{"id":25868,"date":"2013-11-29T16:28:55","date_gmt":"2013-11-29T14:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/2013\/11\/r1-7-billion-set-to-dramatically-change-pes-shopping-landscape\/"},"modified":"2013-11-29T16:28:55","modified_gmt":"2013-11-29T14:28:55","slug":"r1-7-billion-set-to-dramatically-change-pes-shopping-landscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/r1-7-billion-set-to-dramatically-change-pes-shopping-landscape\/","title":{"rendered":"R1.7 Billion set to dramatically change PE\u2019s shopping landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For a brief (6 week) window in time the Baywest Mall development in Port Elizabeth<\/a> laid claim to having the distinction of being the recipient of the largest shopping centre<\/a> construction loan ever raised by Nedbank and then\u2026.. someone in Johannesburg<\/a> raised a R3 Billion rand loan for their shopping centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The mall is one that will certainly change the landscape literally and figuratively as it will offer 250 retail outlets over 87 500 square metres of space and is situated on 320 hactares of land straddling the N2. The outlets will include a Fun Factory \u2013 as architect Derick Henstra fondly calls the entertainment area \u2013 which will include an ice rink, food court, games area and movies.<\/p>\n

The siting of the mall is certainly one that is easily and quickly accessible from most points of the metro \u2013 a leisurely drive from Parsons Hill to Baywest clocked in at 12 minutes.<\/p>\n

Opening of the mall is slated for 19 March 2015 \u2013 a mere blink of an eye in the life of this 20 year project which will expand with housing and leisure developments around it as well.<\/p>\n

The development of the R1.7-billion Baywest Mall in Port Elizabeth is an integral part of job creation in the Eastern Cape, provincial MEC for Economic Development Mcebisi Jonas said at the mall\u2019s official launch yesterday.<\/p>\n

Jonas was addressing a group of 300, comprising of Baywest stakeholders and journalists, at the Baywest Mall \u201cExpect big things\u201d launch party which took place in a giant marquee tent set up on the mall\u2019s construction site.<\/p>\n

\u201cProvincial government believes this is a very important development for the region [in terms of job creation and economic development],\u201d Jonas told attendees, who included top businessmen from around South Africa as well as local contractors and SMMEs involved in the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been difficult for the Eastern Cape to dent unemployment, because it has a small primary sector while the bulk of the province\u2019s population resides in former homelands.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the Baywest development confirms the confidence of investors in the provincial economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking about the significance of the mall nationally, urban designer Gerhard van der Merwe of Urban Concepts said: \u201cWe started with the idea that Port Elizabeth needed a strong retail offering.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mall, once complete in March 2015, would be the country\u2019s premier shopping and lifestyle offering, according to the man behind Baywest Mall\u2019s design, dhk Architects founding member Derick Henstra.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is going to be a shopping experience which is unrivalled in this country,\u201d said Henstra. \u201cWe are very proud of this building. We kept the design as low impact as possible, to fit in with the environment around it. The greenery around the mall will be very prominent.\u201d<\/p>\n

The heads of two of the country\u2019s major developers, Jaco Odendaal of Abacus Asset Management and Sisa Ngebulana of Billion Group, also weighed in on the project. The companies are co-developers on the Baywest Mall, as well as the 15 to 20-year Baywest City development.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to have a vast impact on the local economy, and residents will also benefit from the massive investment in local infrastructure,\u201d Ngebulana said, referring to the R300-million investment in new roads infrastructure surrounding the mall \u2013 a joint project by the developers, the SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople here deserve something equal to what they see in the likes of Durban<\/a> and Cape Town<\/a>. Baywest City will be the equivalent of Cape Town\u2019s Century City when it is complete.\u201d<\/p>\n

Odendaal said it had taken them seven years to get to their present point of development.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not an overnight venture,\u201d he said. \u201cIt took us seven years to get here, and it will take up to 20 years for [Baywest City] to be fully realised.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not just building the mall for Port Elizabeth, but for the entire region.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ngebulana said major national tenants who had already committed to the mall would have a larger space to carry a wider range of stock. A large entertainment sector, called the fun Factory, would mean families would be able to spend several hours at the mall at a time, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people visit, there will be something for everyone,\u201d Ngebulana said.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The Baywest Mall Constuction site from the N2<\/p>\n

\"Baywest<\/a><\/p>\n

View of the construction site from the soon to be used bridge over the N2<\/p>\n

\"Exciting<\/a><\/p>\n

Exciting times ahead for Jaco Odendaal \u2013 Abacus Asset Management, Sisa Ngebulana \u2013 Bullion Group and Gavin Blows \u2013 MD of Baywest.<\/p>\n

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