Is Sea Point losing its soul to commercialisation?

RESIDENTS CONCERNED

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS

SEA Point residents say the suburb’s charm and sense of community are being threatened by an unrelenting wave of commercial development that is reshaping its traditionally residential streets.

While few oppose progress, many argue that development has become unchecked, with traditional homes and small apartment blocks being replaced by oversized, commercially driven projects and little meaningful consultation.

Apartment owner and Summertide trustee Tobie Louw said residents support development that is “considerate and consistent with the City’s Spatial Development Plan,” but added that what they are seeing isn’t “considerate” but more an “over-commercialisation”.

“Long-term residents are watching the residential character of our streets disappear under constant construction, dust, noise and traffic.”

Louw said residents often learn about new developments too late to have real input, describing the process as “a tick box exercise that happens after decisions are already made”.

“People forget that residents invest not in profits but in communities,” he said. “We maintain our buildings, pay our rates, and keep these neighbourhoods liveable long after developers have moved on.”

Summertide, surrounded by three consecutive commercial sites, has faced nearly seven years of disruption.