Stefaans Brummer
ANSTEY’S building, a 1936 skyscraper that is to be the soul of residential redevelopment in Johannesburg’s inner city (see M&G, May 27), is caught in a controversy between its tenants and a non-profit developer.
Anstey’s tenants, who have received two-month eviction notices or notification of often substantial rent increases, are critical of the progressive credentials of the New Housing Company (NewHco), a non-profit developer which aims to provide housing for the poor.
Sanlam announced in April it was handing the tower portion of the building to NewHco, which plans to spend more than R3- million refurbishing it and almost doubling its 44 residential units.
For the Central Johannesburg Partnership _ a coalition of commerce, the city council and community groups _ the Anstey’s plan is a major step towards revitalising the inner city. The CJP’s Inner City Housing Upgrading Trust is to be used to guarantee the repayment of mortgage loans.
The seeds of the conflict were sown when NewHco decided to sell the apartments _ presently all rental accommodation _ under sectional title to pay for the project. NewHco said prices would be affordable, that tenants would be given first option and that notice periods as long as nine months would apply for those not wanting to buy.
NewHco’s Clive Cope this week said the aim of providing affordable accommodation remained. There had been many inquiries from potential buyers, but these had been told nothing was yet available. He defended the rent increases, saying current rents were not market-related. When the sectional title was established, all tenants at the time of the establishment of a sectional title register would have the protection of the law, which included first option to buy, 90 days to decide and a further six-month notice period should they not want to buy.