The Muizenberg Corner beachfront upgrade provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a great public space, writes Roland Postma and Sean Dayton in the Daily Maverick.
“With the Muizenberg project, we have a golden opportunity to showcase how public spaces can be used to integrate multiple forms of transportation in a way that places other modes on at least an equal footing with private cars.
The City of Cape Town recently announced the opening of the comment period centred on plans to upgrade the Muizenberg beachfront at Surfers Corner, including the connection to the St James walkway, Surfers Corner steps, the main promenade area and neighbouring parking areas.
According to the city’s recent media release encouraging residents to comment, the upgrades and repairs included in the project plans are:
A new concrete “revetment” (retaining wall), with steps leading seaward from the promenade level, to improve and replace the existing wooden one;
The “formalising” of the western and eastern parking areas (currently gravel);
The upgrade of recreational areas and the playground;
The demolition of the existing toilet facilities and construction of new ones; and
Incorporating a 3m-wide universally accessible promenade.
Given the ambitious scale of the project and the massive impact it will have on the character of the site and surrounding area, hundreds of residents have already taken to social media to voice their views, both positive and negative, on the issue.
While many have welcomed the proposal, many others have expressed disappointment, especially at the concept sketch circulated by the project team, depicting the proposed upgrade as a large, featureless, barren car park, with concrete steps leading down to the beach.”
The city has responded, however, to these concerns by assuring residents that the city “is not creating a ‘car park’ ”, but is rather “paving an existing gravel and potholed parking area that is already being used by thousands of visitors to this popular beachfront”.
While the City has responded, the article provides reasons for concerns, concluding with this response, which does need consideration.
“Parking is not a destination, public spaces are. And while people do need a place to park their cars from time to time (not that we urbanists would ever wish to admit it), less than 50% of Cape Town households own a car. That means that most people in the city don’t have a car of their own and either have to share one or use alternative means of transport.”
See full article by Roland Postma and Sean Dayton in the Daily Maverick.
WHAT: Muizenberg Corner beachfront upgrade
INFO: Roland Postma and Sean Dayton in the Daily Maverick.
See also
Muizenberg – St James Coastal Walkway Upgrade
