Woodstock Hospital Development: A new dawn for much-needed affordable housing delivery
30 August 2024
STATEMENT BY THE CITY'S MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, COUNCILLOR CARL POPHAIM
With some 10 000 opportunities for affordable rental housing opportunities in the pipeline in urban centres across Cape Town, I am excited to announce that the public participation process on the City's proposals for the Woodstock Hospital site will take place between September and October 2024. Our plans for this site as a mixed use market and affordable housing development will be a game-changer, bringing much-needed affordable housing, and an economic and value boost to this area.
The property, with a potential residential development yield of approximately 500 units, comprising open market and social housing, will be released subject to the provision of affordable housing. All due process is being followed in ensuring we progress definitively on this long-awaited development. We look forward to a constructuve and meaningful public participation process on this valuable project. My directorate has worked hard against so many obstacles and complexities, including the unlawful occupation and hi-jacking of the building, to move the project toward this point and I will not allow narrow agendas and special interests to derail our efforts to provide accelerated, inclusive affordable housing in well-located areas near the Cape Town CBD as well as other well-located land in the metro's urban centres.
Following the Western Cape Government's announcement that social housing would be developed at Woodstock Hospital, which was to be sold to the City, these properties were subject to orchestrated building hi-jackings.
The building hi-jacking was followed by subsequent calls for financial contributions to "sustain and build" the illegal occupation.
In October 2018, the Western Cape High Court granted the City an order interdicting and restraining Reclaim the City from 'inciting persons to enter or be upon the property for the purpose of unlawfully occupying or invading'. This marked the start of sustaining the facility management and accelerating the planning for affordable housing.
The illegal occupation of the Woodstock Hospital site has been the single biggest delay to this development. This is illegal and to the detriment of a fair and systematic process in subsidised housing allocation. I will not tolerate anyone undermining our affordable housing agenda or holding a fair housing allocations system ransom.
The City will conduct engagements with the occupants as part of the broad public participation process to be undertaken for the disposal of the property. The response for the existing occupants will be dependent on the socio-economic profile of the households. The City intends to engage the households on the options available to them to determine the appropriate response for each household in terms of Council policy and legislation.
The City is a pioneer in progressive land release and packaging for affordable housing opportunities near urban centres around the metro. It is seen by many organisations, even among lobby groups, as one of the most progressive governments in SA, especially as it pertains to land and development packaging to unlock social and affordable housing.
We are serious about delivery. We are serious about accelerating affordable housing provision to our residents. And we will Build Cape Town, Together.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
