»
Sep 04, 2007:
The historic power station site on Thesen Islands in Knysna has been released for redevelopment and is on the market for R6,5m (VAT exclusive).
The 1,772sq m site is the last remaining commercial property to be offered by the developers of Thesen Islands, South Africa's largest marina development.
Located in a prime position on the water's edge of the exclusive commercial hub, Thesen Harbour Town, the power station is to be developed as a 19-room boutique hotel. Other hotel facilities will include a small restaurant, and a heritage area that will retain some of the original steam turbine generators, which were once used to supply electricity to Knysna.
The classic red brick and steel power station shell will also be retained with complementary additions and alterations.
Thesen Harbour Town, the historical heart of the old timber factory area, is one of the 19 islands that make up the Thesen Islands development. It offers a lively mix of speciality shops, coffee shops and restaurants that cater for both the tourist trade, as well as the residential development, which comprises over 500 houses and 50 upscale apartments.
Gray Rutherford of the Fisch Group says that a significant amount of refurbishment has already taken place on site.
"This is a unique opportunity to develop a boutique hotel with great character in what must rate as one of the most sought-after locations on the Garden Route. With the residential development at Thesens Islands completely sold out, demand for property here is ever-increasing and the hotel would therefore also be perfectly suited for sale by sectional title or fractional ownership."
