Neighbourhood CT - 23 February 2020

Neighbourhood 23 FEBRUARY 2020

PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE

A home for life Evergreen Bergvliet offers relaxed retirement living in a peaceful country setting with world-class hospitality and services, page 5

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BORDEAUX BLENDS

yourneighbourhood.co.za

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NEWSWORTHY BITS

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SUBURB FOCUS: BERGVLIET

Connecting homeowners with great communities

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NEWS & LIFESTYLE

23 FEBRUARY 2020

Editor’s exclusive CARLA REDELINGHUYS

cultural extravaganza second to none is headed for the Artscape Piazza from 26 February to 28 February.

Nightscape, which is Design Indaba’s public festival, opens at 16:00 each day, and promises to delight spectators with an explosion of creativity.

and Siyanda Mbele, will be on hand to exhibit and discuss their strikingly original work. The Emerging Creatives, masterminded by Design Indaba and supported by the Department of Arts and Culture, are the design heavyweights of tomorrow, so be sure to support their artistic endeavours.

Internationally renowned silkscreen artist Patrick Thomas will be setting up a screen-printing station, so bring some old T-shirts and your best creative ideas and get collaborating on upcycling your wardrobe.

Each evening, leaders in their respective fields will be giving hands-on direction into their various disciplines, such as SA’s Michelin darling Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, trend forecaster Li Edelkoort, and music video director Motion Billy. These Masterclass sessions are aimed at the intellectually curious wanting to hone their skills. Places are limited and can be reserved through Webtickets.

Thomas is also known for his Open Collab, where he invites graphic designers from all walks of life, from all over the world, to co-create works.

Ahead of the Design Indaba, Thomas will be hosting Open Collab workshops at local design schools. The best pieces to emerge from the workshops will be exhibited at the festival as part of the launch of Open Collab 2.

Cape Winelands

Glenelly Estate | 021 809 6440 | glenellyestate.com Botanica | 076 340 8296 | botanicawines.com Vrede en Lust | 021 874 1611 | vnl.co.za

Party the night away A

In your hood:

Neighbourhood

So make your way down to the Foreshore and be inspired by the amazing talent we have on our shores.

Design Indaba also showcases the work of the next generation of upand-coming designers. The Emerging Creatives Class of 2020, handpicked by curators Mokoena Kobeli, Crystal Birch

The bold and the beautiful In the world of red wines it’s hard to beat a well-crafted Bordeaux-style blend WORDS: RICHARD HOLMES

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

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ooking for a full-bodied red wine to pair with that long-awaited steak? Need a bottle with gravitas to impress a client over dinner? While single varietal wines offer character and individuality, a blended red wine is often a safer bet, as skilled winemakers balance the character traits from a clutch of noble varietals.

Perhaps the most famous of these is a “Bordeaux” blend, typically made up of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec and petit verdot.

Occasionally you’ll find a splash of carménère too, but plantings in South Africa are tiny, so it’s rarely seen. To make a Bordeaux blend there are no hard and fast rules around how much of each cultivar to include, nor do all of them need to be used, but Bordeaux blends are usually led by cabernet sauvignon or merlot, with smaller quantities of the remaining varietals.

Another fine example comes from Botanica in Stellenbosch’s Devon Valley, which topped the scoring in Wine Magazine’s 2019 Cape Bordeaux Red Blend Report with their flagship Arboretum. Made from the best barrels of each vintage, this blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot balances dark fruits on the nose with a rich, lingering palate.

Also in the top 10 of the WineMag report was the Boet Erasmus from

Vrede en Lust. Named in honour of owners Dana and Etienne Buys’ maternal grandfather, it’s a Bordeaux blend made in a new-world style, using four of the five classic Bordeaux cultivars. Expect bright fruit on the nose, firm tannins and good acidity.

It’s a wine made to be enjoyed around five years after vintage, which means you should light the braai fires and get your finest rib-eye ready for the grill.

A perfect example of a classic Bordeaux blend is the Lady May 2014 from Glenelly estate on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, which pays tribute to the estate’s founder, esteemed Bordeaux winemaker Madame May de Lencquesaing. Dominated by cabernet sauvignon, it’s an elegant, complex blend with powerful fruit and rich tannins. No wonder it bagged five stars in the latest Platter’s Guide.

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23 FEBRUARY 2020

Neighbourhood

In your hood:

NEWS & LIFESTYLE

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Cape Town CBD

The Melting Pot Cafeteria | 071 525 8875 | Facebook: @meltingpot_streetfood

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hef John van Zyl’s fascination with street food from around the world germinated even before he’d started on his food-focussed travels, back when he worked with Liam Tomlin at Street Food on Bree in 2014.

Travelling to Central America in 2015 and since to Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, Thailand and Europe has provided a wealth of inspiration for his latest concept at The Melting Pot Cafeteria.

What began as a pop-up, together with sous chef Stefan Roos, and partner and front-of-house Sage Fell, has morphed into a permanent space upstairs from Honest Chocolate and the Gin Bar on Wale Street, a beautiful old building with tall windows, high ceilings and a relaxed, friendly vibe.

“The concept is not strictly street food, it’s become more global cuisine,” says John. “The idea of the Melting Pot is to take the customer through a global street-food journey, not just one cuisine, a bit of everything

Around the world in 7 dishes Global street food in informal cafeteria style, The Melting Pot puts down roots WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK

– South East Asian, Mediterranean European, Mexican, Persian…”

The short menu changes every month, a cafeteria-style system of ticking the dishes you want, paying at the counter and then relaxing at your table. The dishes arrive one or two at a time as

IMAGES: PATRICK HEATHCOCK

they are ready, so you can go for a quick two-dish light meal or a long leisurely progress through everything on the menu. Needless to say, we ticked the box marked One of Everything.

First up a beautiful Peruvian ceviche of yellowtail and squid drenched in

lime with earthy butternut puree and sweet potato crisps providing a lovely contrast. John mixes things up according to flavours he feels work together – crispy fried rabbit crossed continents, the tender meat coated in chilli-spiced crumbs and served with kimchi tartare sauce.

Cutlery settings cover all eventualities – chopsticks, knife and fork, and a ceramic Chinese spoon – but fingers often work best, licking them unapologetically to retrieve the last smidgen of fabulous flavour.

Progressing through a velvety Thai fish curry of fragrant fishcakes, pan-fried pork bao mopping up spicy sauce, then a warm hug of Tadka dhal with roti, we enjoyed every bite of our journey. The last two stages were a delicious veggie Bombay “burger”, pea and potato patty with pickled carrots doused in mint and coriander, and a succulent lamb taco with charred tomato salsa. It was more than enough for two of us to be happily replete, however we couldn’t resist crispy churros in chocolate sauce (courtesy of Honest Chocolate) and an affogato, the two simple desserts on offer.

The Melting Pot is open dinner only, 6pm to 10pm – no reservations.

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PROPERTY NEWS

23 FEBRUARY 2020

Neighbourhood

Radisson Hotels achieves continental success

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he Radisson Hotel Group’s Radisson Blu, the fastest growing hotel brand in Africa, has surpassed its expected Indian Ocean development objective of doubling this portfolio by 2022, and is now aiming to triple it in 2020.

The Indian Ocean is a key market in the group’s African development

strategy, with seven hotels in operation or being developed in the region. This forms part of Radisson Hotel Group’s African portfolio comprising almost 100 hotels in operation and under development across 33 markets.

Already established in Mauritius, the group has expanded to two other Indian Ocean islands – Madagascar

and Reunion. “Our development strategy in the Indian Ocean focusses on both leisure and business segments for resorts, hotels, serviced apartments and mixed-use developments across our five hotel brands. Seychelles is the next priority island in the group’s expansion strategy,” says Radisson senior director of development Erwan Garnier.

“As part of our aggressive African development plan, 65% of our future hotel supply will come from our newer brands, specifically Radisson, positioned in the full-service upscale segment and already gaining significant traction across Africa, and Radisson Collection, in the affordable luxury segment. We’ll continue in the lifestyle upscale segment of the market with the Radisson RED brand, building on the momentum gained by the success of the Radisson RED hotel in Cape Town. Finally, we will keep taking advantage of the success of Radisson Blu, our flagship upper upscale brand that remains the fastest growing on the continent,” Garnier says.

Current Joburg rental market in a nutshell W hile the rental market remains extremely competitive at the moment, there’s still great rental demand and many people – especially millennials – currently prefer renting to buying.

offers accessibility to the Fourways Business node), family homes in the Linden area, and the suburbs of Randpark Ridge, Sundowner and Northcliff, are especially sought after.

Sandton

David Ingle, principal, Seeff Edenvale, says Edenvale and Bedfordview have seen an increase in high-end rentals priced between R20,000 and R30,000 per month.

Charles Vining, Seeff’s MD in Sandton, says millennials and a mix of local and expat clients who want to be close to the business environment, are some of the groups drawn to the popular rental hotspots in Sandton and surrounds.

Vining says they’re witnessing a trend in Sandton where many millennials are choosing to rent as opposed to buying.

“Millennials like the relative freedom of renting versus owning. We see few young people renting straight after graduating. Most work for a year or so, possibly living at home or sharing with friends, before renting a home of their own.

“Security is a major consideration when considering rental property in Sandton. Wi-Fi and off-street parking are almost non-negotiable, while developments with gyms, clubhouses or recreational areas like parks and dams are big draw cards.

“Traffic also has a big impact on the location decision of most tenants. For family tenants, school proximity trumps most decisions.”

Randburg

Duane Butler, GM, Seeff Randburg, says, in general, demand for rental property here has declined and rental rates are down due to affordability issues.

Butler says despite this there’s still great demand for rental properties in Randburg, especially those bordering the Sandton suburbs due to accessibility to the Sandton CBD. Rental property in suburbs like Greenside and Jukskei Park (that

Edenvale and Bedfordview

“There’s a shortage of stock in this range as many owners are reluctant to rent out their properties fearing that tenants will not take care of them. Greenstone Hill is definitely the rental hot spot in Edenvale, where there’s always good stock available and property moves quickly.”

Ingle concludes that Modderfontein has seen new sectional title stock come available from M&T Developers and Linbro Park has also supplied new stock from Balwin.

“Both these areas are ideal for tenants working anywhere from Sandton to Midrand and Edenvale.”

Soweto

Khosi Sibiya and Phindi Mphahlele, owners, Seeff Soweto, say the rental market here is vibrant, especially among millennials.

“Not many people are able to buy a property in the current economic climate and this, coupled with the fact that there are many new developments taking place in the area at the moment, is fuelling Soweto’s rental market.”

Millennials are the largest generation residing in Soweto at the moment and they’re also the group who rent the most.

Millennials are moving out of their parent’s homes and forming their own independent households and like the generations before them, they prefer to rent before they buy.

Jawitz launches reserve outside Pietermaritzburg

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awitz Properties has brought several plots of land at Emanzini Private Reserve development to market. The development, which fuses modern convenience and safari luxury, is in the heart of the uMngeni Valley in KwaZulu-Natal, a malaria-free area, on the south shore of the Albert Falls Dam. Just a 25-minutes’ drive outside of Pietermaritzburg, the reserve will encompass 18 bush lodges, which are sectional title sites ranging from 200m 2 to 350m 2; eight eco lodge sites with building footprints of 200m 2; and Spurwing, comprising eight sites with building footprints of 250m 2 each with majestic views of the Albert Falls Dam.

According to Ken Albon, property consultant, Jawitz Properties Pietermaritzburg, the reserve is one of KZN’s best-kept secrets and has been designed for those who love to spend their time in nature but still enjoy the conveniences of modern living. “The property not only carries a large number of prized game and offers superb birdwatching, but it also offers water sports, as well as trails and biking routes.”

The 300ha reserve offers buyers a range of residential property options that can be managed as turnkey projects or developed as plot-and-plan homes according to set architectural guidelines to maintain the theme of the development.

Evergreen introduces flexible pricing options E

up to 30%. To ensure the prospect is viable, the capital returned to the life rights holder on termination is reduced to compensate for the price reduction.

Given the current weak property market, Evergreen has decided to not sell the standard life rights at the usual market-related price, with the original capital to be returned to the life rights holder’s estate on termination, but instead to offer life rights on a new house or apartment at a discount of

“Being able to move into an Evergreen home at a reduced price will allow you to lower the price on the sale of your family home, leaving you in a cash-neutral position. This is only possible because of the financial strength of the Evergreen Group,” says Evergreen Lifestyle brand marketing director Arthur Case. “It’s the only retirement village developer able to offer flexible pricing on this scale, making the product unique.”

vergreen Lifestyle retirement villages has introduced flexible retirement purchase pricing.

This new initiative makes the same property available for purchase at different prices, while allowing the purchaser to determine the price of life rights on a new home or apartment.

Invest in a carefree retirement lifestyle in beautiful Bergvliet

APARTMENTS

FROM R3,400,000 TO R5,200,000

Evergreen Bergvliet has earned an enviable reputation for providing a great retirement lifestyle in the heart of the southern suburbs of Cape Town. The village takes an all-round approach to caring for seniors, and the community of healthy, happy residents who call this village home speaks for itself.

Evergreen understands that the current economic situation places serious strain on retirees needing to sell their family home. We have introduced a trifactor of solutions to assist retirees in tough economic times. If you find yourself in this position and you aren’t able to wait until the market improves then talk to one of our consultants about how we can help you make the move now.

JOIN OUR OPEN DAYS AND COFFEE MORNINGS OPEN DAYS - SUNDAYS, 14H00 TO 16H00 COFFEE MORNINGS - WEDNESDAYS, 10H00 TO 13H00

RSVP TO SHARON ON 087 808 7000 WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU.

info@evergreenlifestyle.co.za

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www.evergreenlifestyle.co.za

/evergreenlifestyle

@Evergreen_LV

2/19/2020 1:49:19 PM

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PROPERTY NEWS

23 FEBRUARY 2020

Neighbourhood

Suburb focus

The best of suburban life In the middle of the Constantia Valley with lovely views of the Constantiaberg mountains, Bergvliet is pretty much the archetypal suburb – sedate, settled, peaceful and well away from the urban bustle WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK *Map not to scale

IMAGES: NATASHA LASSEN, SUPPLIED & GOOGLE MAPS

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ergvliet’s roots are shared with neighbouring Constantia, together forming governor Simon van der Stel’s vast farm estate in the valley. Agricultural until the 1930s, post Second World War Bergvliet Farm was subdivided and the land developed as affordable homes for servicemen returning from the war. At the same time, neighbouring farmland was sold as residential subdivisions. The result today is an established suburb with large erven (800m2 to 900m2), mature trees and gardens, which hasn’t completely forgotten its rural roots. One side is still bordered by the Dreyersdal Farm and wetlands that are now a private nature reserve, and there are several parks and green spaces.

“Bergvliet is primarily a residential area with various business hubs and we’re keen to ensure that it retains its residential character,” says Mark Shäfer, chairman, Bergvliet and Meadowridge Ratepayers Association.

“It’s a relatively safe, well-run suburb with good amenities, good accessibility and is an upmarket area without ‘snob’ value.” More affordable than its affluent neighbour Constantia, and than the busier Southern Suburbs

closer to the CBD, it attracts people of all ages looking for a quiet home life.

“The area is very suburban with many schools, families, pensioners, visitors from overseas staying at Airbnbs, and young people looking for a start in life,” says Jeremy Law, owner, Lime Tree Café. “Property is still relatively good value here, people often move from closer to town to enjoy a safe environment and liberate some of the value of their home.”

Family ties “Both my wife and I had childhood connections here and were looking for a pleasant suburban neighbourhood with good schools,” says Mark of why they chose the area back in 2000. The reputation of the local schools has remained strong and still is a major attraction for families who move here to be in the catchment area, as well as within walking distance of Sweet Valley Primary, Bergvliet High School, and Bergvliet Primary.

Predominantly family homes with gardens, mature trees, parks and greenbelt also characterise Bergvliet’s

INSIDER TRADING Lime Tree Café is a real community hub in Bergvliet. Opened five years ago it was bought as a going concern by restauranteur Jeremy Law on his return home from Chile in 2018.

“I was looking for a business where I could enjoy a casual ambience, get to know the regular clients, and treat it as a place of fun as well as business.” The seven-days-aweek menu spans homemade cakes and coffee, through light lunches to full dinners.

“A neighbourhood restaurant becomes part of the lives of families,” says Jeremy, “for example, pancake specials in the afternoon for kids and mums. Or Sunday roasts for the family. We’ve developed a large and loyal clientele who come all year round… many of whom have developed a genuine interest in the business and its continued success. We don’t experience the boom and bust of more touristy places.”

SEE FOR YOURSELF Lime Tree Café 021 712 1497 limetreecafe.co.za

immediate neighbour Meadowridge, which was developed as a Garden City from 1954. The two suburbs share a neighbourhood watch and ratepayers’ associations and form a close community together.

There’s a huge feeling of convenience as pretty much everything you need for everyday life is within the two suburbs.

“We have sports clubs, many preschools and creches as well as top government primary schools, local shops and restaurants, a library, churches, medical rooms, play parks, cycle tracks… and space to breathe,” says Mark. Larger shopping centres and hospitals are a short drive away and the M3 connects you quickly with the rest of the city.

Weekends There’s so much to do within easy reach of Bergvliet that every weekend can hold something different.

“I enjoy an early morning walk around the neighbourhood but it’s easy to embrace the beauty of the greater Constantia Valley if you’re more energetic,” says Mark.

Beach weather sees families heading to Muizenberg for swimming and surfing. Or the shade of Tokai Forest for hikes and mountain biking, as well as green belt trails through Constantia and more adventurous mountain hikes from Silvermine Nature Reserve. Then there are the Constantia Valley wine farms for wine tasting and fine-dining, or the Norval Foundation for the latest art exhibition and a picnic in the sculpture garden.

Closer to home, a stroll and picnic at Bergvliet’s own Die Oog conservation area is a local favourite for birdwatching, serene picnics by the dam, and even geo-caching. It’s a breeding site for the endangered Western leopard toad, who often hang out in nearby gardens, too, with various frog species and turtles, indigenous plants and flowers, making it a small but important part of local biodiversity and conservation, as well as a serene escape from city life.

23 FEBRUARY 2020

Neighbourhood

PROPERTY NEWS

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BLOCKHOUSE KITCHEN

Bergvliet is quiet, leafy and peaceful, with a beautiful view to the mountains.

It reminds me a lot of Garden Cities like Pinelands – very community-conscious and everyone very friendly.

BERGVLIET RESIDENT

THE BIKE PARK

GREEN SPACES

• • • •

MEDICAL FACILITIES NEARBY Mediclinic Constantiaberg Medicross Tokai Melomed Private Hospital DP Marais Hospital

• Die Oog: bird and nature reserve around a dam that was the spring for the original Bergvliet farm • Meadowridge Common: pine trees and sand-plain fynbos • Dreyersdal Farm: wetlands private nature reserve • Tokai Forest: mountain biking and hiking trails

CONVENIENCE SCHOOLS

For a typical property in this area You’ll pay

R38,387 per month

R4,2m

For a typical property (four-bedroom house)

R2,95m In a complex

Bergvliet High school Sweet Valley Primary School Bergvliet Primary School Reddam House Constantia Constantia Waldorf School American International School of Cape Town • Herzlia Constantia Primary School

For rent 5%

COMPLEX

Median asking price

• • • • • •

Median asking price

R18,000

For a typical property (three-bedroom house)

6%

R11,500 In a complex

R7,400

For a garden cottage

APARTMENT

Monthly bond repayments

APARTMENT

For sale

COMPLEX

• The brand new Constantia Emporium with upmarket Checkers and Woolies Food • Meadowridge Shopping Centre: Woolies, Checkers and local convenience • Blue Route Mall in Tokai: movies, high street fashion, boutiques and restaurants

5%

27%

over a period of 20 years at 9.75% prime

R3,4m

89%

For an apartment

For a house

R8,800

For an apartment

R18,000 For a house

6%

62% HOUSE

R1,4m

HOUSE

R4,2m median asking price

GARDEN COTTAGE

Based on

The data reflected herein represents data that is voluntarily obtained from subscribers from the Private Property South Africa’s website and is based solely on data collected by Private Property South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Further, the data reflected herein is accurate as per the Private Property South Africa database dated 19 February 2020. Reliance on such data is at the sole discretion of subscribers and Private Property South Africa hereby indemnifies itself of any consequence of such reliance.