Athlone is poised for growth. But it needs attention...
Efforts to revitalise Athlone are gathering pace, with growing calls for sustainable investment aimed at improving safety, public utilities, and affordable housing.
Prominent local business stakeholders met at Athlone Stadium this week to discuss the suburb's growth potential, with the area already earmarked as a future development hotspot. Hosted by the Cape Chamber's Athlone Chapter, the session focused heavily on overcoming current urban challenges to unlock economic opportunities.
While Athlone enjoys favorable overlay zoning—designed to stimulate business activity and development—stakeholders noted that the area faces a familiar spatial challenge: upwardly mobile residents moving away to more affluent suburbs. Arresting this trend is considered vital to securing Athlone's long-term commercial and residential vitality.
"My sense is that it could easily be resuscitated without having to radically change what is there," said prominent architect Malcolm Campbell, pointing to the former strength of the thriving 1980s Athlone business hub.
However, Campbell emphasised that the local housing shortage must be addressed to prevent the "leakage" of successful entrepreneurs who leave in search of better amenities and schools. "Housing has always been limited. But there is real potential to address housing—not only in Athlone proper—to reinforce the sustainability and vibrancy of the CBD," Campbell noted.
A panel discussion on Athlone's prospects highlighted various other obstacles – and opportunities – on Athlone's horizon. Impediments to growth include ongoing concerns about safety and security, and a tendency to push a 'one size fits all' policy approach to urban planning rather than addressing neighbourhood-specific needs. Panellists agreed that Athlone could benefit from the same 'mixed-use' commercial development seen at 'flagship' sites like the V&A – but less apparent in the suburbs.
“Athlone has the ingredients, but I think what we have to do here could be a good example of how we create an Athlone economic growth strategy -- and that we make one that has come out of Athlone rather than plonking a policy into a suburb that does not push the right buttons,” said property economist Professor Francois Viruly. “Let us make sure we understand our neighbourhood and understand what is happening our neighbourhood, to ensure that we push the economic story that leads to improvement.”