Abstract:
This paper is a report on the research undertaken to evaluate the
implementation of the Urban Renewal strategies that the City of
Johannesburg adopted for the CBD renewal through the Blue IQ.
The study was restricted to the views expressed by the general
community, business community, Johannesburg Development
Agency (JDA). Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC), Blue IQ,
Gauteng Development Agency and Gauteng Economic Development
Agency (GEDA), which are the main role players in the CBD renewal
effort. There was administered questioner to the members of the
Business and general communities that were randomly picked using
the fish bowl method. Interviews were conducted with the senior
executive staff of JDA. Blue IQ, JHC. Statistics derived from the
above company s websites was used as well.
The results of the study show that the renewal strategy has been
largely successful in so far as a number of factors, which have
contributed to the CBD decay such as poor infrastructure and
slumps. There have also been considerable efforts to address acute
shortage of parking space by private partners such as financial
institutions. Although crime has decreased it is still posing a serious
challenge as most people still consider the CBD high risk. However
there is still a room for improvement, which includes: the
enhancement of safety and security, the infrastructure maintenance
policy and the enforcement of the municipality by laws and town
planning scheme. Overall the strategies have also improved the
economic performance of the city significantly though
unemployment still remain high with the ever increasing number of
people coming to seek opportunities.
