In just over two years, Amdec Property Development turned a plot of vacant land on the banks of the Roggebaai Canal, into a world-class mixed-use development. The Yacht Club has already delivered excellent return on investment for early purchasers, and has contributed to the positive change in the Foreshore area of Cape Town.
The Amdec Group’s vision of building a mixed-use precinct on this site, was aligned with the City of Cape Town’s plans for the future. This development enjoys quick and easy access to the N1 and N2, it’s a short walk from the Cape Town International Convention Centre and the downtown business district, and there is pedestrian gate leading directly to the V&A Waterfront and its award-winning Silo District, home to the prestigious Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art.
With The Yacht Club apartments having sold out in record time, the leasing of the office suites marks the next phase in the life cycle of the development. “This is a great place to establish an office, or base a business, because of the central location. We’ve also made a point of being able to accommodate both established ventures and up-and-coming companies,” says Nicholas Stopforth, Managing Director of Amdec Property Development.
Shape solution
Stopforth continues, “The constraints we had to contend with, in terms of the dimensions of this site, required careful planning and meticulous work during construction, but we knew the location would make sense for our purchasers and investors, and that’s why we built here.” Amdec Property Development also own and operate the popular Melrose Arch mixed-use precinct in Johannesburg.
“We worked hard to maximise what we had to work with here at The Yacht Club. Even though there were unique challenges – including being on the banks of a saltwater canal – we were determined to build here because we believe in this area and we’re positive about its prospects,” says Stopforth.
Partnerships
“Thanks to strong working relationships with dedicated partners, like WBHO, we were able to complete construction in just over two years – a fantastic feat. We started in September 2016 and ended in November last year,” Stopforth says.
The result: A development comprising a total of 170 luxury residential apartments, 188 hotel rooms at Africa’s first AC Hotel by Marriott, 6,000m2 of prime commercial office space, and two basement levels offering more than 600 parking bays.
“In December, the AC Hotel by Marriott opened its doors, with bumper bookings for the festive season, and the momentum continues. In April we released the commercial office space, spanning 6,000m2,” Stopforth says.
“We have a fantastic in-house team of experts who work on our big developments, but we don’t work alone – our partners play an integral role in our success. These include WBHO on the construction side, our technical consultants, and Marriott International, who are our hospitality partners. Working with such top brands in the respective industries, gives us great confidence that we can deliver top-quality end-products to market,” says Stopforth.
Sustainability
The development is built on sustainable principles. An on-site desalination plant provides enough potable water to supply the entire building. And Stopforth says, “The plant has capacity to scale upwards and enable us to supply surrounding buildings in the event of another prolonged drought like the one Cape Town endured recently.”
Double glazing has been used on windows, energy-efficient LED lights and motion-sensor lights have been installed throughout, and landscaping was done using indigenous plants.
Sustainability is a feature of all projects in the Amdec Property Development portfolio. The Melrose Arch precinct is renowned for its advanced environmental features and the large new Harbour Arch development in Cape Town, will have a range of features focused on the environment and sustainability. As the Amdec Group is a founding member of the Green Building Council of South Africa, it makes sense for Amdec Property Development to take its responsibility towards the environment seriously.
The size and scope of its projects underscore the belief within the Amdec Group that there is reason to be positive about the future of South Africa. Stopforth explains, “History tells us that an economic downturn is invariably followed by a recovery. We are building and selling now because this places our purchasers and investors in prime position when the economy turns. But it also creates jobs and opportunities now, when they are needed most. This is indicative of the role we want to play in South Africa’s future.”