During October 2013, DW’s director had the opportunity of visiting the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) in Johannesburg with Julian Baskin and a group of visitors invited by Cities Alliance. Julian Baskin had taken over as the planner and Chief Executive Officer of the Alex Project in 2005 shortly after leaving Angola where he had collaborated with us on the Luanda Urban Poverty Program.
The Alexandra Renewal Project was awarded UN Habitat’s Scroll of Honour in 2009 as an international best practice in urban renewal. The project is a key component of the South African government’s approach to addressing urbanisation and housing challenges and comprises the integrated development of an area grappling with economic, social, and physical challenges. To date, the ARP has seen over 7,000 families relocated from the banks of Jukskei – a polluted local river – to settlements where living conditions are better.
Click here to view the ARP Presentation.
