After years of neglect, one of the Mother City's busiest transport hubs, the Golden Acre, is getting a much-needed facelift. The Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill Lewis, led a guided walkthrough of the Golden Acre Precinct, marking an important milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of one of the city’s most significant commuter and retail hubs.
The Mayor was joined by the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development, James Vos, City of Cape Town officials and the Golden Acre development team.
Hill-Lewis, said: “The Golden Acre redevelopment is a significant investment in Cape Town’s inner city and an important step in strengthening one of our most vital commuter precincts. Projects like this play a key role in revitalising the CBD by bringing people closer to work opportunities, improving public spaces, and supporting a safer, more accessible urban environment.”
The site visit follows the formal commencement of construction on the residential component of the Golden Acre redevelopment and provided an opportunity for the City, project partners, and stakeholders to assess progress on site.
Alderman James Vos said: “The Golden Acre redevelopment is an important economic catalyst for Cape Town’s inner city. By revitalising a key commuter and retail precinct, this project supports local businesses, strengthens footfall in the CBD, and brings people closer to work opportunities. Investment of this nature plays a critical role in sustaining economic activity, creating jobs, and ensuring that the inner city remains a vibrant, accessible place to live, work, and trade.”
The Golden Acre Precinct sits at the centre of Cape Town’s largest public transport interchange, surrounded by the city’s major taxi rank, rail station, and central bus terminus. Since its opening in the late 1970s, it has functioned as a vital gateway for thousands of commuters who move through the CBD daily.
Construction on the conversion of the existing office tower into inner-city residential rental accommodation is in full swing. Once complete, the redevelopment will deliver well-managed rental housing aimed at working professionals who require proximity to transport and employment opportunities in the CBD.
The residential component responds directly to Cape Town’s critical “missing middle” housing gap by offering city-based living at price points intended to be accessible to the working population who currently face long and costly daily commutes.
The Cape Town Station, situated opposite the Golden Acre, was upgraded in 2010 at a cost of R418m. The extensive remodelling, which began in September 2008, included substantial upgrades to the existing 1960s building, which had become seriously degraded and functionally inefficient; the relocation of the long-distance bus facility; and significant improvements to the formal and informal trading spaces.