Neighbourhood DBN - 06 May 2018

Neighbourhood 6 MAY 2018

PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE

Virginia Peer into this beachfront suburb and discover how the property market is taking off, page 2

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SUBURB FOCUS: VIRGINIA

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PROPERTY NEWS

6 MAY 2018

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Suburb focus

Virginia Here’s what’s happening in property in the area WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER IMAGES: STEPHEN PILBROUGH & GOOGLE MAPS

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he little suburb of Virginia is flanked by Glenashley to the north, Glen Hills in the west, and the Ruth First Highway – the M4 – which hugs the coastline.

Virginia Airport is right on the coast.

Aircraft, executive jets and helicopters are a common sight flying low over the freeway and the suburb, as are trainee pilots doing their circuits. This

*Map not to scale

airport is to move elsewhere, but its ultimate destination has been mired in controversy for so long now, nobody knows quite what the future holds.

Durban North’s beaches, including Beachwood, Virginia and Glenashley, stretch from the Umgeni River mouth to the suburb of Glenashley.

Although not a good swimming area, Virginia Beach is favoured for its good looks and is among the few where dogs are allowed.

Schooling

Virginia is considered a family suburb, one with mainly freestanding homes on sizeable stands, surrounded by great schools and popular retail options less than a five-minute drive away.

This northern Durban belt has a wide range of schools, most with excellent reputations and even better amenities. Virginia Preparatory School and Chelsea Preparatory School are high in demand and are excellent feeder schools for Northlands Girls’ High School and Northwood School. Similarly, other local public schools, such as Glenashley Preparatory School, North Crest Primary School and Northlands Primary School, are well respected and provide a good education.

Our house was always the most popular one among family and friends when the Durban Wings Show was on – we’re right there near the airport.

We’d watch the most amazing aerial displays with the braai on, beer in hand – no driving or fighting for parking! I never tire of watching the planes land and take off.

There’s also Danville Park Girls’ High School, and the private schools of Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School, Oakridge College and Durban North College. The schools are known for their achievements in academics, sports and the arts, and parents are spoilt for choice when making their selection.

Explore Virginia’s proximity to all the beaches, from Durban through to Umhlanga, makes it an ideal place for those who enjoy surfing, swimming and other water sports. Some homes have panoramic views of the sea, allowing residents to see the surf from the comfort of their verandas.

JEREMY MACK, RESIDENT

1st Floor, Block H, Sable Square cnr Bosmansdam and Ratanga Roads Milnerton, Cape Town

Resident Sally-Ann Lake says, “There are few gated complexes in Virginia, so we were very lucky to find a unit which was right on the border of Durban North, and one which gives us fabulous views out to sea.”

Property Properties here are less expensive than those in adjoining suburbs, which makes them perfect as the first step on

PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING

the property ladder. The advantages of life in Virginia are numerous, including easy access to the amenities of the affluent northern suburbs, plus the plethora of excellent schools within walking distance or a short drive away.

As a family suburb, there are numerous active cycling and other sports clubs, as well as a municipal swimming pool.

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For those who prefer the wild outdoors, there’s Virginia Bush Nature Reserve, a 38ha coastal bush reserve which falls under the auspices of Durban Metropolitan Open Space System.

On the other side of the Ruth First Highway is the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve which contains three species of rare mangroves: black, red and white. This 76ha reserve is a national monument and consists not only of a mangrove swamp forest but also an estuarine habitat at the mouth of the Umgeni River.

Schools and other parties frequent the education centre and there’s a bird hide and an activities centre.

Resident Stefan Slade says, “We’re a hiking and walking kind of family, so living here gives us easy access to all the local nature reserves, as well as the beachfront promenades and the Umgeni River.”

With the suburb’s proximity to numerous good local and regional shopping centres, including coffee shops and restaurants, residents don’t have to travel far for anything.

HOSPITALS NEARBY: • Busamed Gateway Private Hospital • Netcare Umhlanga Hospital • Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre

For sale in Glenashley Median asking price:

For a typical property (four-bedroom house)

For a typical property in this area

R4,1m

You’ll pay

R34,740

For a house

SHOP: • Virginia Shopping Centre: for the 4,500m2 Checkers and other tenants such as Clicks, PEP and Capitec • Hyper by the Sea: for all you need in one place, as well as a Mugg & Bean for a light meal after shopping • Kensington Square: for the Kensington Super Spar, an array of speciality shops and other national brands • La Lucia Mall: offering more than 130 stores under one roof

EAT: • Al Firenze, Umhlanga: for Italian classics, including wood-fired pizza • Indian Summer, Glenashley: for North and South Indian dishes, as well as Indo-Chinese cuisine • Mamma Luciana’s, Glenashely: for alfresco dining, long lunches and fun-filled dinners • Atasca Portuguese Restaurant, Broadway: for a taste of Portugal in KwaZulu-Natal

For rent in Glenashley Monthly bond repayments

R3,6m

per month

Property Type:

Median asking price:

R15,000

For a typical property (three-bedroom house)

R11,250

R15,500

R19,000

In a complex

For an apartment

For a house

Property Type: Based on

100% house

R3,6m

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WHAT MAKES DNC SO UNIQUE? * Primary and High School on one campus * Education is offered in BOTH Afrikaans & English * Boys and Girls * Proud school with a Christian Ethos * High value system * A perfect balance

83% house

13%

median asking price

over a period of 20 years at 10% prime

find Where children grow. d their purpose an lle doel Waar kinders hu i. vind en groe

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PROPERTY NEWS

Contact us today and become part of the DNC family!

Tel: (031) 564 1347 • admin@durbannorthcollege.co.za • www.durbannorthcollege.co.za

apartment

4%

complex

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PROPERTY NEWS

6 MAY 2018

Neighbourhood

My business neighbourhood BohoBindi at the Shongweni Farmers Market helps clients express their individuality through fashion accessories WORDS: TIVANIA MOODLEY

IMAGES: SUPPLIED

flamboyant, colourful and dynamic.

After a successful career as a professional dancer, I needed something else to channel my creative energy and artistic passion into. I decided that I wanted to start my own accessories brand which is bohemian and inspired by vintage trends. BohoBindi opened in September 2016 and I began trading at Shongweni Farmers Market in January 2017.

Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop?

A: I’m a full-time trader at the Shongweni Farmers Market, which allows me to interact with a diverse range of clients.

Y

arisha Singh has always been attracted to bohemian-style accessories. She used her flair for fashion and her creative energy to start her business, BohoBindi, offering clients accessories that are bold and unique enough to suit any personality.

She tells us more about the business.

Q: How did your business start?

A: I have a very specific sense of style and a keen eye for accessories that are authentic, sometimes

Q: How did you find your premises?

A: The Shongweni Farmers Market is a very sought-after trading place, and I made it my mission to get a space there. I was persistent with emails about my brand, even though the organisers said the market was full.

We eventually got a casual trading spot confirmed, and a year later we became permanent traders.

Q: Why are the premises ideally suited to your business?

A: The Shongweni Farmers Market is an incredible place that’s full of spirit and variety, which allows me to meet many different people, from the eccentric to the highly sophisticated.

Q: Who are your neighbours?

A: A handmade furniture

business and a handmade home accessories business.

Q: What are the shop rental/ sales prices like in this area?

A: The cost of a permanent vendor stall at Shongweni Farmers Market is R275 per day.

Q: How many people visit your business each day?

A: I deal with around 50 customers each time at the Shongweni Farmers Market. This increases over the festive period.

Q: Do you have any expansion plans?

A: Plans include finding interested stockists in Umhlanga and one day introducing home decor items as well.

Q: Do you operate online as well?

A: Yes, we have an online catalogue and we’re active on social media channels like Facebook (facebook.com/BohoBindi) and Instagram (@bohobindi).

Q: What’s your most popular item?

A: My handmade, once-off creative collection and the cubic zirconia Ring Bling collection.

SEE FOR YOURSELF: BohoBindi 074 177 9582 bohobindi.co.za

19880

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PROPERTY NEWS

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Future-forward Park Square

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onstruction on the R1bn Park Square in Umhlanga started in October 2016 and the development is due to open in November this year, says Ken Reynolds, director, Nedport Developments (the developer).

Park Square will be the first combined commercial and lifestyle development of its kind to come on stream on the Ridge.

Malcolm St Clair, general manager, the Ridge Management Associations, says, “The developable topography in this precinct is fully sold out with only two remaining oval sites left in the Umhlanga Ridge Town Centre.

This is testament to the demand for premium mixed-use commercial space and the value proposition created by

Tongaat Hulett Developments and maintained by Ridge Management.

Investing in Park Square is therefore certain to translate into an attractive capital investment since the development offers a combined lifestyle and business experience in this already thriving economic hub.”

Already 70% complete, the Green Star-rated development boasts 36,000m2 of premium P- and A-grade office space, 4,000m2 of retail and 3,500m2 of open, public space.

“Park Square is an authentic, future-forward place that combines a connected and convenient work culture with a strong lifestyle and leisure offering around an open public square,” Reynold says.

Not all shopping malls are created equal, and many struggle due to reasons such as an evolving community with changing needs and failure to adapt the tenant mix accordingly, lack of access to public transport and outdated or crumbling infrastructure. These are just a few examples why one may find a shopping centre with many vacancies. But a well-run centre which is servicing its surrounding community effectively with a fresh tenant mix is not going anywhere.

SEAN PAUL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SPIRE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Discovery Campus turned into a city

Selling your home There are several steps you can take to ensure your property sells in a reasonable amount of time WORDS: CANDICE BOTHA IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK

S

elling a property is a complicated process and there are several reasons why a home may not sell quickly. “Focusing on selling your property for the highest value possible in a reasonable amount of time is the winning recipe, but that’s complicated,” says Richard Gray, CEO, Harcourts South Africa.

Price is an integral factor.

Motivated buyers do their research regularly and homes that are overpriced relative to their neighbours don’t sell quickly. “It’s critical to look at what the current competition is, what similar properties have recently sold and what direction the local property market is heading,” says Lee Ellis, director, Tyson Properties.

WORK WITH YOUR AGENT TO SELL YOUR HOME BY: • Awarding a sole mandate • Decluttering and tidying up • Allowing them to take professional photographs and a video • Making your property available for viewing regularly

Gray adds that even if you have the luxury of time, you shouldn’t be tempted to overprice your home. “Houses that have been on the market for a long time tend to get a stigma, and buyers who’re looking for reasonably priced properties may be put off.”

The selling price itself is important. Ellis advises listing your home for a round amount.

“It’s extremely common for

a property to be listed at R2,999,000. Most real estate websites and portals have price bands that end in whole numbers, so buyers looking from R3m to R3,5m wouldn’t see this home in that search.”

First impressions are important and taking the time to declutter and allow your agent to take professional photographs is helpful. “Poor home maintenance is often a major concern,” says Gray. “Having to spend extra money on painting, fixing leaking gutters or broken doors is an understandable problem for a buyer.”

Ellis agrees, adding that if you want the full asking price, you will need to ensure that the house is in a condition that warrants it.

“Sellers should always do what they can to make their home available to view, within reason.”

He says the key to selling a house seems to be patience. “It takes some time to locate the perfect buyers. There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes – strategy meetings, digital marketing, print marketing, buyer matches, database contacts – so be patient and continuously engage with your agent.”

T

he Discovery Campus in Sandton by the Growthpoint Properties and Zenprop joint venture is touted as the largest single-tenant building in the southern hemisphere. Construction began in 2014, with the bulk of the project completed last year.

The number of amenities and benefits integrated within the building matrix transformed it into something resembling a city, says Paragon Interface senior project architectural technologist Anthony Karam.

The Discovery Campus comprises three linked office towers, each with a ground floor, eight office floors and an activated roof level with sports

facilities and integral landscaping.

The design features an abundance of natural light, with the bulk of the development “wrapped” around a series of sunlit atria that illuminate the cores of the towers.

Paragon Interface says it wanted to make a memorable and spatially forward-thinking workspace environment that appeals not only to the senses, but which affords a platform for Discovery to launch itself into the modern business environment. The project team, client and developer all came together to create something that not only epitomises Discovery but is very much a 21st century workspace in Sandton.

Scarborough on the rise

A

lthough neighbouring areas like Kommetjie and Noordhoek in the Western Cape have been attracting more attention from investors and developers, the housing market in Scarborough has fared surprisingly well, achieving a 13,67 % increase in the median house price last year.

Citing Lightstone data, Lew Geffen, chairman, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, says, “After several years of little growth, in 2016 the median spiked by 68% from R1,67m in 2015 to R2,81m and, despite the increasingly subdued economy, this traditionally slow market continued on its upward

trajectory with the median price rising further to R3,2m in 2017.”

Geffen adds that of the 30 sales during the last 12 months ending 31 March, 12 were in the R1,5m to R3m price band, at an average sale price of R2,4m, while 18 homes sold for more than R3m, with an average selling price of R5,03m.

Elly Abels, a Scarborough resident and area specialist for the group, attributes this largely to two key factors – the residents of this unique coastal suburb and the strong sense of community they have fostered as well as its idyllic position in an established conservation area.

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PROPERTY NEWS

6 MAY 2018

Neighbourhood

Pure & simple We bring you a few tips from industry experts on how to ensure you have water of the highest quality and purity in your home WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER

IMAGE: SUPPLIED

B

ill Harding, an internationally recognised algologist, recently said, “The drought, seen in the main as a shortage of water – a quantity issue – also embodies a very real quality threat.”

The Blue Drop Report 2014 released by the South African Department of Water and Sanitation in January 2017 showed that of the 1,036 municipal drinking water systems evaluated, only 44 complied with Blue Drop status standards. This report provides vital information on drinking water quality compliance with the South African National Standards (SANS 241).

Previous Blue Drop Reports showed that the quality of our drinking water improved between 2009 and 2012 but declined in 2014. Importantly, the 2014 report looks at 2013 data; the current status of our drinking water is unknown.

Tony Marchesini, MD of H2O International SA, a leading water purification company, says, “With low dam water levels and our ageing infrastructure, it’s critical for us to monitor such reports.

The health of our families is a priority, and consuming water with contaminants and toxic bacteria can have devastating effects,” he says.

Where to begin?

Have a water sample analysis done.

Adrian Schoeman, owner at H2O International SA Durban North, says, “There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, so consult a water purification expert to design the right purification solution to fit the quality of water from your specific source, the desired level of purification and your budget.”

What are the options?

Broadly, there are two purification

In a reverse osmosis system, hydraulic pressure forces water through a semipermeable membrane, removing up to 99% of contaminants and impurities. The downside is that the process strips the water of essential minerals and electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Reverse osmosis seems to be preferred for industrial use. It’s also estimated that for every litre of water purified, three litres are wasted in the process.

With a filtration purifier, water passes through layers of filters which, depending on their efficacy, capture impurities. Cheaper filters only remove visible impurities, so it’s important to do your homework.

These systems are smaller than reverse osmosis units and are easily installed, there’s no water wastage or loss of naturally occurring minerals and electrolytes in the alkaline water produced. Pre-filtration depends on

win the quality of the water, and in many cases is preferred for home use.

“If you choose a reverse osmosis system, make sure it has a remineralisation step that adds minerals back into the water,” says Tony. “With a filtration system, choose one which removes chemicals, metals, toxins as well as impurities, and that the system does not support bacteria. Ask if the filters have been scientifically evaluated.”

Where to put it?

There’s a wide range of water purifying systems out there that can be fitted under your kitchen sink or you can opt for a portable counter-top model.

The H20 Water Purification Pitcher powered by Halopure uses non-electric filter technology to remove harmful chemicals, toxins and metals from the water and kill viruses and bacteria.

Twenty lucky Neighbourhood readers each stand a chance to win an H20 International Water Purification Pitcher powered by Halopure (valued at R550) and a filter cartridge (valued at R220).

To enter, send your name, location and answers to the questions below to charisl@yourneighbourhood.co.za, with H2O International in the subject line.

1. Does water quality in South Africa concern you?

2. Do you consider investing in your family’s health a priority?

3. Visit h2o.co.za. Which water purifier would suit your needs?

You can also enter the competition by liking the Neighbourhood Facebook page (facebook.com/ YourNeighbourhoodZA) and keeping an eye out for the competition post.

THB/43620/03/STN/E

“South Africa is a water-scarce country,” wrote Pamela Tshwete, deputy minister, Department of Water and Sanitation, in the SA Annual Report 2016/17, “and this

systems: reverse osmosis and a filtration purifier.

reality is further compounded by the deterioration of water quality. The issue of water quantity and quality has a huge impact on the resource.”

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