Will Sandton grow like Manhattan ?

[Danie]

Will Sandton grow like Manhattan ?(please note this is just for fun)

[toddguy]

Will Sandton grow like Manhattan? NO!

[BnaBreaker]

With all due respect to Johannesburg's premier suburb, the difference between the two is so massive that you might as well be asking if a random empty spot in the desert will grow like Manhattan.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by BnaBreaker

With all due respect to Johannesburg's premier suburb, the difference between the two is so massive that you might as well be asking if a random empty spot in the desert will grow like Manhattan.

Well, Dubai pretty much grew that way.

As for Sandton, I had to Google it since I'd never heard of it. It reminded me of Boise, Idaho, or even a slightly more urban suburb of Phoenix.

[Sun Belt]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Well, Dubai pretty much grew that way.

As for Sandton, I had to Google it since I'd never heard of it. It reminded me of Boise, Idaho, or even a slightly more urban suburb of Phoenix.

Wait, what? You've never heard of Boise or Tempe? Forget that nobody ever suggested Boise to become another Manhattan....

Originally Posted by Sun Belt

Wait, what? You've never heard of Boise or Tempe? Forget that nobody ever suggested Boise to become another Manhattan....

that's... not at all what he said.

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by Sun Belt

Wait, what? You've never heard of Boise or Tempe? Forget that nobody ever suggested Boise to become another Manhattan....

No he is saying Sandelton looks like Boise or Tempe, and I agree

[niwell]

Originally Posted by Obadno

No he is saying Sandelton looks like Boise or Tempe, and I agree

It really doesn't look like either, tbh. There are some similarities to Tempe but still far different in feel and urban form. And is probably more important by almost any metric.

OP admitted the thread was a dumb premise, which everyone agreed on. So it's kind of strange some people are getting so uptight about it. Most threads on here are beyond pedantic but still an opportunity for interesting discussion.

Joburg is a city which tends to run under people's radar, but maybe it shouldn't. As was pointed out it is indeed one of the largest English speaking cities in the world*. It's also the economic hub (and arguably cultural) of Sub-Saharan Africa - of which Sandton is the richest node.

Originally Posted by iheartthed

By your criteria, Nigeria and Pakistan are more English-speaking than South Africa.

Even if major cities in those countries were included, Johannesburg would still rank in the top 10 largest cities in the English speaking world. However, it's interesting to note that Joburg has always been the epicentre for English speaking South Africa, in stark contrast to heavily Afrikaaner Pretoria just to the North (now arguably part of the metro, but not included in the 10.5mil figure). There's an interesting history here intertwined with the city's role as financial capital, of course.

[Sun Belt]

Originally Posted by Obadno

No he is saying Sandelton looks like Boise or Tempe, and I agree

Ahh, I misread his post, thank you! It must be an awesome place then!

[niwell]

In short, no. Despite it's wealth and prominence, Sandton is still a suburban secondary node, akin to somewhere like Century City in Los Angeles, or Buckhead in Atlanta. I can't see anything taller than the Leonardo in the near future as the office market has a relatively high vacancy rate and the high-end residential market can't support anything much larger at the moment. In addition there's increasing competition from Waterfall City and Rosebank, the latter of which is booming in part because it is relatively walkable and accessible to the older upscale suburbs (Sandton's major issue).

On the plus side, many of the older walled off office parks in Sandton are being replaced with more walkable, inclusive mixed use developments and the area is slowly developing a legitimate streetlife. The imminent redevelopment of the Summit Precinct and Barloworld lands will be interesting to see for sure. The Gautrain station site (Kgoro Central) has promise if it ever gets off the ground, preferably through ownership change as saying the current owners are incompetent would be a compliment. In addition to this the massive mixed-use Oxford Park precinct linking Rosebank to Illovo and new projects up Rivonia will lead to a pretty solid corridor.

In my mind the CBD is the area to watch and see what happens. The ABSA redevelopment, Jewel City and the recent renos of FNB Bank City are all exciting developments that bode well for the resurgence of the central city. There are a number of smaller sites and redevelopments of hijacked buildings getting off the ground too. It won't be Manhattan, but Joburg CBD does have one of the largest collections of substantial 1920s/30s art deco structures outside of New York. Many of which have been recently renovated (Anstey's building, for instance) are are in surprisingly good shape.

[iheartthed]

What the hell is Sandton?

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

What the hell is Sandton?

yeah...what?

[ThePhun1]

I third that emotion. If most of us urban/skyscraper nerds have to do a web search, then it's not quite time to ask. And comparing any place to what has been for decades at worst the center of it all is not going to be greeted with a seminal response.

[Danie]

I don't think it possible (I know this is not my best thread so please don't take it serious )

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by ThePhun1

I third that emotion. If most of us urban/skyscraper nerds have to do a web search, then it's not quite time to ask. And comparing any place to what has been for decades at worst the center of it all is not going to be greeted with a seminal response.

I hate to be a smug Canadian know-it-all, but why don’t you do a google search for Sandton? It’s a major business district for what might be the 5th largest metro in the English speaking world. I mean, because of this forum I’ve had to learn things I’m not familiar with all the time on here, like thinking in persons-per-square-mile and to be aware of American esoterica like differences in the built form of Cleveland vs Cincinnati, so you can too.

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

I hate to be a smug Canadian know-it-all, but why don’t you do a google search for Sandton? It’s a major business district for what might be the 5th largest metro in the English speaking world. I mean, because of this forum I’ve had to learn things I’m not familiar with all the time on here, like thinking in persons-per-square-mile and to be aware of American esoterica like differences in the built form of Cleveland vs Cincinnati, so you can too.

Right, based on the extensive research I've now undertaken, I don't see any reason why Sandton will not grow to become the world's next Manhattan in very short time.

I think someone should get on creating a Sandton skyscraper diagram, STAT! We're already probably too far behind and will never catch up with the explosive tower growth!

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

It’s a major business district for what might be the 5th largest metro in the English speaking world.

I think the Indian subcontinent would strongly disagree about that.

And Nigeria.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

I hate to be a smug Canadian know-it-all, but why don’t you do a google search for Sandton? It’s a major business district for what might be the 5th largest metro in the English speaking world. I mean, because of this forum I’ve had to learn things I’m not familiar with all the time on here, like thinking in persons-per-square-mile and to be aware of American esoterica like differences in the built form of Cleveland vs Cincinnati, so you can too.

While not a particularly impressive skyline, I wouldn't be surprised if Sandton actually has more class A office space than either of those American metros. And probably somewhere near as much hotel space (more high end, at least).

It's certainly obnoxious, but the branding of "Africa's richest square mile" is probably accurate - the area is home to the largest stock exchange on the continent, Sub-Saharan African head office of most multinational corporations, and the same for most media companies, big law firms, etc. Only 1 of the country's "big 4" banks has the HQ there though (the others stuck it out in the CBD).

The amount of money being flaunted is on a level that's hard to come by outside of a few select areas in North America - it's become the area for rich locals and especially African expats to show off. I mean, that's why it's one of my least favourite parts of the city, but it's certainly... something. Did have a fun Sunday earlier this year drinking poolside at a rich condo/hotel while a friend was djing as it made for some interesting people watching. Also a disturbing number of escorts.

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

I hate to be a smug Canadian know-it-all, but why don’t you do a google search for Sandton? It’s a major business district for what might be the 5th largest metro in the English speaking world. I mean, because of this forum I’ve had to learn things I’m not familiar with all the time on here, like thinking in persons-per-square-mile and to be aware of American esoterica like differences in the built form of Cleveland vs Cincinnati, so you can too.

The reason New York has such a massive number of skyscrapers is a lot more than just being a big city population wise.

Its because it has been basically the number one business and Financial hub of the world for nearly 100 years AND its extremely confined by its geography and blew up in a time before cars.

There is little economic reason to build a city the way NYC is built in most other locations because A) the demand isn't there B) the geography allows for most cities to spread out and C) the Technology of cars and modern mass communications doesn't necessitate co-locating so much business like you had in NYC, at least not that close together.

Back in the day there was a physical time save for large investment banks to be within a block of the stock exchange and each-other, not as critical anymore.

[ThePhun1]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

I hate to be a smug Canadian know-it-all, but why don’t you do a google search for Sandton? It’s a major business district for what might be the 5th largest metro in the English speaking world. I mean, because of this forum I’ve had to learn things I’m not familiar with all the time on here, like thinking in persons-per-square-mile and to be aware of American esoterica like differences in the built form of Cleveland vs Cincinnati, so you can too.

My point is we have to squint our eyes and ask what place is that when we see it. And then the OP compares that place to THE place most people, especially here, define as the ultimate urban experience?