Dear Observatory residents and businesses There couldn’t be a more important time to join and get involved in your Civic to have a say in matters that affect you. We know, for example, that the owners of the River Club continue to claim falsely in the press that the opposition to the River Club is…
Can Jeff Bezos stop controversial River Club redevelopment?
An aerial view of The River Club. Observatory residents fear a proposed R4 billion redevelopment of the club will mean the loss of public open space along the Liesbeek River. File picture: Andrew Ingram. NEWS | By Bulelwa Payi | Nov 1, 2020 CAPE TOWN – In a last-ditch effort to halt the controversial River Club redevelopment,…
Update on the Liquor Licence Application by “Springbok pub”
In 2019, the owner of the Springbok Pub applied for a liquor license. His application was for trading as a pub both indoors at 42 Lower Main Rd, and outdoors in the back courtyard. OCA, along with local residents, lodged an objections against the application. The objections were focused specifically on the application to trade…
Essentially Obs ( formerly Tagores ) “Where plant shop meets padstal”
Local bakers provide Essentially Obs with its daily bread and other bakes. (Photo: Sebastian Hermansen) NEWS | By Melanie Farrell | 30 October 2020 Essentially Obs is the essence of a close community and everything it sells has a story. The four women behind the pop-up co-op talk about daily essentials and opening up during…
OBS CAN Feed you WhatsApp group
PHOTO: Prepping one of OCFY’s daily meals Since the Covid pandemic prompted declaration of a state of disaster, Obs CAN has coordinated solidarity with our neighborhood’s most vulnerable residents. [the CAN has helped connect people with medical, legal, and other kinds of assistance.] One of the most important needs is food. building on the long-standing efforts…
Ruling by the Municipal Planning Tribunal on 30 September 2020
Read HERE the Municipal Planning Tribunal Ruling on the 30 September 2020 Below we share four of the appeals which were lodged against the above ruling 1. OCA Appeal OCA Full appeal Appeal Form Information which wasn’t made available for public comment Impact Assessments Detailed response to MPT reasons Response to Heritage Impacts Visual Impact…
NDIFUNA UKWAZI APPEALS AGAINST CITY APPROVAL FOR RIVER CLUB DEVELOPMENT
PRESS STATEMENT 23 October 2020 Today, Ndifuna Ukwazi lodged an appeal against the unanimous approval by the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) of the fiercely contested River Club development in Observatory. The present owners and developer of the land, Liesbeek Leisure Properties Pty (Ltd), bought the land from a parastatal institution –…
The Liesbeek River – a “neglected stormwater gutter” or a “powerful historic symbol”?
24 October 2020 | by Leslie London | Cape Town, South Africa On Monday 26th October, the Observatory Civic Association and many other objectors will submit appeals to the City over its rezoning decision to permit the construction of a mini-Century City on the River Club grounds owned the Liesbeek Leisure Property Trust (LLPT), a decision…
Now you see it, now you don’t – the fate of the South African Astronomical Observatory
30 October 2020 | by Leslie London | Cape Town, South Africa The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) recently celebrated its 200th birthday. As a National Heritage site, and in line to be declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, you would think its concerns about the River Club development, proposed to take place within some metres of the SAAO…
Housing activists appeal against River Club development
NEWS | By Lisa Isaacs | Oct 26, 2020 Cape Town – Housing activist group Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU) in its appeal against the Municipal Planning Tribunal’s (MPT) approval of the River Club development says the site has “undisputable historical-political significance as a result of its complex history”. NU lodged its appeal against the approval by the…