The Cape Overpass - capetownguy

[Sackboy]

Cape Town CBD was a **** hole in the late 90's, but has almost done a complete turn around. The continual investment into the CBD and coupled with the continual cleanup has definitely shown results.
It's safe(r) and clean these days.
It's a beautiful city, and will look even better once the new Portside building is complete.

http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showphoto.php/photo/11038
http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showphoto.php?photo=11039&cat=2

It's still not in its heyday. The biggest and most glaring mistake was to let the traders open stalls DIRECTLY outside shops. That's why centers in Claremont and beyond flourished when the big chains moved away.

 

[Molokai]

Wow.. PE has a robot

Quiet a few from what I remember. DOn't know about these days though I have not been there in years

It's still not in its heyday. The biggest and most glaring mistake was to let the traders open stalls DIRECTLY outside shops. That's why centers in Claremont and beyond flourished when the big chains moved away.

Claremont and the surrounding areas are dumps these days. Those stalls are a nightmare.

 

[capetownguy]

Quiet a few from what I remember. DOn't know about these days though I have not been there in years



Claremont and the surrounding areas are dumps these days. Those stalls are a nightmare.

Which Claremont have you been going to?
Those formalized trading areas outside cavendish have been a huge success.
There are major investments in the area, new transport facilties, new boulevard...

 

[Molokai]

Which Claremont have you been going to?
Those formalized trading areas outside cavendish have been a huge success.
There are major investments in the area, new transport facilties, new boulevard...

OK I am talking about the stalls on Main Road. All the way down past the link shopping centre. Near to the Claremont station. Use to spend a lot of time jumping on/off the train at claremont station. Also use to watch movies at the centre, use to be a great place in its haydays. Nowadays main road looks more like a Nigerian drug haven. Reminds me a bit of Hillbrow just before it got really bad. Last time I went for a walk down main road I was the only white face in miles. I stuck out like a sore thumb. Even the local Xhosa people stick out like sore thumbs amongst all the Nigerians. Lots of holding onto wallet firmly with both hands in pocket! Have not been there in a while though so if this area has so drastically improved I would love to see some photos. Care to post?

What new transport facilities? New trains? The trains are not safe to use. A buddy of mine was stabbed on the train a few years ago for his wallet and phone.

Seems to me you trying to make out that the place is not as bad as it really is. Honestly I would not be recommending the area to any tourists. Cape town still has some nice areas, Claremont is just not one of them.

 

[Sackboy]

Which Claremont have you been going to?
Those formalized trading areas outside cavendish have been a huge success.
There are major investments in the area, new transport facilties, new boulevard...

There were plans to close the main road and divert taxis etc around the station area. This was quickly forgotten once permission and money reached the developers.

I think the stalls are an eyesore. You have clothing stalls across the way from clothing SHOPS. You have toy stalls in the vacinity of toy SHOPS. They sell grubby cakes (poor hygiene) and other food, dodgy CDs and computer things, yellow faded old books etc.. Hardly impressing anyone. In fact you have to walk past people puffing on cigarettes to get there, taxis abuse the stopping off area. It's badly managed.

A more appropriate example to follow would have been Covent Garden in London with their crafts and things. Much for fitting for Cavendish Square.

 

[capetownguy]

OK I am talking about the stalls on Main Road. All the way down past the link shopping centre. Near to the Claremont station. Use to spend a lot of time jumping on/off the train at claremont station. Also use to watch movies at the centre, use to be a great place in its haydays. Nowadays main road looks more like a Nigerian drug haven. Reminds me a bit of Hillbrow just before it got really bad. Last time I went for a walk down main road I was the only white face in miles. I stuck out like a sore thumb. Even the local Xhosa people stick out like sore thumbs amongst all the Nigerians. Lots of holding onto wallet firmly with both hands in pocket! Have not been there in a while though so if this area has so drastically improved I would love to see some photos. Care to post?

What new transport facilities? New trains? The trains are not safe to use. A buddy of mine was stabbed on the train a few years ago for his wallet and phone.

Seems to me you trying to make out that the place is not as bad as it really is. Honestly I would not be recommending the area to any tourists. Cape town still has some nice areas, Claremont is just not one of them.

Its far from perfect but as I said previously there have been major investments in developments and infrastructure.

Newsletters

Claremont Interchange (Press Release)

Claremont: Claremont Boulevard
Completion: February 2009

MontClare Place

Claremont Boulevard... bypass for Main Rd

Claremont on Main

The Claremont

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc67/stevehanauer/Claremont/8.jpg

Intaba Apartments

Claremont Library

Cavendish Connect

 

[Sackboy]

Claremont Library was also quite scandalous. They removed all free parking and stuck the same books and sh1te into a crummy building nearby. The locals remain unimpressed and the library is near-empty most of the time. The rest has little to do with Council or funding from them.

The Main Rd is still a disaster and they still have a problem with taxis and street sellers.

 

[Tassidar]

OK I am talking about the stalls on Main Road. All the way down past the link shopping centre. Near to the Claremont station. Use to spend a lot of time jumping on/off the train at claremont station. Also use to watch movies at the centre, use to be a great place in its haydays. Nowadays main road looks more like a Nigerian drug haven. Reminds me a bit of Hillbrow just before it got really bad. Last time I went for a walk down main road I was the only white face in miles. I stuck out like a sore thumb. Even the local Xhosa people stick out like sore thumbs amongst all the Nigerians. Lots of holding onto wallet firmly with both hands in pocket! Have not been there in a while though so if this area has so drastically improved I would love to see some photos. Care to post?

What new transport facilities? New trains? The trains are not safe to use. A buddy of mine was stabbed on the train a few years ago for his wallet and phone.

Seems to me you trying to make out that the place is not as bad as it really is. Honestly I would not be recommending the area to any tourists. Cape town still has some nice areas, Claremont is just not one of them.

You seriously haven't been there for a while. Claremont is looking really fantastic. Only the Werdmuller (sp?) centre remains slummy and an eyesore.

With regards to the train, when I worked in Claremont a year ago, I used to take the train including the last train (going to my station) at 7:40pm. At that time there were more security guards on the train than passengers. In busier times, I took my laptop on the train without problems.

 

[capetownguy]

Glad you agree, thought I was imagining the improvements.
Claremont continues to move forward and onwards and upwards.