New life for Sunnyside

PORT Elizabeth property developer Ben Nyaumwe yesterday announced he was bringing the world’s largest hotel chain, Best Western International, back to Nelson Mandela Bay – with a hotel which will assist in revitalising the Central precinct.

The three-star, affordable hotel is set to be completed by next March.

Nyaumwe, who has already brought the Radisson international hotel chain to the city, said he was “excited” about transforming the derelict Sunnyside block in Bird Street, Central, into a 121-room three-star hotel with conferencing facilities and a buffet-style restaurant.

The art-deco-styled Sunnyside complex, which comprises four separate buildings, previously belonged to Irish property magnate Ken Denton and had been standing vacant for years until Nyaumwe’s Auspex Properties bought the block last year.

“The Auspex group will now become the second-largest provider of hotel rooms in the city after City Lodge, but remains the largest single private sector company investing in tourism infrastructure in the city,” he said.

The Best Western group is aimed primarily at the lower-income market and has more than 4000 hotels in nearly 80 countries, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Britain. The group also has hotels which are aimed at the higher-end market with four- and five-star gradings.

Nyaumwe said the city needed more affordable accommodation options for tourists travelling from province to province in the country, as 90% of South Africans earn less than R6000.

It was for that reason, he said, that he had decided to bring a high- quality yet affordable accommodation option for domestic tourists.

“In the first building we will have our restaurant, laundry, front-of- house and conferencing facilities.
“The second building will be demolished to provide ample parking. The third building is where most of the accommodation units will be,” he said.

Nyaumwe said the hotel would boast comfortable and modern rooms with en suite bathroom facilities and 32in Samsung LCD television screens with DStv and free wi-fi internet facilities in each room as well as air-conditioning.
There would also be ample on- site parking, a buffet restaurant and bar and conferencing for 120 delegates.
“The rooms will sleep two, either a double bed or twin beds, and will cost R399 a night a room any time of the year. The prices will be consistent.”

All rooms would have fresh, modern fittings and be tastefully decorated.

Nyaumwe said construction work was expected to be completed after an eight-month construction programme ending in the first quarter of next year, as building plans had already been finalised and a tender awarded.

“Plans were submitted in April. There are a few comments from the city being worked through by architects Hix Adrian Beyleveldt. The tender for construction has been awarded to WBHO, which also built the Radisson.”

Nyaumwe also announced that he had bought two vacant apartment buildings in the city’s CBD which had been transformed into rental units for the lower-income market.

The new Lavinia Street residence is already fully leased and is awaiting the municipality’s completion of its sewer system.

The Lockheed building is currently being refurbished.

Author: Lee-Anne Butler, The Herald