Alexandra Renewal Project
Encyclopedia
The Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP), is an urban renewal
project in Alexandra, Gauteng
, northern Johannesburg
, South Africa
. The project is one of eight urban nodes of the "Integrated Sustainable Rural Development and Urban Renewal Programme" announced by President Thabo Mbeki
in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament on 9 February 2001. This programme is a key component of the Government's approach to addressing urbanisation and housing challenges in South Africa and comprises the integrated development of an area addressing economic, social and physical challenges simultaneously.
The estimated budget in 2001 for the Alexandra Renewal Project to redevelop Alexandra was R1,3 billion over 7 years.
The Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) hoped to fundamentally change the physical, economic and social environment of Alexandra. It is a joint urban regeneration project between all three tiers of government, the private sector, NGO's
and community-based organisations. The project has gone through several administrative changes and is currently being overseen by Julian Baskin.http://www.alexandra.co.za/
In June/July 2008 the grassroots photographic project Shooting Jozi inspired by the Academy award winning documentary Born into Brothels
took place in Alex with local community members.
As township
tourism rises in South Africa, Alexandra, through the ARP, is developing its tourism industry. Local economic development and tourism is run by Associate Director Darlene Louw.
The Department of Housing recently extended the Alexandra Renewal Project to the end of the 2009/10 financial year. So far, R1,2-billion has been spent on this, and there are currently 26 infrastructure projects and 12 housing projects being implemented in Alexandra.
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
project in Alexandra, Gauteng
Alexandra, Gauteng
Alexandra or Alex for short, nicknamed Gomora is a township located in Gauteng province, South Africa. It is part of Johannesburg, close to the wealthy suburb of Sandton and is bounded by Wynberg on the west, Marlboro and Kelvin on the north, Kew, Lombardy West and Lombardy East on the south...
, northern Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The project is one of eight urban nodes of the "Integrated Sustainable Rural Development and Urban Renewal Programme" announced by President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament on 9 February 2001. This programme is a key component of the Government's approach to addressing urbanisation and housing challenges in South Africa and comprises the integrated development of an area addressing economic, social and physical challenges simultaneously.
The estimated budget in 2001 for the Alexandra Renewal Project to redevelop Alexandra was R1,3 billion over 7 years.
The Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) hoped to fundamentally change the physical, economic and social environment of Alexandra. It is a joint urban regeneration project between all three tiers of government, the private sector, NGO's
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
and community-based organisations. The project has gone through several administrative changes and is currently being overseen by Julian Baskin.http://www.alexandra.co.za/
In June/July 2008 the grassroots photographic project Shooting Jozi inspired by the Academy award winning documentary Born into Brothels
Born into Brothels
Born into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids is a 2004 American documentary film about the children of prostitutes in Sonagachi, Kolkata's red light district...
took place in Alex with local community members.
As township
Township (South Africa)
In South Africa, the term township and location usually refers to the urban living areas that, from the late 19th century until the end of Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites . Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities...
tourism rises in South Africa, Alexandra, through the ARP, is developing its tourism industry. Local economic development and tourism is run by Associate Director Darlene Louw.
The Department of Housing recently extended the Alexandra Renewal Project to the end of the 2009/10 financial year. So far, R1,2-billion has been spent on this, and there are currently 26 infrastructure projects and 12 housing projects being implemented in Alexandra.