While the Parkmore Community Association (PCA) and many Parkmore residents are up in arms about a proposed rezoning application, which will allow property owners to build more than 10 stories in the suburb, Parkmore resident Patrick O’Shea and his neighbours believe the development will uplift the area.
The proposed rezoning will change the properties to ‘special’ zoning, allowing developers to build hotels, restaurants, offices and apartment accommodation of 10 stories or more in the area.
In response to the article published in the Sandton Chronicle on 11 October titled ‘Object to Parkmore rezoning’, O’Shea said, “I have no objections to the development as planned – in fact I welcome it and so do my neighbours.”
He believes that the development will bring an end to the issue of vagrants illegally occupying vacant homes and the profusion of illegal dumping in the suburb.
“There are three derelict properties in close proximity to ours which are occupied by vagrants. The top of Helena Avenue has a permanent encampment of vagrants and drunks with a bonfire going in what is supposed to be a smokeless suburb. The servitude between Helena and Grayston is a disgraceful dumping ground with rats running around in it.”
Though he has raised the issue of property hijacking with the PCA, he says they have been powerless to address the situation.
“If we don’t allow developers, the values of our properties will be retarded. The higher density we allow, the higher the value of the properties for the developers.”
O’Shea believes the expansion of Sandton into Parkmore is inevitable and residents should welcome it. He and his neighbour, Martha Murray, believe the development will bring an end to the issue of vagrancy and dumping.
Murray said, “A development like this can only bring an improvement for Parkmore, with the vagrancy problem.”
O’Shea said he would prefer to have professionals living in hi-rise apartments as neighbours to vagrants, who he believes are most likely responsible for the crime in the area.
Though traffic will continue to be a problem with an increase in the density of the area, O’Shea believes town planners can be trusted to provide solutions to these traffic problems.
