Atlantis rising

The redevelopment of the Atlantic City Shopping Centre in Atlantis, outside Cape Town, is set to offer shoppers a new, exciting shopping experience and at the same time restore the dignity and respect of a forgotten community. Atlantis was established in the apartheid era to accommodate people who were victims of forced removals from Cape Town.

Pick n Pay is the anchor tenant and it is the first time that the retail giant will open a store in Atlantis, thanks to the positive results of a feasibility study. Other tenants destined for the centre include, among others, Pep Home, Mr Video, Barcello's Chicken and Russells. The centre will include ATM facilities from all the major banks.

“… Expanding the existing centre has positive economic implications for the town and will create numerous jobs within the retail sector for the local community”, says Nizaar Petersen, MD of Classic Developments, a black-owned-and-managed property development company based in Cape Town.

The redevelopment will increase the centre's gross lettable area (GLA) to over 5000m², more than double the current size. The existing building will be refurbished with a new structure that will boast modern architectural designs, in line with today's trends. The new design offers tenants a wide range of stores varying from 600m² for big retailers to 35m² for smaller stores.

The prime location of Atlantic City Centre within the Atlantis CBD places this centre at the heart of the Atlantis economy and it is less than 30m from the taxi rank, which makes it very accessible to the public in the surrounding residential areas.

Siraaj Petersen, MD of NHP Construction, the building contractors, says the redevelopment is already receiving positive feedback from the community. “Because Atlantis is primarily an industrial and manufacturing community, we don't expect the community to be affected by the current economic conditions in South Africa,” he says. “Atlantic City Shopping Centre is well-placed to thrive and bring hope to this community.”

The revamped centre, which is expected to be open for trade by October 2008, will offer shoppers a greater tenant mix with a bigger variety of stores.

“For too long the Atlantis community have been forgotten – it is now time to restore its hope and dignity…,” says Nizaar Petersen.