Laurence Grigorov, as director of Laurence Martin Developments, keeps abreast of current developments in the South African market. Laurence Martin Developments has been developing luxury residential projects in Johannesburg, South Africa for nearly 15 years. Mixed-use developments are of particular interest to Laurence Grigorov as they are required to change the outdated and exclusionary city planning policies in South Africa.
Property developer FWJK has secured land in Menlyn to develop a new 85,000m² sectional title mixed-use building consisting of ground and first floor retail, a 450 learner crèche, multi-tenant sectional title office suites, residential apartments and luxury penthouse suites.
This R1.9bn development dubbed ‘Menlyn Link’ will be situated between Menlyn Park Shopping Centre and the Menlyn Maine Central Square Precinct on Lois Avenue. Menlyn Link will assume the mantle of the tallest building in the greater Menlyn area at 26 storeys, changing the Menlyn skyline and offering 360º views. Menlyn Link offers a range of one, two, three and four bedroom apartments as well as five bedroom penthouses. With the convenient ground floor shops and restaurants providing a vibrant retail experience together with the rooftop club house, tennis court and swimming pool, residents will have various desirable amenities.
The development will be undertaken on the basis of the FWJK Co-Development at Cost Methodology giving investors the opportunity to partake in owning equity in the project at the brick and mortar cost which is roughly 30% below market prices.
Menlyn is fast becoming a dynamic live, work, play node in Pretoria which presents architectural challenges that create iconic design solutions due to the scale of construction and the lifestyle that Menlyn offers. It was important to enhance pedestrian activity on the ground, and to achieve this special attention was paid to human scale elements.
Menlyn Link is a pure mixed-use building in the heart of a rapidly developing node. Its relationship with the street is inviting to the public whilst access to the residential and office areas maintains their privacy. It is set to be one of the tallest structures in Menlyn, and with that it will be a dynamic addition to the ever changing skyline of the area.
Words and image courtesy of Architect & Builder magazine
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