Gauteng Heritage Authority decision threatens Parkview’s most significant building

The Parkview Residents Association has joined hands with the Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust in a last-ditch appeal to Gauteng’s Arts and Culture MEC Barbara Creecy in an attempt to save the suburb’s most significant heritage building from further vandalisation.

The house at Kilkenny Rd in Parkview served as a set for the famous remake of the South African movie “Cry the Beloved Country” and was built by Johannesburg Mayor JW O’ Hara, the driving force behind the creation of the University of the Witwatersrand. Known as “Kilkenny Castle,” the house is currently being altered according to plans which threaten to destroy much of its historic character.

The alterations are taking place under a permit issued by the Gauteng Provincial Heritage Resources Authority which is responsible to MEC Creecy’s department.

“The Heritage Authority’s decision to issue the permit was both procedurally and substantively irregular,” said Parkview Residents’ Association Chairman Duncan Gibbon. “The permit is dated 22 November 2007 although the notice that was affixed to the boundary wall of the property gave the closing date for comments on the property owner’s plans as 23 November 2007.”

The Parktown Westcliff Heritage Trust (PWHT) and the PRA both submitted objection letters within the prescribed period. Both organisations were entitled to be given a hearing prior to the decision being taken and were entitled to be formally notified by the Heritage Authority of its decision to approve the application. The Authority violated the PWHT’s and the PRA’s rights by failing to comply with these requirements

Eight months ago, the Parktown and Westcliff Heritage Trust applied for “Kilkenny Castle” to be declared a provincial heritage site. The Heritage Resources Authority has not even replied to the application, let alone considered it.

The property is also mentioned on the www.joburg.org.za website. It is acknowledged as being a significant landmark not only in Parkview, but in Johannesburg as a whole.

In the meantime, the property’s owners are pressing ahead with alterations and additions according to a contradictory set of plans. “One set shows a double storey garage, another shows a single storey, and it is unclear what the real intentions of this alteration are,” says Gibbon.

For many of the suburb’s residents, the alterations which have already taken place amount to vandalism. An unsightly mixture of raw brickwork, corrugated iron and other materials heritage-conscious architects regard as entirely inappropriate, has been used to alter the old stone boundary wall.

“For this reason we are asking MEC Creecy to urgently suspend the Heritage Authority’s permit, declare Kilkenny Castle a Provincial Heritage site, and ensure that construction stops immediately pending the appeal” said Gibbon.

Mrs Flo Bird
Chair: Parktown Westcliff Heritage Trust
(011) 726-7528

Of interest - http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/946/52/ (Please note the date of the article: the owners mentioned have since sold the property to the current owners.)

Distributed on behalf of the Parkview Residents’ Association
Theresa Gibbon - Communications Portfolio
Parkview Residents’ Association
Tel 082 820 8437
gibbons@mweb.co.za