The Free[way] City: An exploration of Inner City Renewal through the removal of Settlers Way Freeway in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

The inner city of Port Elizabeth has faced a series of problems since the 1960s. These include forced removals, relocation of critical functions and the implementation of obdurate infrastructure. One of the most destructive of these forces was the construction of the Settlers Way Freeway in 1963. This freeway cuts through the inner city and had many buildings and neighbourhoods demolished for it to be realised. Since then it has caused more harm than good by only serving a select few while degrading inner city public space for others. This project investigates the possibility of the demolition of the Settlers Way freeway as it is essential for the appropriate future growth of Port Elizabeth's City centre. This will also have a large positive impact on the metro area in terms of spatial and economic benefit. The city centre is centrally located in the region and has a major spatial advantage in terms of trade and commerce. This alone should be enough reason for concern when it comes to social and economic reasons. An argument is formulated for the removal of the Settlers Way freeway and suggests a viable and realistic alternative in its place. This is done through a lens of economic rejuvenation of the inner city by using the freeway removal as a catalytic device for future development by unlocking land that is currently underutilised. This initiative is now more urgent than ever as continued urban sprawl is occurring on the peripheries of the city in the form of shopping malls drawing much needed economic investment further away from the city centre.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Wasserman, P C

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Comrie, Henri
• Mentz, Adrian
• Kammeyer, Heinrich

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13071

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/13071