How Blackheath benefits from being a City Improvement District

Blackheath is a thriving industrial node in the beautiful city of Cape Town – centrally located between Brackenfell, Kuils River, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Cape Town Airport and within close proximity to the Stellenbosch arterial and N1 and N2 highways. It has gained popularity among tenants and landlords throughout recent years largely due to its status as a City Improvement District which stemmed from a local desire to establish and maintain a safe, clean and well-managed industrial area which will attract new investment to this prominent industrial node.

What does it mean to be a City Improvement District/Special Ratings Area?

City Improvement Districts like Blackheath are also known as Special Rating Areas (SRAs) and form part of the City of Cape Town’s Integrated Development Plan. A Special Rating Area (SRA) refers to a clearly defined geographical area, in which property owners contribute additional rates to fund ‘top-up’ services for that specific area as per the approved Business Plan. They are governed by Section 22 of the Municipal Property Rates Act (MPRA), the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), the Companies Act (Non-Profit Company – NPC), the SA Constitution and the City of Cape Town’s Special Rating Area By-law of 2012. Within the city of Cape Town there are currently 39 established Special Rating Areas, including Blackheath industria.

Other recently added Special Rating Areas include Northpine in Brackenfell, Beaconvale in Parow, Penzance Estate in Hout Bay, and Marconi Beam in Montague Gardens – with Northpine being the largest residential Special Rating Area in Cape Town. 

For communities who wish to enjoy municipal services of a higher level, a Special Rating Area provides them with the option of paying for these additional services, which should be affordable and sustainable. These types of services would typically include dealing with Urban Management issues like additional public safety measures, cleaning services, maintenance of infrastructure, upgrading of the environment, and social services to name but a few.

The benefits enjoyed by City Improvement Districts/SRAs like Blackheath are numerous. By pooling their resources in an SRA, individual property owners can enjoy the collective benefits of a well-managed area, a shared sense of communal pride, safety and social responsibility, and access to joint initiatives such as waste recycling, energy-efficiency programs, etc. In the end, these all create a tangible boost in property values and capital investments. Some other benefits that SRAs enjoy include:

•Cleaning of the streets and communal areas
•Landscaping and gardening services for increased aesthetic beauty
•Faster repairs of broken water pipes or power lines
•Making additions or alterations to the area (like a park, sports club, community pool, etc.)
•Insuring communal areas against damages or theft
•Holding events to promote communication and relationships among the owners

The Blackheath Central Improvement District is spearheading the upliftment of the area through better policing that has contributed to record low crime statistics, the upgrading of roads, street lights and general greening of the area. Members receive a monthly newsletter of recent achievements and potential issues and are encouraged to attend the yearly general meetings where they can provide input and raise their concerns. It comes as no surprise then that businesses such as Value Logistics, HomeChoice and Peninsula Beverages have chosen to make Blackheath their main distribution point in the Western Cape. 

The Blackheath Central Improvement District and its members have undoubtedly played an invaluable role in turning Blackheath into the sought-after industrial node it is today. Should you be interested in finding out more about the latest available listings in Blackheath industria, simply pick up the phone and get in touch with one of our specialist brokers at API Property today.