The first quarter of 2012 has seen a continuation of flat market conditions in Cape Town for the office sector with vacancies in certain nodes showing increases on the previous quarter’s figures.

Dave Russell, a director of Baker Street Properties, says,” We have seen a steady increase in office vacancies since 2009 as confirmed in the quarterly SAPOA Office Vacancy Survey, however, with few new buildings coming on stream in the short term there is every possibility that vacancies may be reaching their peak.”

Russell adds that significant change has been recorded in the CBD, where combined vacancies are now reaching 12% and are at levels last seen in 2003. Of greater concern is that in Claremont combined vacancies are heading towards 20%. This is up from 13.7% in the previous quarter.

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Whether we like it or not, our parents get older and at some stage or another are going to have to move into accommodation which suits their changing needs. It is widely recognised that South Africa has a major shortage of retirement accommodation and even if someone is lucky enough to secure a home in a retirement complex or old age home, the cost of such a luxury is generally high.

The granny flat option has always been a popular choice in this country, and for good reason. Having your parents living in close proximity not only saves money, but ensures that their needs – and your peace of mind – are taken care of.

There are some financial benefits too as generally speaking, a granny flat adds value to a property in the long term. With all of these perks one could assume that the decision to house one’s parents on the property is a win-win situation. However, there are drawbacks and implications that need to be considered before committing to the idea.

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When it comes to leisure or recreation activities we often forget to consider the impact our favourite sports may have. While an active, outdoor lifestyle is healthy for you we have to ask, “Is it healthy for the planet?”

One of the biggest contributing factors is plastic waste. During and after field sports players will drink electrolyte drinks from plastic bottles. Cyclists use gel sachets and supplements from plastic tubs. At running events and triathlons water is often handed out in plastic sachets. While most of these sachets are picked up and thrown in a bin (there are some unsavoury elements who choose to litter though this is more an exception than a rule), it doesn’t change the fact that weekend exercise routines use a great deal of plastic and that participants use a lot of water.

A dilapidated 1928 heritage building in Hillbrow Johannesburg has been restored, renovated and converted into a world-class health and research facility.

A dilapidated 1928 heritage building in Hillbrow Johannesburg has been restored, renovated and converted into a world-class health and research facility.

The Vodacom Altron Altech Centre Hillbrow Health Precinct for Specialised Services stands on the site of the formerly defunct Hillbrow Hospital.

VAAC is a health and research facility offering specialised health service to women and vulnerable children infected with Tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and sexually transmitted infections.

Specialist contractors GVK Siya Zama were enlisted to restore, renovate and convert the dilapidated, 1928 heritage building, its three-storey operating theatre and main x-ray department block into consultation and delivery rooms.

The renovations also involved transforming another building on the site into an antiretroviral clinic and pharmacy for the community.

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THE prospects for the South African commercial property sector for this year could be best described as “cautiously optimistic” when compared with last year, says Marc Wainer, CEO of SA’s second largest property group Redefine Properties.

On Friday, Mr Wainer said the South African property market continued to move through the lower leg of the economic cycle, with certain segments experiencing an upturn, albeit slowly.

For the South African listed property sector, like other asset classes, last year was shaped by credit events, political change and indecision, and natural disasters.

Many commercial property owners seem to be unaware of the content of an obscure but vital clause in the Construction Regulations 2003. These regulations emanate from The Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 85 of 1993, and took 10 years to be gazetted. The regulation concerned may in time have serious negative consequences for the insurance of commercial buildings. The Regulation under Section 9(4) states as follows:

Any owner of a structure shall ensure that inspections of that structure upon completion are carried out periodically by competent persons in order to render the structure safe for continued use: Provided that the inspections are carried out at least once every six months for the first two years and thereafter yearly and records of such inspections are kept and made available to an inspector upon request.

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Green Building in South Africa will take hold in the mainstream when the tenants of buildings push for a more sustainable built environment.

Tenants are starting to drive the transformation by becoming more environmentally conscious of broader issues such as climate change, enhanced living conditions and responsible developers are experiencing the increased interest, reiterates Brian Wilkinson, chief executive officer of GBCSA.

The way to ensure this market demand is through education, says Amdec’s head of sustainability, Josef Quraishi.

Long-term energy and water savings, which translate into cost savings, are steadily pushing business and homeowners to seek out green buildings, rather than leaving it up to built environment professionals, he says.

Amdec’s latest residential development – Forty on Oak located within the Melrose Arch precinct was the first in South Africa to achieve a 4 Star Green Star SA Multi-Unit Residential Pilot Design rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA).