Public participation open on plans to renovate old Woodstock Hospital site into housing development

Capetonians have until 27 November 2024 to share their views on plans to renovate an old Woodstock Hospital site into a housing development.

The City of Cape Town plans to transfer the Cissie Gool House into social and affordable housing units. The building is currently occupied by evicted residents from Salt River and Woodstock, and have been there since 2017.

‘’With some 10 000 opportunities for affordable rental housing opportunities in the pipeline in urban centres across Cape Town, we firmly believe that our plans for this site as a mixed use market and affordable housing development will be a game-changer, bringing much-needed affordable housing, and an economic boost to this area,’’ said Carl Pophaim, Mayco Member for Human Settlements.

‘’The total extent of the property, valued at approximately R87 million, including a potential residential development yield of approximately 500 units, comprising open market and social housing, will be disposed of subject to the provision of affordable housing. All due process is being followed in ensuring we progress definitively on this long awaited development,’’ he added.

In October 2018, the Western Cape High Court granted the City an order interdicting and restraining Reclaim the City from ‘inciting persons to enter or be upon the property for the purpose of unlawfully occupying or invading.’ This marked the start of sustaining the facility management and accelerating the planning for affordable housing.

Housing activists, Reclaim the City and Ndifuna Ukwazi, previously  accused the City of Cape Town of not being transparent about its plans for the Cissie Gool House.

‘’We look forward to a constructive and meaningful public participation process on this valuable project. My directorate has worked hard against so many obstacles and complexities, including the unlawful occupation and hi-jacking of the building, to move the project toward this point. The illegal occupation of the Woodstock Hospital site has been the single biggest delay to this development,’’ said Carl Pophaim, Mayco Member for Human Settlements.

‘’The City will conduct engagements with the unlawful occupants as part of the broad public participation process to be undertaken for the disposal of the property. The response for the existing occupants will be dependent on the socio-economic profile of the households. The City intends to engage the households on the options available to them to determine the appropriate response for each household in terms of Council policy and legislation,’’ he added.

To participate in the public comment period, one can submit comments, recommendations and input via email: Affordable.Housing@capetown.gov.za or online at www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay

The City’s Public Participation Unit will also assist people who cannot read or write, people living with disabilities and people from disadvantaged groups who are unable to submit written comments to have their objections recorded and submitted to the City. For general public participation and disadvantaged groups, contact 021 400 9825 or email LeanetteAnathi.Dywili@capetown.gov.za.

 

Done by: Mitchum George

* THIS BLOG WILL BE UPDATED AS SOON AS WE GET COMMENT FROM THE HOUSING ACTIVISTS INVOLVED