PLANS for a 40 000 sqm Festival Mall at Durban's Point Waterfront are under way and construction will begin as soon as the Durban Metropolitan Council approves the site development plans.
The Festival Mall will be located adjacent to the current 10 000 sqm renovation project at the Festival Market Place - an open-air structure which constitutes a number of nightclubs, restaurants, a flea market and a family entertainment centre. If all goes according plan, the Festival Market Place will be approximately 40% operational by April, says Gavin Jones, development manager for Colliers RMS. Colliers has undertaken the management of the development contract on behalf of the individual developers.
He says the Festival Mall, developed by Colliers in conjunction with its two development partners Vulindlela Property Services and Wilson Bailey Holmes, should be ready for a September 2001 opening. Construction should begin by June this year.
According to Jones, the Festival Mall will be a more formal retail structure which will complement the informal open-air feel of the Festival Market Place.
"The Mall's retail base will be very tourism focused, with a number of arts and crafts, fashion and tourism stores."
Family entertainment facilities, food halls, restaurants, a cinema complex and a 2 000 sqm food emporium are also included in the development plans.
(Adele Mackenzie)
