“Bridges not Barriers” is a campaign spearheaded by the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association to resist inappropriate and insensitive development in the Bo-Kaap, Central Cape Town. It also aims to contribute to the wider dialogue around the kind of city we want to live in.

A new development has been proposed on the city block bounded by Buitengracht, Rose, Shortmarket and Longmarket streets. The proposal is for a 19-storey mixed-use building with 249 residential units and 324 parking bays accessed off Shortmarket Street and with approx. 5000m2 of commercial and retail on the ground floors. This proposal is 60m high on Buitengracht St and 38m high on Rose Street. It is MUCH LARGER AND HIGHER THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE AREA, with the exception of the unattractive and out-of-place Chris Barnard Memorial Hospital. The developers need approval from the City of Cape Town to proceed, and they have asked for comments and objections from Bo-kaap residents and other interested and affected parties.

The Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association as well as many other interested and affected parties are strongly against the development, in its current form, but are in favour of sensitive, appropriate and inclusive development.  

Learn more, by reading the Summary of Development Objection or Submit an Objection to the city. Click here for more

OBJECTION DEADLINE - 18 FEBRUARY 2016.