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Suburb slowly making friends with stadium
Posted on: Tuesday, 19 June 2007. Article source: Eastern Cape Business News
By Sipho Masondo
CONSTRUCTION is forging ahead on Port Elizabeth‘s 2010 World Cup stadium in Prince Alfred Park in North End, and euphoria, anxiety, excitement and tension are mounting among local residents.
Soccer fans are known to be often unruly and North End resident Colleen Rudman says she is worried that come June 2010, stones will be thrown at her windows.
But she is also happy that the stadium construction has helped to rid the area of prostitutes. “They‘re gone and we don‘t see them anymore. It‘s also now very quiet as the thoroughfare in the park has been closed.”
Rudman is planning to start cooking food to sell to workers on the stadium site.
Tristan van der Aarden is planning to open a bed and breakfast establishment in anticipation of the influx of tourists expected to come to South Africa for the World Cup.
“There is a high demand for accommodation. Even some of the people working on the stadium have inquired. Investors and estate agents have also inquired about our house.”
Although not a soccer fan, Van der Aarden said it was good that the World Cup was coming to South Africa.
Sydenham Residents‘ Association chairman Paul Dippenaar said that when the area was announced as the stadium site there had been chaos, with estate agents spreading false rumours in an attempt to swindle people out of their houses.
The bizarre stories ranged from the North End Lake being drained to create parking space, to houses being demolished to make way for freeways. “We had to meet with people every two weeks and explain to them that there was no such thing.”
He said the mood was now jovial in the neighbourhood, especially since crime had decreased markedly in the area. “Many people want to capitalise on business opportunities and get involved, but there is little information on how they can do that.”
A resident, who did not want to be named, said the area had improved dramatically since construction started at the stadium site. “There are no robberies anymore as there is security around the site at night,” he said, adding that he would like to see the stadium used for rugby as well.
His only complaint was that the park was no longer accessible.
There are 1 094 days before the official kick-off of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
CONSTRUCTION is forging ahead on Port Elizabeth‘s 2010 World Cup stadium in Prince Alfred Park in North End, and euphoria, anxiety, excitement and tension are mounting among local residents.
Soccer fans are known to be often unruly and North End resident Colleen Rudman says she is worried that come June 2010, stones will be thrown at her windows.
But she is also happy that the stadium construction has helped to rid the area of prostitutes. “They‘re gone and we don‘t see them anymore. It‘s also now very quiet as the thoroughfare in the park has been closed.”
Rudman is planning to start cooking food to sell to workers on the stadium site.
Tristan van der Aarden is planning to open a bed and breakfast establishment in anticipation of the influx of tourists expected to come to South Africa for the World Cup.
“There is a high demand for accommodation. Even some of the people working on the stadium have inquired. Investors and estate agents have also inquired about our house.”
Although not a soccer fan, Van der Aarden said it was good that the World Cup was coming to South Africa.
Sydenham Residents‘ Association chairman Paul Dippenaar said that when the area was announced as the stadium site there had been chaos, with estate agents spreading false rumours in an attempt to swindle people out of their houses.
The bizarre stories ranged from the North End Lake being drained to create parking space, to houses being demolished to make way for freeways. “We had to meet with people every two weeks and explain to them that there was no such thing.”
He said the mood was now jovial in the neighbourhood, especially since crime had decreased markedly in the area. “Many people want to capitalise on business opportunities and get involved, but there is little information on how they can do that.”
A resident, who did not want to be named, said the area had improved dramatically since construction started at the stadium site. “There are no robberies anymore as there is security around the site at night,” he said, adding that he would like to see the stadium used for rugby as well.
His only complaint was that the park was no longer accessible.
There are 1 094 days before the official kick-off of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
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