The application to demolish the Deer Park Café in Vredehoek was tabled at Heritage Western Cape’s Built Environment and Landscape Committee (BELCOM) meeting last Wednesday, December 12.
It was heard that before a decision is taken on the matter, an urban study addressing the social and community amenity value of the Deer Park Cafe site and a visual study of the proposed building needs to be undertaken.
This follows concerns from residents about the application to demolish the 60-year-old building to make way for a four-storey development with more than 30 flats.
The building in Deer Park Drive houses three restaurants – Woodlands Eatery, Con Brio and Deer Park Café.
There are fears that the new development would increase traffic congestion and the block of flats would not be suitable for the neighbourhood.
They complained that there was no public participation and the community was just given one month’s notice period.
The attorney representing the residents, Suma de Bruyn, told Cape Times that her clients were pleased with the response received from the committee, which recognised that Rocklands Road Park, Deer Park Drive and the Table Mountain backdrop were important heritage resources.
“The committee recognised that although the current building on 2 Deer Park Drive does not have any heritage significance, the site is strategically placed in proximity to a number of significant heritage resources.
“As such, any proposed replacement building will be required to respond adequately and sensitively to its surrounding context, including the spatial interface such a building would have with Rocklands Road Park,” she said.