What Is The Florida Rd UIP?
The Florida Road Vibe
A day in Florida Rd starts early, with the smell of brewing coffee and the buzz of people heading to their offices. Diners fill sidewalk cafes as lunchtime approaches and when the sun goes down, street’s clubs and bars come into their own, earning Florida Road its reputation as one of Durban’s top destinations.
Stretching from Sandile Thusi Rd to Innes Rd, Florida Rd has more than 30 restaurants to choose from. Add to this the historic architecture of Florida Rd’s Edwardian structures, its warm street vibe and its range of galleries, boutiques, studios and bars, and the ‘high street’ experience of Florida Rd is complete.
Underlying this experience and these attributes is a well-structured management initiative, the Florida Rd Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) that works to ensure the experience of the public space is a positive one.
Florida Rd property owners established the Florida Rd UIP in July 2013, with services phased in from 1 October 2013. Under this management, and through the direction of the UIP board, the Florida UIP manages the public space along the full length of Florida Rd from Lilian Ngoyi Rd intersection in the south to Mitchell Park in the north and includes properties on both sides of the road.
The Value Of The UIP
The Florida Rd UIP is a long-term investment made by the area’s commercial property owners to effectively secure and enhance property values and support business activity in the area. Through this investment and by partnering with the eThekwini Municipality, the UIP ensures that this key node delivers an exceptional experience of public space by improving the environment and quality of life for all Florida Rd’s users.
With this in mind, the UIP aims to:
- Retain existing investment and build investor confidence
- Create an environment which supports vibrant and responsible business activity
- Improve safety, the general environment and quality of life for the benefit of all
- Respond to the challenge of environmental sustainability
To achieve this, the UIP’s scope of services include:
- Supplementary services such as Security; Cleaning and Maintenance; and other special projects including cleaning blitz; pavement washing; lighting audits etc.
- Place-Making, Marketing and Communications
- Working with the municipality to optimise service delivery and lobby for investment in infrastructure such as pavement upgrades; new trees and the like.
The positive effects of UIP type structures are being felt all over KZN where property values are enhanced, business activity is supported and the environment and quality of life for all users is greatly improved.
UIP In Action
To date, the UIP has directly completed or has worked with the municipality and other stakeholders on a number of projects, the details of which are contained below:
- The UIP management is involved in high-level SAPS and security discussions on a plan for managing the problematic vagrant car guards in Florida Rd. This issue is top priority as it creates a very negative perception of Florida Rd and undermines with work being done by the UIP.
- UIP team motivated to council for new road markings at the lower end of Florida Rd
- The UIP team motivated to council for all traffic lights in the area to be repainted
- The UIP team repainted all the postboxes and post storage boxes in the area.
- The UIP cleaning team treated all aloes at the Innes and Florida Rd intersection for scale.
- The UIP team planted the tree bowls in Florida Rd with indigenous ground cover that looks good and protects the soil from wash-aways.
- Graffiti covered municipal structures are being cleaned up and given a lick of paint.
- In an effort to assist the UIP in maintain Florida Rd, DSW has installed 21 extra plastic bins
- In April a three-man team including the Berea SAPS arrested a suspect with twelve straws of cannabis and uncovered a derelict building where vagrants and suspected criminals were squatting. This was a follow up operation to one conducted in February where SAPS and UIP security company Enforce swept the area for hidden drugs and drug hiding areas.
- The UIP patrol arrested 7 car guards in possession of dagga. These individuals were charged, relieved of their uniforms and removed from the area.
- Thanks to UIP motivation, the pavements in 7th Ave were upgraded by the Municipality and the top end of Florida Rd itself was rehabilitated from Gordon Road up to Innes.
- On the UIP’s request to the municipality a large number of street signs have been repaired or replaced, with additional areas for new signage identified and being followed up on.
- The UIP cleaning team undertake an early morning general litter cleanup on the main street before moving in to the side roads and back alleys. They are also mandated to keep the area free of graffiti, stickers and illegal posters and pamphlets and ensure this is done as soon as a problem is identified.
- Forty three tree planter boxes between 7th Ave and Gordon Rd have been repaired by the municipality at the UIP’s request.
The UIP management team is constantly responding to the ever-evolving needs of Florida Rd, whether it be municipal service delivery, challenges with car guards and vagrants or special projects to enhance the road. Like the vibrant city of Durban itself, Florida Road is constantly changing and the management works to evolve with it.
Did you know?
The first municipal tramline in South Africa was laid in Florida Road and used on 12 September 1892, with horses providing the motive power.
Florida Rd is a legislated Urban Improvement Precinct and as such deploys two security officers in a dedicated vehicle to monitor public space 24/7. From 6pm-6am on Friday and Saturday nights, 2 extra foot-patrol officers take to the street
You will find all you need to know about Florida Rd at www.floridaroaduip.co.za and on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/floridarduip?
All outlets in Florida Rd are fitted with uncapped wi-fi as part of an ongoing project by MWeb to drive wi-fi in public spaces.
Florida UIP Contacts
– Precinct Manager: Jarrod Evans 082 389 3584 jarrod@urbanmgt.co.za
– Project Leader: Brian Wright 083 324 3367 brian@urbanmgt.co.za
– Marketing and Communication: Cara Reilly 083 372 1558 cara@urbanmgt.co.za
– Administration: Jenny Mackenzie 082 446 8031 jen@urbanmgt.co.za