November 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
18
TheR650-millionAAA-gradeKatherine&West commercial development,
rapidly taking shape in the heart of the Sandton CBD, has sold all its
sectional title offices since launching to market in September 2011.
However, several office suites are still available for lease, ranging
from140m² to 1 200m², for those businesses interested in becoming
tenants of this prestigious landmark.
property
SITUATED ON THE CORNER
of the prominent Katherine and West
streets in Sandton, the development comprises 21 000 m² and of-
fers eight storeys of office space above which seven exclusive luxury
penthouses are located.There are also six levels of underground park-
ing. The development’s state-of-the-art design and unique glass
façades will ensure it becomes a landmark on the Sandton skyline
on completion.
Katherine &West is situated only 100m from the Sandton Gautrain
Station. The area has attracted top corporates like Ernst & Young and
THE APPROVAL COMES
alongside plans
by the City of Cape Town to invest in
pedestrianizing the area with paving and
landscaping the station forecourt and
access roads.
According to acclaimed shopping
centre architect Boets Smuts, of Smuts &
de Kock Architects, the development of
the centre and the gentrification plans by
the city went hand-in-hand.
The centrewas designed to be‘pleasant and convenient’, explains
Smuts. “It will be the first convenient shopping centre for Langa.
There is a need for centres like this, so people do not need to take a
train to town to do their shopping,”he says.“It is also very central and
will be in walking distance for many residents in the suburbs, while
the Epping industrial area is situated just across the railway line.”
KrispProperties executive director JordanMann said the planwas
for the centre to be a hub for public transport commuters.
According to town planners NuPlan, the lack of amenities in
Langa township and the adjoining Epping industrial area “more
than warrants the construction of a
local shopping centre, as no other
commercial/retail opportunities ex-
ists within the immediate environs”.
“Due to the proximity of the pro-
posed shopping centre to the Langa
Station, the centre has beendesigned
around the pedestrianwith easy, safe
and well-balanced pedestrian links,
walkways and landscaping,” says
NuPlan town planner, Dirk Larsen.
“The centre will form an integral part of the Langa Station
precinct. It will be an easily accessible centre, allowing residents
sustainable access to amenities and allowing for fewer long-distance
trips, reducing travelling expenses in general.”
●
High demand for
prestigious development
Alexander Forbes, the latter situateddirectly opposite Katherine &West
in their new 36 000 m² headquarters. Sasol andWebber Wentzel have
recently announced that they will also be moving in to new offices in
this revitalised core of the Sandton CBD. More and more companies
are establishing themselves near arterial roads with convenient
access to highways, Gautrain stations and support infrastructure such
as retail and hotels.
“The market’s reaction to Katherine & West has been extremely
positive, as was the casewith another BarrowProperties development,
1 & 3 Melrose Boulevard in Melrose Arch, which was highly sought
after by prospective buyers and tenants alike,”comments Paul Barrow,
CEO of BarrowProperties.“Most likely this was due to the prime-grade
commercial space coupled with Melrose Arch’s excellent location.
We are envisioning a similar trend with Katherine &West.”
Following the strong sales performance, andwith a notable portion
of the buyers being investors, themarketing drive is shifting to leasing
units in 2014.“We anticipate that therewill nowbe strong letting inter-
est,”says Barrow.“The building offers prospective tenants a AAA-grade
environment with each tenant enjoying an exclusive entrance and their
own amenities. Leases are currently being concluded at R175 per m²
net and sizes range from 140 m² upwards.”
The handover date is scheduled for December 2013 and the build-
ingwill be occupied from1March 2014. Companies taking occupancy
in Katherine & West include various professional firms and boutique
financial services companies.
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About Barrow Group
The Barrow Group comprises Barrow
Construction and Barrow Properties.
The latter is involved in the assembly,
acquisition and development of land for
commercial purposes. The main focus
is on office development in and around
Johannesburg. Completed buildings are
generallymade available for saleor lease.
Barrow Construction is responsible
for all the construction work on the
projects but is also involved in contract
work for third party clients and is active
in the tender arket.
The group is family-owned and man-
aged with the fifth generation currently
at the helm.
Go-ahead for Langa shopping centre
Johannesburg developers Krisp Properties have
been given the go-ahead to develop a 5 000 m²
pedestrianised shopping centre alongside Cape
Town’s busy Langa train station.
