Cape Town is planning to transform Erf 2187 in Green Point into a vibrant neighborhood with homes, shops, parks, and easy public transport. The city wants the area to be affordable and welcoming for people from all backgrounds, mixing new buildings with historic charm. Residents are invited to share their ideas to help shape this exciting project. With strong bus links and green spaces, Erf 2187 aims to become a lively, connected place where everyone can live, work, and play. This redevelopment is a big step toward a greener, fairer, and more inclusive Cape Town.
Cape Town plans to transform Erf 2187 into a mixed-use, affordable, and inclusive neighborhood featuring housing, shops, public spaces, and strong MyCiTi transit links. The project emphasizes public participation, heritage preservation, sustainable mobility, and social integration to shape Green Point’s urban future.
Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard buzzes with anticipation as the city moves to open up Erf 2187 on Three Anchor Bay Road for new development. This move marks more than just a change in land use – it signals a deeper process of transformation, inviting residents to actively participate in shaping the city’s next era. Cape Town’s leaders frame this initiative not as a simple property transaction, but as an essential step in balancing heritage with growth, and fostering a city that welcomes all.
Walk along Three Anchor Bay Road and you feel the area’s complexity: it is where echoes of the past meet the energy of change. The city’s intention to redevelop Erf 2187 stands as both a response to and a reflection of Cape Town’s broader shifts, including ongoing debates about inclusion and urban renewal in South Africa. In opening up dialogue around this site, the city affirms that the future of Green Point will be written not just in policy meetings, but through everyday interactions with the people who call this place home.
Nestled between iconic destinations – such as the Sea Point Promenade, Green Point Urban Park, DHL Stadium, and the V&A Waterfront – the site occupies an influential position, both geographically and symbolically. Its inclusion in the Urban Inner Core of the Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF), as well as its status in the recent Table Bay District Spatial Development Framework, highlights the city’s belief that this area holds the key to unlocking new opportunities for all Capetonians.
The surroundings of Erf 2187 pulse with the spirit of past urban experiments. A short distance away, lush parks and waterfront paths evoke Ebenezer Howard’s garden city ideals – places where urban life flourishes amidst green open spaces. Cape Town now faces the challenge of updating these principles for the present age: focusing on density, social mix, and the ability for people of varied backgrounds to live, work, and relax nearby.
Alderman James Vos, voicing the city’s intent, stresses that this is not just about maximizing profits. Instead, he speaks of a vision where economic activity, social interaction, and robust public spaces come together in a vibrant, sustainable precinct. This aspiration calls for careful design, ensuring that new development strengthens the fabric of Green Point rather than eroding its unique character.
Recent decades have seen cities around the world transform under similar pressures. In Berlin’s Hackescher Markt or Barcelona’s famed Eixample, mixed-use neighborhoods have ushered in economic and cultural renewal. Cape Town brings its own history and challenges to the table, striving for a model that combines market-rate and affordable housing – a crucial ingredient for genuine inclusivity. The city sees Erf 2187 as a chance to redress historical divides by promoting affordable inner-city living and supporting the “right to the city” for all its residents.
The plan for Erf 2187 centers on mixed-use development – a concept that places homes, shops, cafes, and public amenities side by side. This model encourages not only higher residential density but also the creation of lively, walkable neighborhoods. The project’s location, directly accessible from Green Point Main Road and within reach of major transport links, makes it an ideal place to demonstrate the benefits of integrated urban living.
As developers and city planners draw up their designs, they look to the successes and lessons of other cities. European postwar examples show that when retail, residential, and public spaces coexist, neighborhoods thrive. For Cape Town, the challenge lies in creating an environment where affordability and diversity are not afterthoughts, but foundational elements. Ensuring that different income groups and backgrounds can live and work side by side represents a key goal.
Affordable infill housing remains at the heart of the proposal. Strategic use of this prime land offers the possibility to bridge gaps caused by decades of spatial and economic segregation. City officials draw inspiration from Henri Lefebvre’s vision of urban justice, aiming to make Green Point a test case for inclusive urban policy. By infusing new development with social purpose, the city seeks to create a neighborhood that feels open, accessible, and welcoming to all.
No urban neighborhood thrives without solid transport connections. Green Point’s proximity to the MyCiTi Atlantic Corridor ensures that future residents and visitors can move easily within the city. The MyCiTi network, known for its reliable and high-frequency services along the Atlantic seaboard, stands as a backbone for the city’s mobility ambitions.
In many parts of Cape Town, car ownership remains out of reach for most people. Reliable public transport is essential for connecting communities and supporting economic opportunity. The city plans to leverage the expansion of MyCiTi services, encouraging residents to shift away from cars and toward sustainable transit. International cities such as Curitiba, Brazil, have demonstrated the power of transit-oriented development (TOD) in shaping equitable, vibrant urban districts. Cape Town draws on these lessons, weaving transit accessibility into every stage of planning to help reduce congestion and build more connected neighborhoods.
Enhancing public transport goes hand in hand with the city’s broader goals for sustainability. By focusing on bus rapid transit and walkable design, planners hope to ease daily commutes, reduce pollution, and foster a more inclusive urban landscape. Ensuring that MyCiTi remains accessible and efficient will be critical for the long-term success of any new development in Green Point.
Big projects often attract big rumors. Not long ago, some residents worried that a futuristic “skytrain” might be in the works for Green Point. In response, Councillor Rob Quintas addressed the public directly, confirming that no such plans exist. Instead, the city remains committed to strengthening road-based public transport and expanding MyCiTi services, particularly where demand is greatest.
This emphasis on clear communication reflects lessons from cities worldwide, where poorly managed public engagement has led to mistrust or opposition. Cape Town’s leadership intends to avoid such pitfalls by providing consistent, accessible updates and maintaining open channels for citizen questions and concerns. Councillor Quintas’ comments reinforce the city’s pragmatic approach: focus resources on proven solutions, while extending service into under-served communities like Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha.
Honesty and openness are more than just public relations strategies – they are essential ingredients for building trust and achieving lasting urban change. By addressing misinformation head-on, the city signals respect for its residents and confidence in the collaborative process of urban development.
Perhaps the most distinctive element of the Erf 2187 initiative lies in its robust public participation process. From July 25 to August 25, 2025, the city invites all stakeholders – residents, local businesses, civic groups, and anyone with a vested interest – to submit their views and suggestions. This is far more than a bureaucratic requirement; it is an opportunity for real democratic engagement.
Cape Town encourages feedback on a range of pressing issues: how best to use the land, ways to ensure affordable housing, strategies for managing traffic, the preservation of heritage features, and the overall look and feel of the development. Residents can take part through an online portal, email, or by visiting the Desmond & Leah Tutu Building in person. Each submission promises to shape the ongoing dialogue, recalling the participatory design workshops of urban visionaries like Jane Jacobs, who understood that successful cities grow from the input of their communities.
Looking ahead, the city’s process extends into multi-phase engagement, including design workshops and statutory planning applications set for 2026. This iterative approach recognizes that urban development requires ongoing conversation, adjustment, and collaboration. It ensures that Green Point’s future will reflect not only the expertise of planners but also the lived experiences and aspirations of its people.
Transforming Green Point demands sensitivity to the area’s architectural and social history. Victorian houses, Art Deco buildings, and mid-century storefronts all contribute to the neighborhood’s distinctive identity. Any new project must find ways to acknowledge and celebrate this heritage, even as it introduces modern elements and addresses contemporary needs.
Urban planners often look to international case studies where thoughtful design has managed to integrate new buildings without erasing the character of established neighborhoods. In Cape Town, the stakes are high – not only in terms of aesthetics, but also in confronting the legacies of exclusion and inequality. The city’s approach combines respect for the past with a focus on inclusiveness and resilience, aiming to build a Green Point that is both authentic and forward-looking.
This careful balance extends to public spaces as well. The best urban districts weave green areas, public art, and community facilities into their design, transforming developments into true neighborhoods. Cape Town strives to create a place where new stories can unfold and where future generations can feel a sense of belonging.
The redevelopment of Erf 2187 represents a microcosm of Cape Town’s wider ambitions. As the city grows and faces challenges related to climate, equity, and rapid change, each land use decision carries profound implications. By championing transparency, affordable housing, and sustainable mobility, Cape Town signals its readiness to meet these challenges head-on.
Though the technical planning and regulatory reviews will continue for months and years, this moment stands as a rare chance for collective visioning. Everyone – from promenade walkers and MyCiTi commuters, to families seeking affordable homes and entrepreneurs with new ideas – has a stake in what unfolds.
To ensure every voice gets heard, the city offers multiple ways to participate: the “Have Your Say” portal, direct communication with the project team, and the option for in-person submissions. In this process, every comment contributes to shaping Green Point’s next chapter – not just as a plan on paper, but as a shared reality that will define the city’s character for generations to come.
Cape Town aims to transform Erf 2187 into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood that combines affordable housing, shops, parks, and public amenities. The project emphasizes inclusivity, heritage preservation, and sustainable urban living with strong connections to the MyCiTi bus rapid transit system. It will blend new development with Green Point’s historic character to create a lively and welcoming community where people from all backgrounds can live, work, and play.
Public engagement is a cornerstone of the redevelopment. From July 25 to August 25, 2025, residents, businesses, civic organizations, and other stakeholders are invited to provide feedback through online portals, email, or in-person submissions at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Building. The city plans ongoing, multi-phase consultations, including design workshops and statutory planning processes, to ensure community voices shape the development continuously.
Transportation is critical to the project’s success. Erf 2187 is strategically located near the MyCiTi Atlantic Corridor, providing residents and visitors with reliable, high-frequency public transit. The city intends to encourage transit-oriented development (TOD) to reduce car dependency, alleviate congestion, and support sustainable mobility. Expanded MyCiTi services will connect Green Point to greater Cape Town, enhancing accessibility and economic opportunities.
The redevelopment respects Green Point’s rich architectural and social heritage, including Victorian, Art Deco, and mid-century buildings. Urban planners aim to integrate new construction sensitively, preserving the neighborhood’s unique character while addressing modern needs. Public spaces, green areas, and community facilities will also reflect this balance, fostering a sense of place that honors the past while embracing future growth.
Affordable housing is central to the plan. By utilizing prime inner-city land, the project seeks to address historic spatial and economic segregation – offering a mix of market-rate and affordable homes. This supports Cape Town’s broader goal to promote social integration and the “right to the city” for residents of all income levels, ensuring that Green Point becomes a truly inclusive neighborhood.
Erf 2187 is a key part of Cape Town’s Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF) and the Table Bay District Spatial Development Framework. It represents a commitment to sustainable, equitable urban growth that tackles challenges like climate change, social inequality, and rapid urbanization. By emphasizing transparency, public input, mixed-use planning, and transit connectivity, Cape Town aims to shape a greener, fairer, and more connected future for the entire city.
If you want to learn more or submit your ideas, visit the city’s official “Have Your Say” portal or attend upcoming community workshops. Your participation will help shape Green Point’s next chapter!
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