Maboneng to add retail, commerce to art precinct

Comments Peter Collins, regional broker manager for JHI Properties in Johannesburg, "With the visionary developers recently having acquired a further 15 buildings in the precinct, demonstrating their confidence and commitment to the project, we are now marketing The Main Change at 20 Kruger Street, 260 Main Street and properties at numbers 275, 300 and 306 Commissioner Street.

"Redevelopment of the recently acquired buildings is currently under way while office and ground floor retail space is available for occupation in The Main Change and commercial-industrial properties on Kruger Street and Fox Street, within the expanded boundaries of the precinct. The accommodation in all these buildings is available at extremely competitive rates, particularly when one considers the rapidly growing appeal of this burgeoning node for both small and medium entrepreneurial enterprises and the corporate sector. This is a fashionable node, with its trendy eateries and ethnic boutique stores matching those in areas such as Parkhurst, Melville and Norwood."

Offices to let, for sale

Office space, with high ceilings and a trendy industrial feel, ranges in size from 40-350 sqm at R85 per square metre, while retail or light industrial space is in the region of R25/R30 per square metre. Sectional title office and light industrial space is also available for purchase from only R4 000 per square metre. The refurbished, multi-storey buildings include spacious goods lifts.

Already about 65% let, The Main Change is the precinct's first dedicated office building, with five floors of affordable urban office space designed specifically for small to medium enterprises and the third floor dedicated to smaller spaces for start-up businesses. Prices in this building start from R7500 per square metre for purchase or R85 per square metre for rental and private office spaces range in size from 153-253 sqm.

"We have been mandated to let and sell sectional title commercial-industrial space as well as anchor the retail and we are already in negotiations with two major national food retailers. This is desirable space for a wide variety of businesses, particularly those with a design or artistic element such as architects, PR, production companies, interior design, arts and crafts as well as commercial and industrial tenants utilising the central nature of the precinct.

Integrated living spaces

"A key attraction is that this is a lifestyle-oriented precinct where people can work, live and play in the same secure urban environment, connecting with a community of like-minded people and integrating with Johannesburg as a modern African city. We are effectively marketing Maboneng on its next level of expansion, which makes it a substantial destination - taking it to the corporate commercial level."

Most of the properties were originally light industrial buildings, warehouses and workshops. The residential component of the precinct is approximately 90% occupied, which has brought the area alive, together with a host of eateries, a hotel component and other buzzing entertainment activities. The overall look and feel of the residential accommodation is very minimalist, which allows each individual apartment to take on the owner's individual flair and style. Maboneng Precinct is home to well-known Arts on Main, the 12 Decades Johannesburg Art Hotel and The Bioscope, a cultural tourist attraction. It is also close to the fashion precinct, Absa precinct and Ellis Park.

"The developer and development team have further demonstrated their confidence in the precinct with a number of staff owning apartments in Maboneng, which they either reside in or rent out. I believe that in the next seven years, this area will sustain a variety of retail offerings including a national food anchor, to complement the number of lifestyle attractions already available in the precinct."