Rawson Developers have moved onto their 6,562 m2 new site in Greenfield Road, Kenilworth (above the suburban railway line) and begun demolition of the double storey apartment blocks erected there some 50 years ago. The site is bounded on the other side by Harfield Road, which is being used to access the site, thereby leaving Greenfield Road residents largely undisturbed.
Carl Nortje, Managing Director of Rawson Developers, estimates that by end of this month the construction team will be in full swing with the building of the new, larger and more sophisticated sectional title complex designed to replace the previous blocks. Known as ‘Three Fountains’, the buildings here will comprise 119 units altogether and, if Rawson Developers stick to their schedule, they will be able to start handovers in September 2015.
‘Three Fountains’ will consist of two five storey blocks stepped into the fairly gentle slope of the ground so as to give two roof profiles.
Trevor Weston-Green, Rawson Developer’s Property Development Analyst, said that from the start ‘Three Fountains’ had attracted an amazing amount of buyer interest.
“It is staggering to record, but it is in fact true,” said Weston-Green, “that just nine months since the launch we are already 75% sold out without the construction team even moving onto the site and we now have only 30 apartments left to sell. Usually sales pick up once the construction stage commences as buyers acknowledge this step as confirming that the development will go ahead. Clearly, in this case, they have not needed this extra precaution, as they have simply looked at the previous developments that Rawson Developers have completed in the last few years and known that it is a safe bet.”
Weston-Green has on another occasion said that the exceptionally fast sales rate (probably the fastest in Rawson Developers’ history) has been achieved because buyers were, from the start, aware that the value for money here is exceptional. Average prices at ‘Three Fountains’ have been from R755,000 for a 32 m2 bachelor unit, from R940,000 for a 46 m2 one bedroom unit and from R1,375,000 for a 67 m2 to 71 m2 two bedroom unit.
“It has to be borne in mind,” said Weston-Green, “that this is the first apartment development in this section of Kenilworth for some 15 years and there was definitely a strong demand for it.”
A great many people throughout the Cape Peninsula and further afield, he said, have always admired the quiet, well treed, well landscaped atmosphere created by the older homes and sectional title developments in this part of Kenilworth and it has always been seen as a very desirable place in which to live. The new complex, he said, will introduce to the area certain sophisticated elements and chic modern fittings not seen here before and as the majority of its units will have balconies, north facing units will have views of the southern spine of Table Mountain, while those facing south will look across towards Muizenberg.
Parking under cover or in the open have been provided for all the residents’ vehicles within a security fence and ample visitors parking has been supplied. There will also be a 24 hour guard stationed at the entrance to the completed development on Greenfield Road which will certainly improve the security in the area.
Weston-Green stressed that although prices have been kept low, the standard of Rawson Developers’ finishes is high.
“We have, for example, used 600 mm by 600 mm square ceramic tiles in the kitchens and bathrooms and granite tops in the kitchens. We have also specified that the kitchens in all units will have ovens, hobs and extractor fans and significant power savings will be brought about by the use of heat pumps rather than the traditional electrical systems which are rapidly becoming obsolete.”
