The District
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.
A City Improvement District (CID) is a defined geographic area within which property owners agree to pay for supplementary and complimentary services set to enhance the physical and social environment of the area.
Base services provided in a CID are supplementary to those provided by the local authority, and typically include additional public safety and security, pavement cleaning, litter collection, as well as the upliftment and maintenance of public spaces where necessary.
Further a CID provides complementary services which seek to enhance and attract visitors and users to the area, these services include and are not limited to marketing and communications; environmental upgrades in the public space; activation and event programming; and strategic engagement to support and attract additional economic development and growth to the CID area.
A CID is therefore an operational and organisational vehicle for co-operation and cost-sharing among private property and business owners to ensure the management, development and sustainability of a precinct.
For more information see GPMA website. https://www.gpma.co.za/
Rosebank includes two co-managed improvement districts, the Rosebank Management District and Lower Rosebank Management District. Both entities are Section 21 companies and are directed through a board of elected business and property representatives from the area.
Estelle Van Kerckhoven
Keyes Art Mile
Scope of Services
- Deter, prevent and respond to incidents of crime;
- Ensure the safety of pedestrians, vehicles and users;
- Assist tourists, visitors and locals with information and directions,
- Understand and enforce the City of Johannesburg by-laws;
- Partner with the JMPD and SAPS to decrease crime; and,
- Enhance the sense of safety in the precincts through security visibility and collaborative policing.
- Removal of litter from pavements and gutters;
- Removal of illegal posters and stickers;
- Cleaning tree wells;
- Removal of refuse bags;
- Minor maintenance and repairs of paving, garden beds, etc; and,
- Partner with Pikitup to improve service delivery and the cleanliness of the area.
- Engage with City of Johannesburg, Municipal Owned Entities (MOE’s) i.e. City Power, Joburg Water, Johannesburg Roads Agency, to report and escalate the delivery of their services;
- To partner with MOE’s to improve the service delivery;
- To identify and execute special projects which will enhance the public space and functionality of the node; i.e. repair and resurfacing of roads in the node;
- To engage, escalate and coordinate with the City of Johannesburg on special projects or capital projects required to ensure that the node can operate effectively; i.e. upgrade and management of the Taxi Rank; and,
- To enhance and sustain the public environment of Rosebank through effective urban management.
Projects
GoRosebank
The Rosebank Districts are committed to promoting walkability and active mobility in the precinct. Much effort has been, and continues to be, concentrated on ensuring improved mobility and accessibility for the Rosebank community and visitors. GoRosebank is the programme under which the Districts identify and implement projects which enhance the mobility and accessibility into, through and connecting the node. The objectives include:
- Raising awareness of existing cycle-friendly infrastructure, shops and organisations in Rosebank.
- Promoting sustainable and active mobility both within Rosebank but also to connect it to other neighbourhood hubs nearby (CBD, Illovo, Sandton, adjacent neighbourhoods).
- Engaging property owners around supportive infrastructure and facilities to enable a more walkable and bike friendly neighbourhood.
- Promoting existing non-motorised transport and public transport activities which are currently in place to support further growth therein
- Using tactical urbanism to make small but tangible and immediate positive changes to improve non-motorised transport facilities as well as test infrastructure and design interventions that could be applied across the node
- Where necessary and where budget allows, identifying and executing repairs and maintenance on roads and pavements to ensure a safe and accessible public environment.
- Supporting and facilitating the adoption of traffic signals and other supportive urban infrastructure which ensures ease and safe movement through the node.
- Engaging with relevant role players to discuss needs and ideas for improvement, and using data gained through street experimentation and user experiences to guide future interventions, planning and the vision for the node.
Directors RMD
Maya Stephens
Redefine Properties
Justin Bass
Grapnel
Leanne Cox
Growthpoint Properties
Simon King
Investec
Muhammad Varachia
Hyprop Investments
Carollyn Mitchell
Oxford Parks _ Intaprop
Nkosinathi Manzana
Standard Bank
Directors LRMD
Justin Bass
Grapnel
Maya Stephens
Redefine Properties
Leanne Cox
Growthpoint Properties
Justin Blend
Africrest Properties
Marion Stewart
Residents Association