The Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), an entity of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) is currently preparing designs for a facelift for one of Port Elizabeth’s oldest building. Nelson Mandela Bay residents will be pleased to know that a multi – million rand investment has been set aside for the historic Tramways building on Baaken’s Street.
Before the Tramways building was burnt down in an accidental fire in the late 90’s, the building, which is over 100 years old, was used as an ice rink which was a popular place to visit by residents in the Bay. The MBDA has appointed the Aurecon Group, Davis Langdon Quantity Surveyors and Dominic Bonnesse Architects for the facelift. The development agency, through funding from NMBM, will be investing approximately R20 million in the Tramways redevelopment, and are currently preparing designs for the building for which construction should be completed by the end of 2014. “We will be using the building for our new office space which we will possibly share with Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT), by investing in and working from the Tramways building, we hope that businesses and the private sector in the Bay will follow public sector investment and move back to the CBD” said MBDA CEO Pierre Voges.
“The puzzle which we have been building piece by piece since 2005 is coming together nicely, it is encouraging to see companies like Boomtown and popular coffee shop Roastmasters operating their businesses in the Baaken’s Valley area as that is what we would like to achieve by investing in the CBD” added Voges.
The MBDA will also be commencing with Phase 1 of the Belmont Terrace Environmental Upgrade in central which is roughly a R10 million investment and includes an upgrade of part of Bird Street, Belmont Terrace, Trinder Square and the Little Theatre in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Construction should be completed by the first quarter of 2014.
Alan Straton
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We took a stroll past this very sad building the other day and there truly isn’t very much left of it – I honestly can not believe that our City Fathers have absolutely no regard for Architecture or to ensure that buildings, as old as this, are looked after and maintained. It is an absolute eye sore. We had to try to explain to our impressionable children that this is not how things should be treated. Lets hope that they can somehow restore the building to its former beauty. Lots of luck and money will be required – not sure that R20 mil will be enough.
its a totl watste of p.e peoples ties to get out history jus turned into a office space yur work sucks p.e is dead as it is alredy wht take our youths hitory away..this building is our legacy