Tennis courts

[David Raphael]

We vote yes to tennis court renovations.  How anyone could happily vote to keep that eyesore is beyond me.  They will disintegrate further and then what? 

 

Obs is looking super and I saw Milton Roads steel poles getting a facelift too. 

 

Catherine Raphael

+27 (0)21 447 2486 or +27 (0)82 927 9677

Fax 0865416650

www.catherineraphael.co.za

14 Lytton Street, Cape Town 7925, South Africa

 

 

 

[Melanie Hoffman]

You can't vote on changing property that does not belong to you.

Public works needs to fix the fencing, it's their liability.

Melanie

 

 

  

Cape Town, South Africa

Tel: +27-21-6853700

Fax: +27-21-6853807

 

P Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

 

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From: obsid...@googlegroups.com [mailto:obsid...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of David Raphael
Sent: 17 February 2010 1:15 PM
To: obsid...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [obsid] Tennis courts

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[David Raphael]

We drove past the courts today and I think they currently bring Strubens right down.

 

I am not a tennis player but I have done quite a bit of property development. The courts caught my eye as potential for development – maybe block of flats? It looks like the proposed student block in Main Road could be allowed to go to 7 stories. I gather the area is owned by the Deaf School. I have never come across a school that was not short of money!

 

I would go ahead and clean up the tennis courts fast before they catch the eye of a developer.

 

Take care,

 

David

 

David Raphael

 072 065 7223

 

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[Melanie Hoffman]

No, the courts do not belong to the Mary Kihn School, they fall under the ambit of the Western Cape Department of Education but the grounds belong to the Department of Public Works.

They have no plans to develop. Any development on State land has to go through a long and rigorous process, where amongst other they also canvass the neighbourhoods opinion.

Many a developer has driven past this field and dreamt of developing it, but that is just a pipe dream. We have lived here for 12 years and other neighbours over 20 years.

Public Works should do the fencing and the school should use the courts as it was intended by the donator of the land. There is much more behind the story of the land donation and it's conditions, which if not kept, the land will revert back to donator. 

The donator has over the years made sure public access was not granted, one of these being security reasons. 

Louis Hoffman 

 

 

 

 

 

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From: obsid...@googlegroups.com [mailto:obsid...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of David Raphael

Sent: 17 February 2010 6:13 PM

[Jonathan Endersby]

Hi Louis

Where are you getting your information from? Who is the donor? Where can we find out more about the arrangement?

Regards
J.

Jonathan Endersby
+27 82 4143129
www.arbitraryuser.com

[David Raphael]

Hi Cedric,

 

It is good to hear that this area cannot be developed but it is still a real eyesore.

 

It would be great if you would please advise how this property can be cleaned up, secured and put to the use of the community. It seems a shame that the existing tennis facilities are not put to the use of all.

 

Thanks

[Melanie Hoffman]

Hi Jonathan,

It is actually common knowledge amongst us who have lived in Strubens Road a little longer. We have all been through the tennis court story a few times over the years.

Also, as mentioned in my very first email,  I have had an ongoing saga with Public Works, the Mary Kihn School and the Department of Education as to the field.

The donor (my apologies for previous misspelling!)  is the old man from Westoe Manor house, he owned all the land around here, his name eludes me right now.

Mrs L Schultz, who eloquently stated her concerns previously and who is an esteemed member of the community who is well informed and experienced in political and humanitarian causes for more than 20 years, also knows more about the background story.

I suggest you contact the government departments in charge, and you will quickly see that this is not just a public piece of land that can be used at anyone's whim.

The immediate neighbours in Strubens Road would all appreciate the fixing and securing of the fencing, which is something I have been fighting for for many years, but I think having a leisure club or even a community vegetable garden is not an appropriate use in this particular case.

Please note that there is increasing concern about the distribution of public funds by the Obsid and I would like to know on what legal basis they can use our funds to do a project like establishing a tennis club which will only benefit a minority of residents, as opposed to just cleaning up the area.

 

Regards

Louis Hoffman

 

 

  

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From: obsid...@googlegroups.com [mailto:obsid...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jonathan Endersby
Sent: 17 February 2010 7:10 PM
To: obsid...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [obsid] Tennis courts

[Jonathan Endersby]

Hi Louis

On 17 February 2010 21:02, Melanie Hoffman <e...@global.co.za> wrote:
> Please note that there is increasing concern about the distribution of public funds by the Obsid
> and I would like to know on what legal basis they can use our funds to do a project like
> establishing a tennis club which will only benefit a minority of residents, as opposed to
> just cleaning up the area.

Fortunately you're wrong. There isn't increasing concern... There is
an overwhelming majority that support the work the Obsid is doing and
so far I count only 3 people who are overwhelmingly negative.

This discussion is growing tiresome. Please read the Obsid Business
Plan (available on the obsid.org.za website) and the City of Cape Town
Improvement District By-Law for a legal framework upon which to
understand the mandate of the Obsid.

I am incredibly thankful to the volunteers who are working hard to
improve Observatory and I am simultaneously utterly disappointed by
the way a small number of people remain permanently disparaging.

Similarly I'd like to say thank you to all those who are constantly
supportive, encouraging and thankful!

Regards
J.

[David Raphael]

Interesting background to this problem emerging!

 

I suggest that someone takes the Erf number of this property to the deeds office in town and obtains a copy of the title deeds. This should give us the exact position.

[Reinmar]

I do tend to agree with Jonathan that this discussion is indeed
growing tiresome.

Firstly establish (with documents) who the land belongs to, so that
everyone knows, as it's not just common knowledge. Then take it from
there, and yes, it might be a long process or not, and funds will be
used or not, but that is for future use.

If there's any queries with regards to the use of Obsid funds, I
suggest you contact them directly and speak to them or arrange meeting
to be explained, rather than making use of this site.

[GILL BOND ARTWORKS]

Hi Jonathan,
I agree with you, its getting tiresome.  Perhaps Melanie and Louis could start by securing there own boundary fence that runs along side the tennis courts if they are so worried about security! 

Gill 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Endersby <arbitr...@gmail.com>
To: obsid...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wed, Feb 17, 2010 11:25 pm
Subject: Re: [obsid] Tennis courts

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[willow rd]

Hi Jonathan

Please can you email me the CCTID By-law (or the weblink) and lets
also get it onto the obs.org for all to see.

[Melanie Hoffman]

We have put up barbwire along that fence.

Melanie

 

 

 

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From: obsid...@googlegroups.com [mailto:obsid...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of GILL BOND ARTWORKS
Sent: 18 February 2010 8:54 AM
To: obsid...@googlegroups.com

[Andrew Fife]

Hi Edwin

The link to the Special Rating Area Bylaw is :
http://web1.capetown.gov.za/websearch/search/search.aspx?lib=acm/comsup/Weblib&docName=Bylaw

I hope to upload load it to the obs.org.za website.

The Business plan for the Obsid as of Nov 2009 is here:
http://obs.org.za/documents.html

Cheers

Andrew Fife
A Touch of Madness - Victorian Quaffery
021 448 2266
www.touchofmadness.co.za

[James Cowley]

Hey Fellow Observers

For whatever happens or what we do in our chats etc, lets respect each member of Obs as a valued resident.  Some may win this debate, some may lose, Obs will hopefully benefit, but let as have no casualties.

I Love Obs.

James

 
 

On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 11:21 AM, Andrew Fife <loya...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Edwourin

[Bev P]

Nicely said James....

[Katharine McKenzie]

Hear hear!

[Katharine McKenzie]

Dear all

I am attaching the draft Problem Buildings By-law, which the City of Cape
Town is currently considering and which will hopefully be passed soon.

The by-law aims to discourage negligence by owners of their propoerty, which
then impacts negatively on neighbours and the community and gives the
municipality powers to compel property owners to attend to the problem
building or face the possiblity of fine or worse...

I am not a lawyer and have only looked at this cusorily, but it seems to me
that this may also be applicable to the tennis courts situation as the
by-law does not seem to be restricted to dealing with buildings only, and
seems to be applicable to all land owners.

The by-law might also be something that the OBSID could use to compel
Transnet/Prasa, to pay attention to the rail reserve and other areas in
Observatory that are owned by different parts of the state, but are in
disrepair and have been a magnet for crime.

Also the by-law is still a draft and it might be worth engaging with the
City to ensure that it does cover these public entities before it is
finalised (although the period for public comment has closed, perhaps we
could raise this with our councillors?).

Maybe a long-shot...

Katharine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Endersby" <arbitr...@gmail.com>
To: <obsid...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 11:25 PM
Subject: Re: [obsid] Tennis courts

Hi Louis

Regards
J.

--

[rob...@mweb.co.za]

When the by-law is passed I suggest Obsid takes legal advice to get
clarity. There are two good lawyers in Obs.
Rob

--
Dr Rob Gaylard (DLitt)
Words eKapa
Tel: +27 21 448 3882 | Fax: +27 86 540 3152 | Cell: 084 368 5327
Website: www.words-ekapa.co.za
email: in...@words-ekapa.co.za

[Rod]

Hello
I live near the courts on Forfar road. Surely if people (like myself)
are willing to contribute to a tennis club that assists in
maintenance, and sport can be played - this must be a win - win? Who
would not benefit?

BTW - that flyer that went around about the courts - I lost my one -
where could I get a copy?

Thanks

Rod

On Feb 17, 1:14 pm, "David Raphael" <draph...@iafrica.com> wrote:
> We vote yes to tennis court renovations.  How anyone could happily vote to
> keep that eyesore is beyond me.  They will disintegrate further and then
> what?  
>
> Obs is looking super and I saw Milton Roads steel poles getting a facelift
> too.  
>

> Catherine Raphael+27 (0)21 447 2486or+27 (0)82 927 9677
> Fax 0865416650
>  <http://www.catherineraphael.co.za>www.catherineraphael.co.za

[brian amery]

I have a copy of the title deed. There are no restrictive covenants on
the deed.
Brian

[James Cowley]

Well done Brian

A step well taken in the right direction, surely this will lead Obs and its residents and all concerned participants to benefit from the vacant and unutilised land as it is explored for the good function and usage of our people.

James