Heidelberg mall development to boost community

L - R: Peter Gerard (Flanagan & Gerard), Hennie van der Merwe (VDM Architects), Jaco Coetzer (Vila Moura), Councillor Lerato Franscina Maloka Executive Mayor of Lesedi Municipality, Jaron Tobias (Project House), Honourable Executive Mayor of Sedibeng District Simon Mofekeng, Patrick Flanagan (Flanagan & Gerard)

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Marble Gold, the joint venture partner of the Lesedi Council, facilitated the company's investment and involvement. "Heidelberg Mall will be not only a regional retail destination, but also an economic catalyst for the wider region," says Buti Mokoena, the local businessman who heads up Marble Gold.

The location of the site fulfils all the fundamental criteria for the development of a regional shopping centre. The site is at the South West quadrant of the Jacobs Road interchange, which is the major access to Heidelberg from the N3, with the street also functioning as the primary link to Nigel, which falls within the centre's primary trade area. The site also enjoys significant exposure to the N3 Toll Road and Groenkloof Road. The development is located and designed to complement the existing Heidelberg CBD.

"The site is exceptional and will draw shoppers not only from Heidelberg, but also Nigel, Balfour, Greylingstad, Villiers and surrounding farming communities and act as an interceptor for traffic passing on the N3," explains Flanagan & Gerard executive director, Patrick Flanagan.

Because of the regional status of the project, the developers are working with a team of top architects. Local Heidelberg firm, VDM Architects is partnering with MDS Architects, the specialist retail architects responsible for Sandton City and Eastgate and a great number of South Africa's premier shopping centres.

Local labour benefits

In keeping with the role of Heidelberg Mall as a catalytic project, the development is intended to generate both short-term and long-term benefits for the local community. "Our forecasts indicate that 700-800 construction jobs will be created by the mall development, with 80% of those filled by local workers," Mokoena explains. "We anticipate that the mall will also create 800-1200 permanent positions, excluding any seasonal, part-time jobs."

Security, cleaning and maintenance services for the completed mall will be secured from local service-providers, generating unique opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in the area.

Furthermore, the developers are committed to building material resourcing and the appointment of sub-contractors from the local community wherever possible. Transparency and communication are a high priority for the joint venture partners.

Local businessman and a director of Marble Gold, Jaco Coetzer will facilitate liaison between the developers and the Lesedi Council and a facilitator has likewise been appointed to ensure clear communication between the community, the developers, owners and the main contractor.