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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Billionaire Douw Steyn builds his own alternative mega-city |
| 2016-03-29 |
| [The South African] Insurance entrepreneur, Douw Steyn, is definitely a man with a vision. His dreams are large. Or let's say, enormous. Steyn's vision of a 800 hectare estate between Johannesburg and Pretoria is rapidly taking shape. The billionaire's personal home, Palazzo Steyn, is valued at 250 million. Naturally, it is located in the center of Steyn City. It even beats Zuma's Nkandla, but at least it wasn't paid with taxpayers money. The 3000 square meter mansion is -- upon completion -- South Africa's most expensive and sits on two and a half hectare. Douw Steyn's Pallazo Steyn in the middle of the Steyn City development north of Johannesburg The Steyn City development is built on the concept of building a city within a city. Johannesburg is a sprawling, urban place. While Steyn is an extremely private man, and an interview a rarity, he explains the project on his website. He started the project with his director of Steyn City Properties, Giuseppe Plumari, who says: "Giuseppe and I share the same vision - to create a lifestyle unlike any other in South Africa built on the foundation of quality of life. A country estate offering country living, but with all amentities conveniently within reach. Too much time is wasted in cities sitting in traffic and commuting between home, work, schools, and the shops. We want to bring all these elements of daily life into one estate and give residents back the precious commoity of time, in a secure, upmarket environment." |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #1 Steyn and his investors are banking [pardon the pun] on apparent non-discovery of Fannie Mae and Government Neighborhood Stabilization Programs (NSP). In that part of the world however, outright armed seizure is more likely the outcome. Yes, you have it, 'Stabilization Program' is yet another government euphemistic phrase. Suburbia, or in this case 'white townships' will survive only if government permits it, and the taxes and permits are quite costly. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2016-03-29 05:24 |