Gemey Abrahams who holds ERA’s town planning and heritage portfolio, recently submitted a comprehensive report to the provincial heritage authorities on the history of the seven properties that will be demolished to make way for the mixed use development. These properties are below the Shell Garage and the adjacent group of townhouses and stretch down Linden Road to Gleneagles and across to Barry Hertzog.

In her report, Abrahams recommends to the Heritage authorities that:

In order to ameliorate the loss of the homes and to keep their memory alive, ERA strongly recommends that PHRA-G supports the view that elements of the ‘DNA’ of these homes is honoured and reflected in the new design of the development.
ERA recommends that:

1. More research and careful consideration be given to the houses on Erven 1100, 1099 and 1102 before a decision is taken to demolish them, as they have established historical importance for Emmarentia;
2. The essence of the Mid-Century modern architecture found in several of the houses must be reflected in the new development: these modernist influences include block patterning, repeated square or rectangular window banks;
3. The yellow and dark face brick elements of the old homes find their way into features in the new development;
4. The slate, slasto and stone accents used in the original houses and garden be incorporated into the new design through clad feature wall, pillars, flooring;
5. The herring bone parquet flooring which is found in every one of the homes to be demolished and is a strong heritage element, be repeated in the design of the new development, possibly at entrance foyers to each level of the apartment component;
6. The solid wood accents inside most of the original homes such as the wood paneling, wooden beams, wooden doors and jams find expression in the new development;
7. An annotated photo gallery of the original plans and elevations of each of the homes is incorporated into the design, in a public space, illustrating the heritage of the site;
8. Palm trees be incorporated into the landscaping design, despite being alien species, to honour the heritage of the vegetation on the site and in the area;
9. The landscaping treatment on the lowest point of the site, corner of Gleneagles and Linden Roads be sensitively considered to break up a potential monolithic parking garage wall facing residential sites;
10. The impact of the building facing onto Barry Hertzog Avenue streetscape be re-considered to break up the ‘hard’ frontage. This in addition to sensitive landscaping to ‘break up’ the alienating frontage on this important pedestrian interface;
11. That the streetscape along Linden Road be such that it enhances the existing open, grassy feel and contributes positively to this street.

Find the full report below: