Call on District Six community to participate in Chapel Street public realm project

24 May 2023

The City of Cape Town, in collaboration with the District Six community, stakeholders, and interested parties, is embarking on a project to upgrade the historical Chapel Street in the heart of the District Six neighbourhood. All are encouraged to attend the open day on Saturday, 27 May 2023, where the participation process will officially kick off.

The proposed upgrade of Chapel Street builds on the outcomes of the Public Realm Strategy that was developed in cooperation with the nominated District Six Caretakers, and the wider community, during virtual meetings and at Open House events held in 2021 and 2022.

'We've built a solid foundation with the community of District Six during this time. The Public Realm Study provides us with strong guidance on how public spaces can be used to re-establish the vibrancy and cosmopolitan community of District Six. One of the projects that has been identified in collaboration with the District Six caretakers is the upgrade of Chapel Street to facilitate movement between Trafalgar Park, New Hanover Street and the CBD. In fact, Chapel Street is strategically located to unite the existing District Six on the eastern side of the elevated freeway with the recently returned community on the western side of the freeway. Chapel Street has the potential to highlight character and identity, and support the National Government's restitution process higher up the hill,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

The draft concept design for Chapel Street will be presented to residents at the open day. Attendees will have the opportunity to view the proposal, and to submit their comments and further suggestions.

The open day will take place as follows:

On Saturday, 27 May 2023
From 10:00 to 15:00
At the Lydia Centre for Memory on the corner of St Phillips and Chapel Streets, District Six

'We will present a number of proposed interventions to connect the communities on either side of the elevated freeway. The draft concept also focuses on creating a pedestrian centred environment along Chapel Street. This includes interventions to make the road safer for pedestrians and vulnerable people with traffic calming measures, narrowing the road itself, and widening the sidewalks. This is in addition to the planting of trees and other vegetation to lure people outside, where they can interact with each other, and their neighbourhood,' said Alderman Andrews.