New Evergreen Lifestyle development in Bergvliet, Cape Town

Evergreen retirement village brand expands with launch of Bergvliet development

Building on the success of its flagship retirement lifestyle village, Evergreen Lifestyle, Muizenberg, which won international recognition in CNBC Arabia’s 2009 property industry awards, Amdec Property Development has launched a new Evergreen development in Bergvliet, Cape Town.

This is in line with the company’s goal of establishing a national brand of retirement lifestyle villages in the South African market.

Evergreen Lifestyle, Bergvliet, located at Sonnenhof, a lushly wooded three-acre estate within Bergvliet, a popular area in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, will consist of a limited number of luxury homes. “The new development will be ideal for homeowners who wish to downscale from big properties, while ‘upscaling’ to a more stress-free lifestyle,” he says.

Sonnenhof, which dates back over 100 years, was one of the many farms of historical significance in the Cape’s Constantia Valley. Wilson says the original manor house, with its beautiful wooden floors and high ceilings, will be restored as part of the development.

“The estate has a rural ambience in a sought-after urban setting”, he says.  While offering seclusion, and lending itself to an active country lifestyle of mountain and forest walks, golf and equestrian pursuits, it is also close to the Constantia wine estates, restaurants and the Constantia Village shopping centre, and a stone’s throw away from a public library, a private hospital and various churches.

The first phase of the development will comprise 29 architect-designed homes, each set in a landscaped garden and positioned to offer the best views of the surrounding mountains. “Careful consideration has been given to every aspect of the houses, from the high-quality finishes to the space-maximising design that have become part of the Amdec signature”, says Wilson.

Internal modifications to the standard building plans may be incorporated into the design, where feasible, before construction commences, he says.

Amdec aims to create a sense of community within the new development, as was successfully done at Evergreen Lifestyle, Muizenberg. “We regard social interaction as a central component of retirement housing, to combat the sense of loneliness that many people face as they grow older,” says Wilson. “At Evergreen Lifestyle, Bergvliet, the neighbourhood will be shaped in an arrangement that fosters community yet offers privacy.”

“A lifestyle centre, with indoor and outdoor entertainment areas, will also be constructed, where residents can meet, dine and enjoy events, and entertain their guests. The leisure facilities will include a bistro with residents’ dining room, lounge, games room and library, as well as an outdoor heated swimming pool”, he says.

The integrated approach to health care introduced at Evergreen Lifestyle, Muizenberg, with escalating levels of care offered to cater for changing needs, will also be implemented at Bergvliet. Managed care levy packages will range from a basic domestic service, including 24-hour emergency call, to frail care. Wilson says a frail care unit will be included in the new development.  

“As the safety of Evergreen residents is a key consideration, full security, a 24-hour manned gatehouse, and CCTV security will be provided at Evergreen Lifestyle, Bergvliet”, he says.

The prices of the houses in will range from R2.8-million to R3.5-million and are sold on a life right basis, with Amdec, which has a R4.5-billion property portfolio, remaining involved in the development on an ongoing basis. “A well-managed life right scheme will build up reserves for major maintenance work, as well as control and limit levy increases,” explains Wilson. “A portion of the resale profit is retained and paid into a capital reserve fund as provision for major maintenance work.”

“Another advantage of life right is that no transfer duty, no VAT and no registration fees are payable, as there is no title deed registration”, he says. A life rights scheme also provides financial security, as the Housing Development Schemes for Retired Persons Act No. 65 of 1988 guarantees the retired person’s tenancy in the life right scheme and protects the buyer’s investment.

Focus groups held with potential buyers before the launch drew a favourable response, and eight properties have already been sold, with more reserved, he says.

For more information, contact the Amdec office on 021 702 3200 or visit www.evergreenlifestyle.co.za