Overview

The Rosebank Node has been perceived as a premier retail and business node within Johannesburg since the mid-’70s. However, in the early 1990’s the area witnessed a dramatic decline in the quality of its environment, which negatively impacted Rosebank’s growth and investment viability.

The urban blight, increasing criminal activity and the growing presence of the urban poor became an increasing concern for stakeholders invested in the node. The major issues experienced in the area were prioritised as security, cleaning, informal trading, traffic flow, minibus taxis, homelessness, parking, traffic and a lack of clear road signage. 

The most common crimes were identified as muggings, theft from motor vehicles and theft of motor vehicles. The most common additional crimes mentioned were armed robberies, ATM crimes, breaking and entering, and vehicle hijackings.

As a result of these concerns, the Rosebank Management District NPC (RMD) was established in 1998, followed by the Lower Rosebank Management District NPC (LRMD) established in 2007. The districts were created by property owners and other stakeholders in the area as a mechanism to focus efforts within a specified geographic area, to curb the urban blight and reinvigorate investment into the node. 

These two voluntary management initiatives have provided a foundation from which Rosebank has become a vibrant cosmopolitan hub of new businesses, eclectic retail, trendy restaurants, art galleries and nightlife entertainment as well as being home to an array of new and old residential complexes. 

The districts recognise the uniqueness of the Rosebank node in the context of Johannesburg. The scale of the district, the urban environment, the connection to public transport ranging from the Gautrain to the minibus taxis and opportunity culminating in this node provides a platform to create, grow and support a sustainable well integrated mixed-use precinct unlike in any other node of Johannesburg. As such the districts encourage projects and services which can support the accessibility, walkability and which can enhance the streetscapes and the public environment in general. 

The success of the node is evidenced by the number of major corporates who have made Rosebank their home over the past 25 years, with more investment and growth leveraging off the stability of the historic node and the growth therein of neighbouring districts and businesses around the original Rosebank CBD.