Breathing new life into the city centre

Upmarket development in Windhoek’s central business district (CBD) is on the rise and has boosted the revival of this inner-city area.
Plans to transform the city into a trendy leisure destination after dark have seen an increase in the number of cafes, festivals and night markets to appeal to professionals who work within the CBD to spend more time in the city after hours.
There’s also a growing trend of CBD living.
Mayor Muesee Kazapua has noted that despite numerous challenges, Windhoek has seen significant developments over the past few years, including the construction of FNB’s head office and the Hilton Hotel. Addressing a business forum in September last year, he said: “These mixed developments in our central business district area are clear testimony that our business community is positively responding to the City’s call to revitalise the CBD area.”
Other key developments in the area are the mixed-use 77 on Independence Avenue and the multimillion-dollar phased refurbishment of Gustav Voigts shopping centre.
77 on Independence, which offers a combination of retail, residential and office space, links Independence Avenue to the Old Breweries Craft Market, a precinct that already boasts some high-quality retailers, businesses and service providers, a gym and an art gallery.
The three-level Gustav Voigts complex, built in the 1970s and located beneath the four-star Avani Hotel and Casino, was the country’s very first mall.
It’s home to established brands such as Mr Price, Totalsports, Queenspark, Donna Claire and Pep, as well as a Checkers supermarket and local brands like Wecke & Voigts, Nakara and Safariland. Carel Fourie, CEO of Oryx Properties, the owner of the centre, says: “We’ve undertaken this refurbishment partly as a result of the growing demand for upscale inner-city shopping, driven by the professionals in the surrounding offices, banks and government buildings.”
Fourth generation Voigts family member and Wecke & Voigts store manager and buyer, Adriane Jandrell, confirms there’s been an increase in the number of professionals frequenting the department store, which opened its doors 125 years ago and is the oldest in the country.
Noting that the store’s inventory caters for both tourists and locals, Jandrell says: “Because of the rich history and reputation our store holds in Windhoek, we have experienced visits from clients from around the world.”
The Avani Hotel and Casino has similarly seen an increase in patrons over the last year, according to general manager Rudie Putter, who points out that the convenience of the location allows for a healthy mix of tourists, corporate and conference guests.
The hotel’s all-day lunch buffet is very popular, while local artists regularly put on entertainment in the Oasis Bar. “We recently completed a revamp of the casino, and now offer a bigger and modern salon prive,” Putter adds.
Ronald Uwukhaeb, marketing manager of the Hilton Windhoek, notes: “In 2011, Hilton Windhoek became Namibia’s first five-star accommodation establishment, and since then Windhoek has certainly become a hub for retailers and professionals. There are many plans for the revival of the CBD which are greatly supported by locals and retailers alike.”
The new 180-room Hilton Garden Inn is sited next to the existing Hilton Windhoek.
The city is putting its money where its mouth is too.
“Council stands ready to avail land for developments that it deems will have a positive impact on the livelihoods of our people, particularly in the western suburbs of the city,” mayor Kazapua said last year.
The City has also committed to operational upgrades to improve traffic flow and improved park maintenance.