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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Plans to turn Johannesburg into Africa's 'New York' |
| 2013-06-10 |
| [Pak Daily Times] City authorities in Johannesburg, South Africa's economic hub, have unveiled an ambitious plan to undo urban inequalities of the apartheid era and turn the continent's wealthiest city into the "New York of Africa". City mayor Parks Tau says the 10-year scheme, which is set to cost some $10 billion (7.5 billion euros), will lead to a "new era" for Johannesburg and its 4.4 million inhabitants. Plans are on the cards for an extensive new road and railroad network, better houses and revamped buildings to spruce up the city, originally built on a gold rush in the late 19th century. The inspiration for change is the cosmopolitan New York City in the United States, with its attractive bridges, roads and efficient subway network and parks. "We are re-inventing the city of Johannesburg," Tau said. "We are turning this city into a New York of Africa," he added. Officials say the project will correct urban planning dating back to white minority rule, which pushed designated black areas to the outskirts of the city, with poor access to transport and other infrastructure and services. "This is a major step in reversing the inequalities caused by the apartheid regime," Tau told AFP. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #9 Passed through Jburg a couple of times back in April. It has all the charm of Clevland- without the Lake. They do have an NYC traffic and crime blotter similarities however, so at least that won't need additional work at least. |
| Posted by: Capsu78 2013-06-10 18:06 |
| #8 I've always been shocked that nobody in the third world duplicates Hong Kong. Just designate a coastal city as an experiment and duplicate the taxation and laws from Hong Kong and let economics take its course. Unless you beleave the Chinese + British equal magic, of course. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2013-06-10 14:52 |
| #7 You can throw all the money you don't have at it, yet nothing will change. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul in Iceland 2013-06-10 10:58 |
| #6 They can have Mayor Bloomberg to help get them started. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2013-06-10 06:09 |
| #5 Where they're going to get all the Italian restaraunts and Kosher Delis? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2013-06-10 04:49 |
| #4 "This is a major step in reversing the inequalities caused by the apartheid regime," Tau told AFP. Chirping that familiar old crutch again. Good luck with your urban redo. Detroit is coming along nicely by the way. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-06-10 02:26 |
| #3 Isn't there already a New York of Africa, in New York? |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2013-06-10 02:09 |
| #2 Try having another Gold Rush. |
| Posted by: Injun Jones1585 2013-06-10 01:58 |
| #1 Step 1: ban Big Gulps. |
| Posted by: PBMcL 2013-06-10 00:52 |