HOUT BAY CASTLE FOR SALE

Hout Bay's landmark Lichtenstein Castle, high up on Karbonkelberg, is up for sale for a mere R31.5-million. Cape Town businessman Reynier FRITZ, who was well-known in advertising circles, first saw the 12th-century Schloss Lichtenstein in Stuttgart, the land of his ancestors, and decided to one day replicate it in Hout Bay. He was able to start building his dream in 1986 and 12 years later it was completed. He eventually turned it into a guest house before he died there. Sometime after his death, his widow, Christine, sold it to an overseas buyer. The main hall has carved beams, a vaulted wooden ceiling and leaded stained-glass windows. The castle has 12 en-suite bedrooms, a library, banquet hall for 140, and a conference centre for 40. Other luxuries include a swimming pool, a helipad, and a natural waterfall.

SAVE MILNERTON'S WOODEN BRIDGE

Milnerton’s historic wooden bridge, the only remaining bridge of its kind in South Africa, needs funds for its restoration project. The bridge has carried people, animals and cars for over 100 years. By last year the condition of the bridge had deteriorated so much that it was deemed too dangerous for public use and closed. In terms of the National Heritage Resource Act, the City of Cape Town has an obligation to restore the bridge. The bridge was declared a national monument in 1987 and protected by the Heritage Act ­ in terms of which the care and maintenance of heritage resources is vested in the owner. A conservation management plan for the bridge was recently completed by architect and heritage consultant Andre PENTZ. He has researched the historical significance of the bridge and made proposals for its future use and maintenance. It would cost more than R3-million to restore the bridge to its former glory. An application for funds has been made to the Lottery Board, which is supposed to allocate at least 20% of available funds to heritage projects. If there is no Lotto money, the private sector will have to be approached.

The bridge is a well-known and much photographed historical landmark. It is thought to have been built in 1901 by the Fortress Company of Royal Engineers to provide military access to the island during the Anglo-Boer War. The bridge was built of Australian Jarra, a rare wood. All the piles are in good condition below the tidemark, but badly deteriorated above. The bridge was used by golfers and beach goers to gain access to the beach until about 10 years ago when a modern road bridge was built over the lagoon.

ROCKLANDS VILLAS

Last April, the SABC announced that it is planning to renovate the neglected Rocklands Villas in Sea Point. This follows eight years of pressure from the city to do something about the dilapidated building. The 12 apartments, located behind the SABC building, were run-down. There had been two fires in the building. A rape and violent assaults had taken place in the building over the years. The apartments had been derelict for at least 12 years. The SABC is applying for zoning to turn the building into offices. If zoning is not granted, the SABC will rent out the apartments and the renovation would be mostly cosmetic.