Revitalizing the Bloemfontein CBD: Prospects, Obstacles and Lost Opportunities

Abstract

Urban change has systematically been researched for more than a century. One of the key foci has been the Central Business Districts (CBDs) of cities. The past decades has seen an extensive literature develop on CBD decline focusing on why such decay sets in and which strategies, as well as policies, that might be deployed to stimulate the revitalisation of these areas. The debates are, however, in the main developed within the context of large cities, whilst the geographical focus tends to be on countries of the post-industrial north. In the South African context, a small, but nevertheless significant literature has developed chronicling both CBD decline and subsequent revitalisation strategies deployed to reverse such decline. Similar to the international experience, the focal point has been South Africa's main metropolitan regions, whilst secondary cities have remained beyond the investigatory focus. The aim of this paper was to provide an outline of the prospects and obstacles that face CBD revitalisation in the secondary city of Bloemfontein. It is argued that whilst generic revitalisation programmes in cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg have seemingly stemmed further CBD decline, other strategies might be required in secondary cities such as Bloemfontein.

A Lefebvrian Analysis of Public Spaces in Mangaung, South Africa

“…Inhabitants' unabated littering and unmonitored acts of vandalism are indications that these spaces are in crisis, and that they are indeed threatened by the very users for whom they are conceived and publicly managed. In an economically challenged secondary city, commodification of public space is not (as yet) a viable option (Hoogendoorn, et al, 2008). Creative means and public education strategies-perhaps beginning with the 'adopt-a-park' strategy-must therefore be explored if public space incivility in Mangaung is to be mitigated.…”

“…In its political production, Bloemfontein city denied blacks-Africans, Indians and Coloureds-physical and social access to its built environment (Krige, 1991). The advent of democracy in 1994 saw Bloemfontein's white citizens and capital emigrating from the CBD to segregated communities that spread in all four directions from the compact inner city, thus rapidly changing Bloemfontein's spatial form through suburban residential developments (Ferreira & Visser, 2015;Hoogendoorn et al, 2008). The sprawl of gated communities or "high-density walled townhouse complexes" in Mangaung, is an important process that continues to redefine the changing character of the post-apartheid city (Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, 2017, p. 191).…”

“…The sprawl of gated communities or "high-density walled townhouse complexes" in Mangaung, is an important process that continues to redefine the changing character of the post-apartheid city (Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, 2017, p. 191). While Bloemfontein's CBD functions have emigrated from the inner city (Hoogendoorn et al, 2008), the physical landscape has remained intact. The task for the Mangaung metropolitan administration is therefore to revive its declined inner cities in Bloemfontein and Thaba Nchu.…”