The remarkable transformation that began almost 15 years ago in downtown Cape Town is reaching its peak, with stylish new developments becoming the norm and flats to rent in the city bowl’s most popular buildings commanding impressive rentals.
Cape Town’s city centre is just a short drive from the V&A Waterfront, Sea Point and Green Point, and enjoys a central location – surrounded by some of South Africa’s most desirable residential property. In the late 1990s however, the CBD was considered to be an ugly sister to its exclusive neighbours – with petty crime, litter and urban decay making everyday life a challenge in town.
Fast forward to 2015 and the situation has totally reversed: the CBD is now on par with Green Point and Sea Point where rentals and the quality of buildings is concerned, with a pulsating nightlife and plenty of commercial activity during the day. Many of South Africa’s largest companies have corporate offices in the CBD, which is also home to smaller businesses including superb restaurants, well-known nightspots, trendy cafes and an assortment of galleries and boutiques.
Urban living at its best
A typical day in the life of a Cape Town CBD resident may begin with coffee at their favourite cafe, or a gourmet breakfast to go. The short walk between home and work – something that is unheard of to many South Africans – is typically safe and uneventful, with plenty of vibrant scenery on the city’s clean but busy streets providing the backdrop to a productive day at work.
Lunch times are a pleasure, with a large choice of restaurants, unique fast food, and a weekly organic market on St George’s mall. After work, the usual choice of restaurants is complimented by fine dining and entertainment that provide the perfect venues for business dinners, catching up with friends, or meeting new people.
While many CBDs in South Africa are undergoing rejuvenation, central Cape Town stands apart for its levels of safety, cleanliness, and investor confidence. Property owners and tenants no longer consider it a risky move to live in downtown Cape Town – in fact many people have left the suburbs and relocated to town to avoid traffic and take advantage of the city bowl’s quality of life.
Perhaps the most important factor in their decision is the great variety and quality of flats that are available to rent in the Cape Town CBD.
Spacious apartments with commanding city views
One of the biggest advantages of living in the city bowl is the size of many of the apartments and their luxurious finishes. Found both in new developments and refurbished historic buildings – parents in the city bowl have become famous for their urban views, with residents relaxing and enjoying vistas of the Cape Town skyline as well as Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.
Many of the modern flats to rent in the city bowl have been fitted with the latest luxury finishes, including smart climate control, energy efficient appliances and state-of-the-art security. These features, along with the generous size of apartments in the CBD – and their commanding views and prime location – have generated a huge interest in town over the past few years.
Discerning urban dwellers have a wide variety of choice when it comes to the location and amenities of their apartment buildings. From developments like Mandela Rhodes Place and the Pepper Club in the city’s historical district to the ultra-modern Icon building in the Foreshore – to name just three – the steady supply of rental apartments in central Cape Town continues to draw thousands of new residents each year.
Driving to work – a thing of the past
Residents of the Cape Town city bowl enjoy a special luxury that very few South Africans are fortunate enough to experience: the ability to walk or cycle to work in minutes instead of spending hours in traffic.
Thanks to the city’s CCID safety service, which provides security patrols and armed response throughout the inner city, levels of crime in Cape Town’s CBD have dropped dramatically over the past decade. It is not unusual to see city residents using their smartphones and laptops freely at outside cafes, while walking to work has become the norm.
As South Africa’s premier real estate company, Jawitz Properties is proud to offer clients a large portfolio of rental flats in the Cape Town city bowl. If you would like to experience life in this chic urban setting, our local area agents will be happy to assist you with the passion, professionalism and personalised service that are the foundation of the Jawitz Properties promise.
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