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That’s all very well in the movies. But, in real life, attracting any group of people should be ensured before building, a view that should be paramount in the revitalisation of Hermanus’s central business district. To be blunt, tourists (on whom Hermanus’s economy depends) will not come simply because we re-build the CBD. The interests and preferences of our tourists must be an integral part of our plan to do this.
Luckily, a lot of evidence is available about what tourists have found appealing in similar programmes. It includes a strong sense of distinctive place, ease of access, pavement life, bars serving cocktails and coffee, and stores selling goods that will remind the tourist of a fun holiday.
The construction of the Mall and other problems have made the CBD revitalisation urgent, especially as any revitalisation work in High Street has to be preceded by work on the storm water drainage system. The Hermanus History Society has been invited to participate in this planning.
We have made a detailed historical study of one of the streets involved and looked at successful examples of similar work internationally. We are arguing for an approach which will provide easy pedestrian access to and along High Street, with some emphasis on the history of the area; increased use of ‘arcades’ (originally called ‘passageways’); investments in murals, plants and trees; and a freshening up of all frontages of buildings, with minimum commercial signage.
Some relevant historical findings will help to create the famous sense of place that draws tourists to the town in the first place. High Street was first surveyed in 1874 and comprised 27 erven (plots) all of considerable size. Of these, 15 backed onto High Street, with frontage onto Main Road. The remainder fronted onto High Street, with the rear of each plot opening onto Mitchell Street. The Hermanus Municipality retained several plots. These are now parking areas which further increase accessibility.
The first owners of these plots comprised many of the first settler families who had arrived here in 1857. The Henn family bought no fewer than four plots. Others were bought by the Warringtons, the Hammans and Groenewalds. The Allengenskys (who arrived in the 1880s) also acquired properties. Passageways were established to ease access between the long erven. We believe that this was done to benefit fisherfolk walking from homes north of the CBD.
By the 1940s, twelve of the plots in these three streets were still residential, ten had converted to commercial use and five were occupied by the Royal and Central (Nielssens) Hotels.
In outline, the History Society advocates the following for High Street and immediate surrounds which has implications for Main Road and Mitchell Street as well.
- Convert High Street to a fully pedestrianised street, with no vehicular transport, except for deliveries. Any demarcated pavements (sidewalks) to be flat and smooth.
- Retain the accessibility through the existing “passageway’, streets and parking areas, so that tourists may move easily between the three streets.
- With the cooperation of the affected shops provide shopping opportunities in all “arcades”, as the passageways should be renamed.
- Buildings still in recognisable authentic Hermanus cottage style should be renovated and returned to an appearance close to the original exterior.
- The blank walls at the rear of buildings at the west end of the street should be decorated with images of typical Hermanus scenes.
- Owners should be urged to adopt a suitable frontage on Main and High Streets, with minimum signage.
- Small plaques to be sparingly affixed to buildings regarding historical details about the building or area.
- Mature trees to be planted wherever feasible. . The History Society be commissioned to produce a short version of the history of the street to be used for publicity purposes.
With the CBD revitalisation set to start in High Street next year, Robin Lee and Angela Heslop for the Hermanus History Society weigh in on how this vital project should be dealt with.
The 1989 American film Field of Dreams concerns a man obsessed with building a baseball diamond (field) on his farm in Iowa, to attract his favourite player. He often repeats a phrase that has entered the English language: “If you build it, they will come.” Visions of his favourite and other dead players do come.
That’s all very well in the movies. But, in real life, attracting any group of people should be ensured before building, a view that should be paramount in the revitalisation of Hermanus’s central business district. To be blunt, tourists (on whom Hermanus’s economy depends) will not come simply because we re-build the CBD. The interests and preferences of our tourists must be an integral part of our plan to do this.
Luckily, a lot of evidence is available about what tourists have found appealing in similar programmes. It includes a strong sense of distinctive place, ease of access, pavement life, bars serving cocktails and coffee, and stores selling goods that will remind the tourist of a fun holiday.
The construction of the Mall and other problems have made the CBD revitalisation urgent, especially as any revitalisation work in High Street has to be preceded by work on the storm water drainage system. The Hermanus History Society has been invited to participate in this planning.
We have made a detailed historical study of one of the streets involved and looked at successful examples of similar work internationally. We are arguing for an approach which will provide easy pedestrian access to and along High Street, with some emphasis on the history of the area; increased use of ‘arcades’ (originally called ‘passageways’); investments in murals, plants and trees; and a freshening up of all frontages of buildings, with minimum commercial signage.
Some relevant historical findings will help to create the famous sense of place that draws tourists to the town in the first place. High Street was first surveyed in 1874 and comprised 27 erven (plots) all of considerable size. Of these, 15 backed onto High Street, with frontage onto Main Road. The remainder fronted onto High Street, with the rear of each plot opening onto Mitchell Street. The Hermanus Municipality retained several plots. These are now parking areas which further increase accessibility.
The first owners of these plots comprised many of the first settler families who had arrived here in 1857. The Henn family bought no fewer than four plots. Others were bought by the Warringtons, the Hammans and Groenewalds. The Allengenskys (who arrived in the 1880s) also acquired properties. Passageways were established to ease access between the long erven. We believe that this was done to benefit fisherfolk walking from homes north of the CBD.
By the 1940s, twelve of the plots in these three streets were still residential, ten had converted to commercial use and five were occupied by the Royal and Central (Nielssens) Hotels.
In outline, the History Society advocates the following for High Street and immediate surrounds which has implications for Main Road and Mitchell Street as well.
- Convert High Street to a fully pedestrianised street, with no vehicular transport, except for deliveries. Any demarcated pavements (sidewalks) to be flat and smooth.
- Retain the accessibility through the existing “passageway’, streets and parking areas, so that tourists may move easily between the three streets.
- With the cooperation of the affected shops provide shopping opportunities in all “arcades”, as the passageways should be renamed.
- Buildings still in recognisable authentic Hermanus cottage style should be renovated and returned to an appearance close to the original exterior.
- The blank walls at the rear of buildings at the west end of the street should be decorated with images of typical Hermanus scenes.
- Owners should be urged to adopt a suitable frontage on Main and High Streets, with minimum signage.
- Small plaques to be sparingly affixed to buildings regarding historical details about the building or area.
- Mature trees to be planted wherever feasible. . The History Society be commissioned to produce a short version of the history of the street to be used for publicity purposes.