More than 2 000 objections to a proposed two-storey block of flats in Brooklyn were handed over to City officials at the municipal offices in Milnerton last week.
The City has described the flats as “affordable housing”.
The site, at 56 Amsterdam Street, was to have been used to relocate squatters from the tented camps that sprang up across the metro during the pandemic, according to an application that the City’s human settlements directorate submitted to the Municipal Planning Tribunal in March.
But a revised application in April referred to a block of “affordable housing” flats.
This was rejected by the Brooklyn, Ysterplaat, and Rugby, Residents’ Association (BYRRA) and Ward 55 councillor Fabian Ah-Sing (“Brooklyn baulks at plan for flats,” Tabletalk, May 17).
One of the objection letters received by Tabletalk from a Brooklyn resident, Miriam Gaffoor, claims the City failed to adequately consult residents and says the proposed flats could attract drug peddling, gangsterism and prostitution.
Another objector, Claire Rabe, said, “We all want Brooklyn and surrounding areas to be better than what they are now. How about the government first start with fixing the existing issue in Brooklyn? There’s so much crime, illegal dumping, and failing infrastructure. Projects like this proposed development put a strain on these issues and could add to the burden.”
Mr Ah-Sing said that while social housing was desperately needed in many communities, he had reservations about this proposal.
“I advised residents that I will engage City officials and bring across our views. I have done so and will continue my efforts. As it stands at present, the site will no longer be used to house people from the Salt River Market. This does not mean that the development will be cancelled; it will continue with the public participation process.
“It is my view that if the development does go ahead, a large portion of the housing opportunities should be made available to residents from my ward who have been on the waiting list for a very long time.”
