Century Properties, Auckland Park residents both confident of victory over new student housing
Residents argue Century was building illegally, with incorrect zoning and without the right municipal approvals
Century Property Developments goes to court on Thursday to try to resume work on its student housing development in Auckland Park. Residents of Auckland Park — one of Johannesburg’s older suburbs, established in 1888 — are confident Century will fail in its attempt to restart the development, which the city says was being built illegally. The residents argue that Century was building illegally, with incorrect zoning and without the right approvals from the City of Johannesburg. The city ordered Century to stop the development at the end of May, threatening to arrest Century staff if work continued. Century CEO Mark Corbett says it is unprecedented in the company’s 43-year history to have to go to court to prove it is operating within the law. The student housing project will bring more than 200 residential units to Auckland Park. The suburb already houses two of the University of Johannesburg’s four campuses and needs more student housing, Corbett says. "The area is a student hub an...
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