Rosebank Media Tour
As part of the Rosebank Management District’s marketing campaign, RMD precinct manager, Lerato Khiba, with their media partners Johannesburg In Your Pocket, organised a tour of the precinct for journalists and COJ officials.
See more details of the role Johannesburg In Your Pockets plays in promoting City Improvement Districts and Rosebank in particular: https://blog.inyourpocket.com/south-africa/2021/08/26/our-rosebank-media-walk-brings-stakeholders-and-city-officials-together/
The tour was an opportunity to showcase the successful work being carried out in the management district and a chance to highlight challenges that require COJ service delivery.
The following press release, including a dropbox link containing even more information and photographs, was circulated in conjunction with the walk about:
Rosebank poised to be Joburg’s first live, work, walk and play district
A vibrant vision of an integrated, diverse and walkable neighbourhood, Rosebank has in recent years emerged as Joburg’s leading mixed-use lifestyle, business and residential district. Even with the great challenges created by Covid-19, and the neighbourhood’s burgeoning development, the Rosebank district has seen a number of recent positive developments.
As Rosebank embarks on increased growth and deeper stakeholder engagement, the district is reaching out to City of Joburg entities to help cement its status as Joburg’s most successful City Improvement District.
On August 24, 2021, RMD hosted a walk in order to highlight the successes and current challenges facing the district, as well as to demonstrate the walkability of the neighbourhood.
The walk was led by RMD representatives, Lerato Khiba (Rosebank Precinct Manager), Nicole Greenstone (Hyprop), Chairperson of Rosebank Management District, and Justin Bass (Grapnel Property Group), Chairperson of Lower Rosebank Management District. In attendance were key City of Joburg officials, neighbourhood stakeholders and RMD board members.
“Cities across the globe need to develop strategies to deal with both the benefits and challenges of rapid urbanisation,” says Nicole Greenstone, Chairperson of Rosebank Management District.
“The Rosebank node has enjoyed over a decade of construction and investment. The Rosebank Management District would like to highlight the importance of developing effective public-private partnerships to successfully deal with the complexities of urban life. We aim to create an attractive and sustainable environment that is welcoming and inclusive, and takes into consideration the needs of all residents and visitors.”
The walk was designed with a number of stops, with a speaker at each representing a different aspect of the Rosebank district, and highlighting key issues about residential, commercial, lifestyle, retail, tourism and social issues pertaining to Rosebank.
Despite the many challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, under the leadership of the Rosebank Management District (RMD) stakeholder organisation, Rosebank has continued to grow and attract investment.
Many Rosebank businesses, particularly retail and hospitality, were severely affected by lockdowns and long stay-at-home orders. However, there are signs of recovery. In the coming months 1,500 Anglo American employees will move into the new Oxford Parks Precinct and the 144 Oxford Road office complex. The Gautrain plans to launch new midi-bus routes, including one to Parkhurst. Two new international hotels have arrived in the area, and with hundreds of new residential units, Rosebank is an area in demand.
Ensuring Rosebank retains its status as a safe, clean and attractive business district, RMD continues to successfully implement supplementary services such as enhanced street cleaning, security, placemaking, marketing, and engagement with organisations tackling social issues such as homelessness.
Seeking renewed engagement with the City to support sustainable densification
Bolstered by the successes of increased stakeholder and community mobilisation in the face of the pandemic, RMD now sets its sights on motivating City of Joburg authorities to uphold their commitments to improving the neighbourhood’s infrastructure and service delivery.
With practical and financial support from the City, RMD hopes to successfully resolve challenges caused by Rosebank’s rapid densification. These include sustainable upgrading of overburdened basic infrastructure; the establishment of a new dedicated taxi rank to accommodate an expanding commuter population; the eradication of rampant illegal parking; and the maintenance of Rosebank’s neglected green spaces.
New attractions coming to Joburg’s leading lifestyle district
Rosebank’s attractiveness is in its unique mix: a well-managed high-end retail and entertainment precinct offering all the amenities associated with high-functioning city life, such as: public transport links, excellent schools, a hospital, police station, pedestrianised areas and walkable streets as well as abundant tourist attractions that include art galleries, markets and the open-top City Sightseeing bus.
In 2021 more new attractions have been added and are on the way, including:
■ Radisson RED Rosebank hotel (Aug 2021)
■ Soko District retail concept at Rosebank Mall (Aug 2021)
■ voco™ Johannesburg Rosebank hotel (late 2021)
■ Chef David Higgs’ The Pantry at Keyes Art Mile (Oct 2021)
A growing corporate and residential neighbourhood
Rosebank’s transport links, abundant lifestyle attractions and amenities and high levels of walkability have helped accelerate its popularity among corporates and those looking to live the urban lifestyle.
Drawing more people into the district, in 2019 the first phase of the multi-billion rand mixed-use development, Oxford Parks, launched on the corner of Jellicoe and Oxford Roads and the construction of the 144 Oxford Road office block reached completion in 2020. From September 2021 Anglo American is set to move 1,500 employees to the two properties, joining a host of other major corporations established in the district including: Standard Bank, Coca-Cola, Pepsi Co, Redefine, Total, BP, Sony and Life Healthcare.
The past six years have also seen the construction of several new apartment blocks in Rosebank, adding hundreds of new residential units to the neighbourhood.
ABOUT ROSEBANK MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (RMD)
Rosebank Management District (RMD) is a stakeholder organisation, managed through a Section 21 company and directed by a board of elected business and property representatives from the area.
Its role is to oversee the provision of additional base services including increased public safety and security, pavement cleaning, litter collection, placemaking, district marketing and stakeholder engagement with City of Joburg entities.
The district is delineated by Oxford Rd (E), Jan Smuts Ave (W), Bolton Rd (S) and Jellicoe Ave (N). East of Bath Ave is Upper Rosebank, dominated by commercial properties, while west of Bath Ave is Lower Rosebank, with a predominance of residential properties.
The Rosebank Management District is managed by Excellerate Management Services, led by dedicated Precinct Manager Lerato Khiba.
MEDIA INFORMATION, INTERVIEWS, IMAGES AND PRESS PACK
Information compiled by Johannesburg In Your Pocket City Guide, on behalf of the Rosebank Management District.
Media enquiries for this event
BUZ: Bridget 083 263 6991 | Sneziwe 073 339 4333
Find the full press pack, including press release, fact sheet, profiles and images here: bit.ly/RMDPressPack240821