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Nov 14, 2008:
The Winelands town of Paarl has reported a surge in interest in buying historic buildings and transforming them.Savvy property buyers are helping to re-invigorate the Winelands town of Paarl, by snapping up some of its older buildings and transforming them into character-filled modern structures. The local Pam Golding office reports that there has been a surge in interest in some of the town's older houses, especially those with interesting historical background, and says renovators are turning the dull and dowdy into charming family dwellings and small shops.
The change is nowhere more evident that on the town's Main Road, says PGP area manager Surina du Toit. "Main Road has always had a few small businesses and motor dealerships, typical of a rural town, but in the last few years we have seen it undergo a complete transformation. It is now a bustling, trendy spot, full of beautifully renovated buildings, coffee shops, boutiques and restaurants. One of the biggest success stories has been number 279 Main Road, which we sold to developers two years ago. They have taken the old collection of drab offices and flats, and created modern apartments as well as vibey commercial spaces including a deli, restaurant and boutique. The vibe is not unlike St George's Mall in Cape Town, with lots of pedestrian traffic and outdoor activity, flanked by beautiful old buildings. It is also becoming a draw-card for tourists, who find it is a great place to spend an afternoon, wandering through small shops and enjoying fantastic local food."
Tourists are not the only ones to enjoy this breath of fresh air in the town. Says PGP's MD for the Boland and Overberg, Annien, Borg: "The property market in Paarl remains buoyant despite the overall tougher trading conditions we are experiencing at present. We are seeing ongoing interest from a wide variety of buyers, including businesspeople working in Cape Town's Northern Suburbs, for whom it is only a 25 minute drive to work. There are also plenty of queries from upcountry residents looking for a less stressful and more secure place in which to raise their families, close to excellent schools and sporting facilities, with a stunning mountain and vineyard setting and a more tranquil, neighbourly lifestyle. There is particular demand for homes in the various security and golf estates such as Pearl Valley, Boschenmeer, Val de Vie and Winelands Estate."
The agency has a wide selection of homes for sale in Paarl, with prices starting at around R440 000 for apartments, and small homes coming in at around R1 million. There is a variety of larger family homes, smallholdings and farms, ranging up to a large wine and port farm with a traditional Cape Dutch homestead, on the market at R33 million. "One can still buy a sizeable house here for R1.5 million," adds du Toit, "and enjoy all the benefits of living in the Winelands and enjoying a rural lifestyle, while still being only 45 minutes away from the Cape Town International Airport."
