JSE-listed real estate investment trust Growthpoint has completed the multiyear, multimillion-rand redevelopment of the historic Longkloof Precinct in a heritage-led project to inject new life into it.

The project involved the renovation of several Growthpoint-owned buildings and the creation of a public square, which connects to the city via four different access routes.

“Growthpoint’s vision reimagined six buildings, which included a historical school, an industrial building with its boiler room and a vacant parking lot, as a vibrant, mixed-use precinct that embodies Cape Town’s essence in something new and exciting, yet respectful of its heritage,” says Growthpoint Western Cape regional head Wouter de Vos.

This flagship precinct exemplifies Growthpoint’s commitment to enhancing the city’s built environment through urban renewal with quality assets. Its low vacancy rate, below 2%, reflects its desirability in Cape Town’s thriving real estate market, he says.

Work on the precinct began in 2019, following several years of planning, and most elements were completed by 2021.

The 21 164 m² multi-use property has become a desirable address for innovative, creative and entrepreneurial businesses, De Vos says.

Major office tenants include Travelstart, Mushroom Media and Workshop17. Longkloof is also the fifth Cape Town location of WorkAgility, Growthpoint's pioneering agile ready-to-occupy office concept, which eliminates traditional office costs and complexity and can be secured for periods as short as one year.

Further, the final hospitality and retail elements, now complete are coming to life around the precinct. These were originally planned to open in 2021 but were delayed by the Covid-19 lockdowns and the subsequent period of global and local uncertainty.

“Five years after the start of the pandemic, the resilience of the Cape Town market is undeniable, with an upswing in international tourism since mid-2023, together with ongoing ‘semigration’ from other parts of South Africa to the Western Cape,” highlights De Vos.

Additionally, the 154-room Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof Hotel is the first of its kind in Africa and incorporates the façade of the former MLT House, the structure of which has been carefully preserved and integrated into the new design.

The hotel entrance leads from Longkloof’s public open square, named Longkloof Square, with newly curated retail and social spaces that enhance the precinct’s connectivity and community focus.

“The hotel complements the mix of uses and tenancies in the Longkloof precinct. We are proud to welcome Canopy by Hilton to South Africa, which brings fresh, dynamic energy to the city’s hospitality scene, and captures the character, culture and creative charm of its location,” he says.

Designed by Canopy by Hilton Cape Town, the Longkloof Hotel blends upscale comfort with the charm of Cape Town’s rich cultural tapestry, and features custom art pieces that reflect the neighbourhood’s creative spirit, articulated in a Cape Malay colour palette and inspired by fynbos, the ocean and nearby Bo-Kaap on different floors, De Vos says.

Longkloof is in a prime location in an historical setting, and has deep connection to local culture, while the precinct offers seamless access to major landmarks and public transport.

Meanwhile, Growthpoint has devoted specific attention to ensuring the right retail mix for the precinct, with only a few signs left to hang above its restaurant windows and storefronts.

“In keeping with the intention to ensure that Longkloof Square is a destination and meeting point for the local community, we have sought out a mix of food and fashion that is unique to Cape Town.

“The retail premises are deliberately tailored to create an interesting boutique environment with diversity, and which will open over the next two months,” says De Vos.

Each shopfront expresses the identity of its occupant through a mix of timber finishes and different window choices, adding to the charm of the precinct’s distinctive red-brick facades and quirky industrial interiors.

Retail is on ground level fronting Park road, extending into Summit lane and spilling into the square, he adds.

“We are extremely pleased with what has been achieved with the redevelopment of the historic Longkloof precinct and we fully believe that it enhances its surrounds and the city, as well as the Growthpoint portfolio of property assets,” says Growthpoint South Africa asset management head Neil Schloss.

“This is a new gem to be discovered in Cape Town and aligns perfectly with Growthpoint’s strategy of creating assets that have value and growing relevance into the future,” he says.