The focus of this sub-committee is property development, GAP or FLISP Housing, Spatial Development and the homeless Shelter.
Through the establishment of this sub-committee, the GKBC is able to work with the municipality to identify land suitable for GAP or FLISP Housing and attract investors to develop these properties to be sold at affordable prices to residents who earn too little to qualify for a bond, but too much to qualify for a free house.
Employees of our members, through this initiative will be able to enter the property ownership market and the mass building of affordable housing projects will naturally establish a building supply chain from within the town.
Property development is another focus area where parcels of land already approved for housing developments and for sale on the private market have been identified. Members of this sub-committee are actively marketing these opportunities to private investors both within Knysna and from out of town to facilitate and fund the development of middle to upper income properties.
Hand in hand with property and housing development goes spatial development. GKBC actively participated in the recent MSDF public participation process and was provided with the opportunity to provide input to the consultants on 12 catalytic projects that would have the most valuable economic impact on the Greater Knysna municipal area. While not all inputs will be included in the final revised MSDF it is our intention to pursue the projects in order to build the economy of greater Knysna.
Last but not least is the homeless shelter. At present, there is no homeless shelter in town. With nowhere to go the destitute are on the streets. GKBC is actively engaged in the facilitation of establishing an emergency, temporary homeless shelter while the municipality works to build a permanent shelter. In summary, there is a housing shortage in Knysna from low income housing to upper income housing, the town is ready for development and property demand is at a high the time for investment is now.
