With the aim of contributing to the upgrading of the Bellville CBD, Brönn Properties, embarked on an ambitious project to refurbish the New Boston Centre, a property with significant potential located at 85 Voortrekker Street, Bellville in Cape Town. This was under the experienced guidance of Alewyn and Gerdus Brönn.
The venture, which kicked off several years ago, was made possible with financing provided by TUHF, and subsequently breathes new life into the area.
When Brönn took over Boston Centre, originally known as the Boston Hotel and Department of Home Affairs, it was completely derelict. But, his entrepreneurial spirit, vision for the Centre, and the fact that SPAR was looking to take on a lease agreement, contributed to his decision to partner with TUHF and invest in the property.
REJUVENATING THE COMMERCIAL SECTION
The partnership with TUHF has been integral to the success of this project. With funding from TUHF exceeding R76 million, the Boston Centre – a 10-storey building spanning 8,386 sqm – has been transformed from a distressed asset to once again become a beacon of progress and vibrant feature of Bellville’s urban landscape.
As the first official tenant, the SPAR spans the ground floor. According to Brönn, it is one of the best-looking SPARs in the Western Cape.
Initially, the focus was on rejuvenating the commercial section on the ground floor, totalling 2,528 sqm. This space now consists of a SPAR and TOPS, creating a vibrant retail space that has grown phenomenally popular among the community for convenience shopping.
Ensuring accessibility and convenience entailed developing outdoor parking, with a ramp to further under cover parking spanning the first floor of the building, with 70 parking bays and two new lifts, catering to the needs of both residents and visitors in the area.
RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT
Up next, Brönn’s attention turned to the residential component of Boston Centre and meeting the demand for quality and affordable long-term rentals that would meet the need for housing in this metro.
The refurbishment included gutting most of the interior with new engineering services and interior design – from new lifts that now travel to the roof and new HVAC plant, fire and wet services engineering, all new electrical and plumbing including a heat pump system to distribute hot water throughout the building, to all new windows, fire/sound-proof doors, sanitary ware, built-in cupboards, lighting, flooring and fibre for high speed internet. Every opportunity to improve the usability and liveability of spaces was given careful consideration and today the residential capacity of the refurbished building includes 76 units that embody modern living spaces with top quality finishes on floors two through 10. The makeup of these units includes 11 two-bedroom units (54 sqm each), 18 bachelor units (26 sqm each), and 47 one-bedroom units (33 sqm each).
DEVELOPING PENTHOUSES
Looking ahead and pending approval from the City of Cape Town and availability of funds, Brönn also has his sights on developing penthouses on the roof. Furthermore, once the building has been fully let and the electricity demand/consumption can be measured to determine the business case, Brönn is considering a potential future solar installation on the roof of the building and the external parking bay structures with a micro grid to build power resilience into the development, along with other potential engineering interventions, that will offset the buildings power demand and carbon emissions.
Brönn is a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich history in property development and franchising. “I got involved in a block of rental flats in Strand and saw the opportunity in low-income areas and began building up a portfolio of commercial properties. I then had the opportunity to buy the Kensington Shopping Centre, which was run down. I cleaned it up, made it safe, and beautified it. I am passionate about taking something overlooked, restoring it and giving it new purpose,” he says.
There are two other properties under the Brönn portfolio and a longstanding relationship with The SPAR Group. Brönn’s son, Gerdus Brönn, plays a crucial role in the day-to-day management of the properties under their care. “From my side, a special note of thanks must go to my son, Gerdus, for his instrumental role in the success of the New Boston Centre project, as well as to my wife, Marlene, family and friends for advice and emotional support,” he adds.
RAPIDLY GROWING NODE
Brönn comments that there has been an influx of enquires and lease applications. “We have Revo Property onboard as our property and rental management company.
Matthew McWilliams, COO of Revo Property comments: “We have been impressed by the efficient pre-letting of the residential component prior to work completion and the high calibre of tenants now residing in the building, which are primarily medical professionals and students. Due to the resounding success of the residential and retail area components, we are bound to see a further surge in additional investment in this rapidly growing node of Belville.”
Velda Derrocks, Regional Manager for the Cape Region, says: “Boston Centre stands as a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, strategic investment, and a shared vision for urban regeneration. TUHF is proud to be part of this transformative journey, marking another milestone in our ongoing commitment to revitalising inner cities across South Africa.”
“Ultimately, without TUHF, none of this would have been possible. They have been great at understanding me as an entrepreneur and as an investor. And this project has been a significant learning curve, but a wonderful experience all at the same time, and I am very proud of what we have built,” concludes Brönn.
Source: Everything Property
