Land Use and Physical Structure Changes: An Expo of Maboneng Precinct

Most cities have over the years experienced high developmental changes dating back from the 1940’s to present which are seen in various themes of influx, generation, exodus and decline. The question of what kind of city we desire cannot be divorced from the question of what kind of people we want to be, the types of social relations and land uses we seek, the style of daily life we want, the types of relations to nature we cherish, kinds of technologies we deem appropriate and the aesthetic value we hold. Development during the apartheid period was based on racial classification as the elites of the country spatially separated themselves from the poor, whether through work spaces or residential areas. The problem is that the inner city regeneration of Maboneng has displaced and segregated certain groups of people while accommodation other groups founded on social economic classes. Against this backdrop, this paper focuses on the Maboneng Precinct area which is located in Jeppestown east of the Johannesburg CBD. The paper aims to discuss the changes in land uses that have occurred in Maboneng following urban regeneration. The case study design is adopted and a qualitative research approach is used to collect data. Data is collected through structure interviews with persons that have seen and experienced changes land uses of Maboneng following regeneration; observations and photographic surveys of Maboneng‘s different land uses. Research findings reveal that there have been significant land use changes that have occured in the Maboneng precinct since its urban regeneration. The results reveal that land uses in Maboneng since urban regeneration have changed drastically and for the better from light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing, business and warehousing to residential, commercial, institutional, industrial and public services land uses. Although land use changes in Maboneng have resulted in many benefits, these benefits have come with challenges such as marginalisation of the poor minority and the exclusion of a certian group in society through the eviction of illegal tenants. The study concludes by recommending that more efforts need to be exerted in encouraging land use changes that are inclusive of all in society and that more land uses such as open spaces need to be encouraged in Maboneng going forwar

Branding so Good: from Jeppestown to Maboneng Precinct

Cities globally, have long felt the necessity to distinguish themselves from each other, to proclaim their eccentricity in a quest for various economic, political or socio-psychological objectives. Johannesburg was often referred to as “the city of gold” and the “financial and economic hub of Sub-Saharan Africa.” Since the 21st century, slogans such as “world class african city” and “world class city” have been commonly used by investors, students, skilled workers and tourists to sell the City of Johannesburg. Various businesses, spaces, places and organisations in Johannesburg have in the past be branded using African names as well as slogans in order to enrich their images and to greatly catch the attention of the rising middle-class which is known for their high consumption level. There are no explicit studies that inform the use of African names for branding the Maboneng Precinct. Since there is lack of scholarly literature on the use of African names as a means of branding this paper evaluates the ways in which African names have been used as branding for the Maboneng Precinct.This paper aims to evaluate the transformation of Jeppestown to Maboneng precinct and looks at how branding through the use of African names has influenced this transformation of traditionversus branding. The case study design has been adopted and a qualitative approach will be used to collect data. Data will be collected through structured interviews with personnel involved in afro-branding inMaboneng, as well as through desktop study from various sources such as books, journals and reports; and through observations and photographic surveys of the Maboneng precinct area. The research design also uses both cross-sectional and longitudinal is used for this study, whereby in cross-sectional study the researcher records information about the subject without manipulating the study environment. The longitudinal study on the other hand is also observational and the researcher will be able to detect any changes in the characteristics of Maboneng. Research findings reveal that not only is the name Maboneng an african name branding but, various other places and businesses have been branded using African names in the Jeppestown to Maboneng transition. The results reveal that there are various places and businesses within the Maboneng precinct area that have used Afro-branding and alos lighlight how this has helped in boosting the precincts economy. This paper concludes by recommending that more effort needs to exerted in encouraging the use of Afro-branding within and around the Maboneng precinct and that this type of branding should be use toattract people of all income levels and groups

Unpacking the concept of urban resilience in the face of urban change : the case of Maboneng precinct

M.AAbstract: We are living in changing times marked with an increased sense of uncertainty, and continuous reminders of the unpredictability of what might be lurking around the corner; whether it is a catastrophic credit crunch, climate change, terrorist attacks, youth riots or mass redundancies. Globally, this sense of uneasiness has been intensified by an era of continuous change and recurrent attacks on the urban form of cities. This is particularly so in old cities that have experienced trends of transformation due to urban decay. Such developments have resulted in structural changes leading to urban decline. A classic example is the Maboneng precinct, which has experienced a decline, with the upper and middle - class populations moving outwards into the suburbs and most industries as well since the 1970s. The concept of urban resilience has been adopted by the city of Johannesburg to deal with disturbances within the urban system. The city is reorganizing while experiencing change, so as to still retain the same function, structure, identity and feedbacks. There are no explicit studies that inform the impact of urban resilience in Maboneng, and there are limited documented studies that inform the urban structural changes that have taken place in the precinct over the past 10 years. Consequently, this study aims to evaluate how the concept of urban resilience has been applied in Maboneng. The work expresses the extent to which it has been implemented and also evaluates the drivers that have influenced urban resilience in Maboneng. This work adopted a case study research design and a qualitative research approach. Data were collected through structured in-depth interviews, with key informants involved in the development of Maboneng together with observations, map surveys and photographic surveys of the precinct. The results reveal that there are currently various historical land uses and urban activities that exist in Maboneng. It shows the various distinctive changes that have occurred over the past 10 years, and the drivers that have influenced urban resilience in Maboneng. Although urban resilience has led to a lot of beneficial structural changes, these have come with challenges such as urban decay, urban morphological structural changes and changes in urban form. The study concludes by recommending that all community members be consulted during the transformation and renovation of buildings within the precinct