Store recently concluded a transaction for a five-year lease of the 1 600 sq m former Electrolux building situated on the corner of Stella and Dawn Roads, Montague Gardens - the popular industrial area close to Cape Town harbour and surrounding container depots.

“This property is in a prime location, just off Koeberg Road near the old Makro site, with easy access to all major routes including the N7 and N1 freeway. It comprises 1 200 sq m of warehousing and 390 sq m of showroom and offices, which is an ideal mix for the new tenant, Corex IT Distribution Dynamics,” he says.

Store says businesses currently seeking large industrial space are mainly those requiring it for warehousing, distribution and logistics. “From experience we find that many large industrial users in this upper bracket sit in the position where they are effectively locked into long term leases and as soon as these come up for renewal they wish to relocate to a property more suited to their needs. They may consider building a property for their own use or partial use, with tenants taking up the remainder of space, thereby acquiring an investment which will appreciate in value. We facilitate developments on a regular basis and the consensus is that if you build to let on this scale, you need to secure the end user or tenant at a minimum of R47 per square metre for the transaction to be feasible.” He says renting existing, well maintained, secure large scale warehousing will cost in the region of R40-R45 per sq m.

“For many prospective tenants and buyers Blaauwberg Road forms an imaginary divide, splitting Montague Gardens from Killarney Gardens and recent industrial developments such as Racing Park and The Stables. Despite the last mentioned areas being safe with relatively few reported incidents of crime, we find there is a misconception to the contrary, and as a result of this end users will rather consider options out in the Northern Suburbs such as Brackenfell or Airport Industria instead of looking at Racing Park, The Stables or Atlas Gardens.

“However, we believe this phenomenon will soon change as local authorities are investing generously in infrastructure to upgrade the area in question, the Potsdam precinct,” says Store.

At present a 73 500 sq m site in The Stables is being developed for the new Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) bus depot. The Cape Town City Council has awarded the contract for the upgrading of the roadways, including the IRT lanes all the way along Blaauwberg Road and Potsdam Road, terminating directly in front of The Stables, with road works having already commenced. In addition, the council has awarded the contract for the Eskom electrification of the Doornbach area and will remove all temporary electrical wiring.