Heritage Cases

C. SIGNIFICANCE: 1. Original date of construction/date of first approved plan: Date of construction : 1905 2. Historical Significance : Original owner and first resident : Mrs.Helen J.Domme It was bought by the City Council as part of a block for demolition and development. In 1993 the Durban Heritage Trust intervened and requested that the house and outbuildings be restored and converted to offices instead of being demolished. The City council agreed and sold the property to the DHT who restored the house and outbuildings. The Kwa Zulu Natal Institute of Architects leased office space from the DHT and later bought the company that owns the property. 3. Architectural Significance: Original architects : Read and Hurst Listed in “A Revised Listing of Important Buildings of Durban” by Prof. B.Kearney. “A single storied house of Victorian period with later, Union Period front veranda in Vernacular style; main pyramidal roof and articulated veranda roof; notable columns, quoining and encaustic tiles; front garden walls.” 4. Urban Setting & Adjoining Properties: It was one of a row of similar single storey houses, all demolished. South neighbour : KZN-Society of Arts Gallery and restaurant. (Also part of the “Special Zone 39”) North neighbour : vacant (City council land) West boundary is the end of Bath rd (cul-de-sac) and Bulwer Park. Bulwer rd on the East boundary. Bulwer rd has a mixture of single-storey houses and low-rise flats, mixed use, commercial and residential. It is near a busy intersection of Helen Joseph rd and Bulwer road. Bulwer road is a busy arterial route. D. PROPOSED WORK 1. Purpose of Application: Proposed Security Fence 2. Motivation for proposed work: The SAIA KZN Regional committee have made the decision to fence the building and back yard as an urgent and temporary measure for the safety of the staff and members (while on the premises) after a number of incidents on the property and on surrounding properties. Crime statistics are available should you need to refer to them. As a non-profit organisation the choice of a temporary fencing system is budget driven. 1. The back and side boundaries are to be fenced with removable palisade, fixed into the driveway and pavement. There will be only 2 fixings to the building where it was unavoidable. 2. The front fence will be wrought iron of a design that matches the KZNSA boundary fence. This will involve the removal of the pipes between posts and the pedestrian gate. The old pedestrian gate is to be moved to the garden boundary with the KZNSA restaurant courtyard. The back boundary wall remains unchanged, with the palisade running in front of it. 3. The KZNSA boundary will remain open as we are regarding the two properties as a secure precinct. 4. The committee is negotiating the lease of the land to the North (currently used as parking) for inclusion in the precinct. SAIA-KZN will be engaging with the City and the KZNSA regarding a better solution to the security and accessibility of the precinct as a whole. Once there is a plan in place for the precinct this will form a comprehensive application which will include perimeter security or buildings on the boundary. 3. Detail the work to be carried out: Refer to drawing no. 16-47-SD01. Proposed temporary palisade fence and pedestrian gate to the back and side boundaries. Proposed wrought iron fence between posts to Bulwer road. Proposed pedestrian gate with intercom and electric lock. Removal of cross bar between posts and removal of pedestrian gate and reinstallation on side boundary with KZNSA.