The mission of the Claremont Improvement District Company is to support the existing and future environment through programmes to ensure that the public space is safe, clean, attractive, exciting, entertaining and user-friendly, ensuring that various bodies and authorities meet their responsibilities, assisting wherever possible and thereby protecting and enhancing the existing asset base and attracting new investment, tenants and customers.

For any cleansing and security emergencies or complaints,
please phone 0800-200-597 toll free or e-mail: davies@cidc.co.za

During November 2005 the existing Market Toyota dealership was demolished and construction began on the new 2-storey building, stretching from Dreyer Street through to Main Road.

The recently completed showroom has an expanded vehicle display capacity and according to General Manager, Ewalt Brink, the biggest positive is having all departments under one roof. The spacious new facility has basement parking for customers visiting the showroom.

The “crane festooned skyline of Claremont” was mentioned in the previous issue of The Claremont Clarion. Of great interest and importance is what all this development means to Claremont Central, the brand which is now being promoted, rather than referring to the Claremont Central Business District or the Claremont CBD.

Not only is the skyline changing, so too are the demographics of Claremont about to change dramatically. In fact, Claremont Central can anticipate a minor population explosion along the Main Road in particular. Seven Miles South, an apartment block on the corner of Old Stanhope and Main Roads, where ABSA Bank used to be, now has 89 apartments available for occupation by approximately 200 residents. Then, in December, the construction of The Claremont on the corner of Stegmann and Main Road will be completed with 322 apartments available to accommodate approximately 800 residents. This is in reality a population escalation of around 1000 people coming to live along our Main Road by Christmas. Retailers get ready! CIDC get ready! City of Cape Town get ready for this exciting challenge!

This is not the end of the incredible increase in the numbers of residents on our streets. Next year, Intaba, on the corner of Corwen Street and Protea Road will provide 135 new apartments, the first of which will be ready for occupation in March 2007. Behind Claremont Library, next door to the Kingsbury Hospital, a major residential development, The Quadrant, is being constructed comprising 240 apartments. These will come on stream for occupation around mid-2007. In addition to this a block of 61 apartments is proposed for development behind Paramount Towers, adjacent to the Campground Road bridge.

The man who has played a pivotal role in the success of Claremont is Chris Drummond, owner-director of New Property Ventures (NPV) Group and as founding Chairman, he together with Anthony Davies, was instrumental in the creation of the CIDC in 2000.

Claremont Clarion caught up with the busy property developer and owner and asked him what it was that attracted him to getting so involved in the affairs of Claremont? “Claremont has always been recognised as one of the most significant decentralised nodes within the Cape Town metropolitan area, and a prime location for property development and investment”, said Chris.

New Property Ventures’ direct history in the area goes back to 1996 when they proposed two major multi-use development schemes within the environs of the Claremont and Newlands station precincts. Unfortunately, these developments did not materialise, mainly because of the property market and investment climate at the time.

One of Cape Town’s historical landmarks, the 180 year old Newlands Brewery, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary of being part of the South African Breweries Limited stable. Founded in 1826 as the Mariendahl Brewery by Jacob Letterstedt, the operation was purchased in 1896 by the man generally regarded as the doyen of the Cape brewing industry, Anders Ohlsson. His name was linked to the brewery long after his death – until 1956 when Ohlsson’s Cape Breweries (the Lion brewery), South African Breweries (the Castle brewery) and Union Breweries (the Windhoek brewery) merged to become The South African Breweries Limited company.

While today, the SAB Miller group is the world’s second largest brewer by volume, with brewing interests or major distribution agreements in over 60 countries spread across six continents, the soul of SAB Ltd, the South African operation of the group, remains in the Cape Town suburb of Newlands. As one of the few breweries in the world to be sited in a residential area, the Newlands brewery has always paid particular attention to the environment. The brewery also funds and supports the Friends of the Liesbeeck, an initiative that keeps the river and its banks clean.

‘Bright, airy and spacious’ is how senior professional nurse Debbie Jacobs and her colleague, Barbara Reeks, describe the new Claremont Clinic, which opened its doors at its new premises just over a year ago. After some 50 years of being located in Station Road, the old clinic had to make way for the construction of the new taxi interchange, necessitating its relocation to the present site in Old Stanhope Road. Next door to what was the Chris Willemse Cycle shop, the original building underwent dramatic remodelling and conversion to the new clinic, a project in which the nursing staff were involved right from the planning phase.

With ample parking and easy access to public transport, the new facility is not only visited by patients from the immediate vicinity, but also by those who prefer to travel from areas much further afield to attend the clinic with a reputation for excellent patient care and sensitive nursing staff. Attending to up to 120 patients per day, the clinic staff have their work cut out for them, with the early part of the week being their busiest period. The acquisition of new equipment, such as a sophisticated steriliser and nebuliser, and a well-equipped treatment room in an improved clinic environment go a long way to easing their workload. Both staff and patients attest to boosted morale as a result of the enhanced surroundings.

Services offered by the clinic include the following: family planning, tuberculosis treatment and care, diagnosis and treatment of sick children under 13, immunization, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, HIV testing and termination of pregnancy referrals. A full time counsellor is also available during clinic hours.

The clinic hours are Mondays to Fridays from 08h00 until 16h30. Tel. 021 671 7102 or 671 1148/78 Fax: 021 683 0040.