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Hello Visitor
The Waterfront Story tells the full story of how Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront became the best waterfront development in the world; and how it now aims to become the world's most inspiring waterfront neighbourhood.
The V&A Waterfront is a major South African success. This is the first story about its success – known by many but understood by few.
The book traces how Cape Town only got its first harbour after storms wreaked havoc with shipping in Table Bay and Lloyds refused to insure ships which moored there. Work on the Alfred basin started after a delegation from Cape Town went to the British Parliament and pleaded for a harbour.
In a boom over 13 years, the city’s population tripled at the turn of the 19th century. The city enjoyed a close connection to Table Bay – fishing boats lay on Roggebaai’s beach and the Pier at the end of Adderley Street was an amenity Capetonians relished.
As shipping changed from wood to steel and sail to steam, vessels grew in size which necessitated a larger dock. The city’s disconnect to the sea followed with the reclamation of the Foreshore, and the shoreline moved 1.6km out to sea.
Catalysts for development; who made it happen?
The book tells the story behind the catalysts for the Victoria & Alfred Basins and Granger Bay redevelopment, and the critical role players – Prof Brian Kantor as chairman of the board, David Jack the first CEO, and other essential roleplayers.
How did the Waterfront get permission to start so quickly on unzoned land? And how did this approach facilitate significant mixed-use developments ever since?
In the first three years after Council’s adoption of that approach, phases one and two were planned, designed and constructed – with the conservation of historic buildings for new uses on Pierhead and Portswood Ridge and the 26,500m² Victoria Wharf festival marketplace.
How did the pioneers establish the waterfront brand early on? What made Capetonians queue to get into Ferrymans – its first pub – and later Bertie’s Landing? How did the Waterfront become the most awarded and popular destination in Africa with 24 million visitors a year?
South Africa’s most valuable property
The Waterfront achieved the highest price for a property transaction in South Africa twice – R7 billion in 2006 and R9,7 billion in 2012. There was remarkable new development under CEO David Green and, at the end of 2019, the Waterfront was valued at almost R19 billion.
While one penthouse at the One&Only Hotel sold for R119 million in 2014 – an African record at the time – a one-bedroom apartment at the Waterfront Marina which sold for R1 million in 2000, will resell for about R6 million today.
The book looks at the impacts of Cadre Deployment – David Jack’s resignation in 2002 following which, between May and December 2002, the board and its committees met 94 times! It had become jobs for pals. And the book shows how the Waterfront escaped State Capture.
When Victoria Wharf opened in 1992, many proclaimed it would be a six-month wonder. It proved them wrong, growing continuously over six phases to over 80,000m². David Green made the Waterfront a regional centre for locals. Over 25,000 people now work at the Waterfront, over 300,000 bed nights are sold annually in the hotels, and nearly 1,000 apartments add to the resident population. The Waterfront increasingly also became an international destination. In recent years, the Silo District with Zeitz MOCAA captured the world's imagination.
The ‘Greenest’ property on the African continent
The Waterfront also wins at sustainability. The Waterfront currently has 12 Green Star rated buildings, making it the greenest property on the African continent. The Waterfront has plans to become carbon neutral by 2030 and the decision has been taken to ensure that it can operate off the grids – electricity, water, waste and sewerage. In three years’ time, no waste from the Waterfront will go to landfill sites; everything will be recycled, composted or processed in a Waste-to-Energy plant, where bricks are a by-product.
In 2014, the Waterfront won the World Responsible Tourism Award for Best Destination for Responsible Tourism. In November 2021, it received their Global Award in recognition of its efforts towards sustaining employees and communities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the most inspiring story in the book is the untold story of growing the culture of a winning company.
There is much more in this lavishly illustrated, 160-page book written by Carl Momberg in collaboration with David Green and David Jack.
Carl Momberg founded Architecture SA in 1978. He worked with the Waterfront Steering Committee from 1979 to 1988 to promote the redevelopment of the Waterfront, initiating and organizing the Pierhead festival in 1985. He worked with the Waterfront management from 1989 to 1999 and published The Waterfront Review. He owns the website capeinfo.com.
David Green, a charted accountant, has been CEO of the V&A Waterfront since 2009. He was highly regarded for his management skills in the UK, South America and the Middle East. Particular expertise that benefits the Waterfront was implementing a culture change at privatised UK ports, to create a more entrepreneurial & innovative culture. He also brings experience in converting old industrial buildings for new commercial uses, understanding the importance of retaining the “grain and grit” to provide authenticity and atmosphere.
David Jack graduated from UCT, Architectural Association in London, and UCLA in the USA in architecture and urban design. He worked at Anglo American, City of Cape Town as City Planner, and V&AW as first CEO. He received the Order of the Disa from Western Cape Government in 2003, Die Burger Business Leader of Year in 1996, and Gold medals from the Institute of South African Architects and Simon van der Stel Foundation.
The book's retail selling price will be R369 but you can buy it now for a discounted price of R314 at waterfront.capeinfo.com. If you buy five copies or more, there is a further discount of 10%. So buy now! – the number of copies available after publication will be limited because the print order is based on pre-sales.
It is a book that Capetonians and visitors will love. Everyone in the hospitality, tourism and property industries will find the book informative and inspiring. And local government should take note of the lessons for success. It is a perfect gift for family, friends and corporate clients. The book will be published during January 2022.
The page layouts shown above are from an early draft. Images and content might change. More and newer pages from the draft are at the website address above.
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