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MOSSEL BAY NEWS -  Blocks of flats are being built and some are due to be built, changing the face of the historic "old town" section of Mossel Bay somewhat.

On the corner of Marsh and Muir streets, across the road from Milkwood Primary School, a three-storey, modern apartment block is planned. 

PHOTO GALLERY:  Blocks of flats

There is a large sign with an artist's impression of the proposed block, outside the current building, which used to be a backpackers' establishment.

Currently a coffee shop is housed in part of the premises. The whole premises, which is 1 Marsh Street, will be demolished to make way for the block of flats, which will have an entertainment area and swimming pool on the roof.

These upmarket apartments will be the new neighbour of the historically significant Milkwood Primary School and St Blaize Terrace, both large sandstone premises.Another apartment block, comprising six units, is being built close to the St Blaize Lighthouse. The back of this block is on Montagu Street.

No 1 Marsh Street.

Also of interest and near Milkwood Primary School, is a high-density residential development planned for Beach Street, which will comprise 48 units, according to Mossel Bay Municipality's directorate: Planning and Economic Development.

With regards to the pending demolition of the old backpackers' building on the corner of Marsh and Muir streets, Heritage Mossel Bay chair Carina Wiggill said: "The heritage impact was assessed by a professional practitioner. Heritage Mossel Bay gave input from both heritage and aesthetic points of view. The proposal was sent to Heritage Western Cape, because the premises dates to 1939/40.

"It was deemed not to be conservation worthy. We did not resist the demolition."

Proposed urban renewal

Wiggill said the development was deemed part of the municipality's proposed urban renewal for Mossel Bay.

"The architects and developers work together with a practitioner who handles these matters. The planning has been going on for a year.

"A demolition permit was granted in October 2022. Heritage Western Cape had to give approval for the demolition because of the age of the property - more than 60 years old," Wiggill said.
"What it is being replaced with is within the scope of the framework planned for the town. In this instance the developers did not have to apply a change of land use. It was no longer used as a residential property."

The back of the new building in Montagu Street. Photos: Linda Sparg

The development of flats in the central business district of Mossel Bay was a stage in the revitalisation of the town centre, municipality's Planning and Economic Development directorate noted in a statement.

"The aim of the revitalisation project is to protect the historic sense of the place, while bringing residents back into the area."

The statement noted that projects such as the development of the Point area, the Mossel Bay central business district tourist route and changing Harry Giddey Park "into a vibrant community open space" were aimed at creating spaces where families wanted to live.
Besides Heritage Mossel Bay, the Mossel Bay Aesthetics Committee was also party to the planning of these developments.

The statement concluded that the establishment of more residents in the central business district would support businesses such as restaurants, coffee shops and convenience retail stores, creating sustainable economic growth.

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