The hole was one of the biggest dug in the inner city since the construction of the Carlton Centre,
The excavation will be used for underground parking as part of a new, 30,000sq m2 Newtown Junction, which was being built among heritage buildings, including the historic potato shed at Newtown.
The project coincided with the revamp and extension of the Market Theatre precinct and was expected to draw in additional 5,000 people and 2,500 cars to the central business district.
The Star reported that the centre would be linked to the upgraded theatre precinct, so theatre-goers would be able to walk over the railway lines on refurbished original pedestrian bridges to dine and shop after shows.
The new centre will have at least two major retailers along with a string of fashion boutiques and restaurants.
"Newtown is one of the crown jewels of Jo'burg, with its history and old buildings, many of which have been sadly neglected," architect Jeremy Rose, of Mashabane Rose Architects.
"Through this new development, we want to combine the old with new, but still hold on to the city's memories.
"The new building will be adding to the progress of the city. These historic sites are lying vacant and disused and our history is going to be lost for ever if something is not done," he said.
The Newton Junction was expected to open in December 2014.
Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge
For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.
We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.
Go to: http://www.inet.co.za
