciting investment environment is not always known", and therefore the awards would bring these developments to the public's attention. This would engender a feeling of "I can do that too", promoting more individuals, as well as companies, to consider investment in the inner city.

Bethlehem said the projects were mostly initiated by the private sector, but the public sector has also played a role in the rejuvenation of the inner city. The awards would "recognise daring and encourage maximum participation in rebuilding a reclaimed city".

There are three tenets to the awards:

• encouraging extraordinary effort: recognising exceptional effort which breaks new ground in urban regeneration, advancing sustainable economic growth, community well-being and quality of life for Joburg residents;
• fostering originality: recognising pioneering programmes and innovative projects initiated by investors whose passion has encouraged new horizons in decaying areas;
• encouraging participation, equality and inclusivity: recognising commitment and dedication to fostering partnerships, initiating joint programmes and catalysing sustainable development, thereby promoting social harmony.

There will be five categories of awards.

1. Living Joburg. This category has two sub-categories: lower income residential developments, where projects provide inclusionary and affordable housing based on the phrase "not houses but homes". The second sub-category is upper income residential projects which increase property values, and add to the "overall appeal and marketability of the inner city".
2. Working and buying Joburg. Again two sub-categories: retail and commercial developments encapsulating the theme "creating a business destination". The retail developments are ones that stimulate inner city shopping and the exchange of professional services. The commercial investments are those that consist of "significant capital infrastructure injections to refurbish derelict buildings into vibrant office space and other commercial uses".
3. Relaxing and playing Joburg. With the theme of "the recreation destination", there are also two categories. The first recognises ground-breaking uses of public space, urban art, sport and recreation facilities, entertainment environments like gyms, theatres and museums, restaurants, and entertainment areas. The second acknowledges art, culture and sports areas.
4. Caring Joburg. With the sub-theme of "supporting Joburg's citizens", this category seeks to recognise selfless and community-minded individuals, volunteers and organisations intent on creating the "caring heart" of the inner city and making sure these services and facilities are available to all residents.
5. Believing in Joburg. This category has two sub-categories and is themed "Joburg, the home of innovators, investors and implementers". The first sub-category recognises the stalwarts of the inner city "who have always retained hope in the future and given their full support in the past, keeping the heartbeat of Joburg alive and healthy through investments, advocacy and their general presence". The second sub-category consists of "true believers", who have maintained a belief in the life of the inner city when no one else did.

Projects submitted for the awards will be confined to the inner city, or Region F, which runs from Bellevue in the north to Ferreirasdorp in the south, Vrededorp and Pageview in the west to Benrose Extension in the east.

The projects must have made a substantial difference to the City's regeneration mandate, with a bias towards projects undertaken in the last 10 years. The projects must be operational on the closing date for entries, 13 November.

Nomination forms will be available on the City's and the JDA's websites From Monday, 17 September, and also in hard copy at the JDA offices at the Bus Factory in President Street, Newtown.

A panel of "very esteemed individuals" will be appointed as adjudicators. The award ceremony will take place towards the end of November or the first week of December.

The prize will be an "upmarket, glossy coffee-table book with all the rigorous case studies documented", as well as the award - an artwork which epitomises the rejuvenation of the inner city.

Says Bethlehem: "We are indeed proud to be recognising pioneering programmes and innovative projects initiated by audacious thinkers whose passion has opened new horizons in decaying areas. Halala Joburg!"

Source: joburg.org.za