April 7, 2005
By Lucille Davie
DINERS sit outdoors eating at Nino's, shaded under sunlight dappled by plain trees, mosaic paving strips and street artefacts create an artistic atmosphere, a cobbler sits in his broekie-lace-lined kiosk, pedestrians idle by - a scene from the northern suburbs? Far from it - this is Main Street Mall in the city centre.
Main Street has been radically overhauled in the past year and, in keeping with the profusion of mining houses in the road, has been given a distinct mining look. Mining artefacts dot the eight blocks that have been refurbished. The historic mining headgear has been moved to the street from Langlaagte (where it was vandalised), together with mounted coco pans and underground coaches.
The street has become a delight to stroll down, even on the weekends when it is quiet, and safety is guaranteed with a street guard for every block. It is now a place of attractive respite from the hustle and bustle of the CBD.
Very much a people place now, the focus is on the two enclosed blocks of Hollard Street; a square has been formed where new paving criss-crossed with mosaic strips, unusual lighting columns, concrete benches, trees and the towering headgear, make it feel like any themed inner city area of any international city.
On the square sits The Hollard Street Cobbler, James Bela, cheerfully ensconced within his small, corrugated iron and broekie-lace kiosk, amid piles of shoes. Half-a-block eastwards is the Shop around the Corner, a busy takeaway and coffee shop that has been in the same spot for almost 25 years.
Architectural gems
Looking down protectively on these activities are some of the city's architectural treasures: Art Deco buildings, the Chamber of Mines at the magnificent 44 Main Street and London House on Von Weilligh Street - in all an area of 12 city blocks.
The western end of Main Street underwent refurbishment some time ago and is now only open to pedestrians. Manicured beds of variegated ground cover sit alongside the restored Impala Stampede, an impressive arch of 17 jumping impalas created by Herman Wald. The arch was originally in the Ernest Oppenheimer Park behind the Rissik Street Post Office, but it was moved because of vandalism.
One of the buildings overlooking the square is Billiton, at 6 Hollard Street. Three years ago it received the Colosseum Award, an architectural award, for heritage conservation, sponsored by the Johannesburg Heritage Trust.
Overlooking the diners on the square is the impressive "Joburg Man", an enlarged artwork by Arlene Amaler-Raviv and Dale Ydelman of a worker striding through turn-of-the-19th-century Johannesburg. The work is one of 35 that went up on city buildings in 2003, from a competition sponsored by cellphone operator Cell C as its contribution to the revitalisation of the city centre.
Trees, water, coco pans, clean pavements . . . the Main Street Mall
The eight blocks of Main Street have been repaved and the street has been given a zigzag shape. It is now a single-lane one-way road, with extended pavements, interesting bollards, water features, raised flowerbeds and additional trees.
Street guards
Peter Kaplan, the senior manager at Nino's, says the restaurant has only been open since November last year but is packed to capacity each lunchtime. It is open for breakfast and serves meals until 6pm. On Fridays it opens until 11pm, with live music and a DJ.
"We have around 150 people on Fridays - we take all the tables outside, to enjoy the summer evenings," says Kaplan. He is hoping to double that number, with preparations for winter evenings - a tarpaulin enclosing the outside area - well under way.
The private sector has invested R13-million in Main Street, with a City contribution of R2-million. The private sector pays for the street guards and has formed a Section 21 company to oversee the maintenance of the street.
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