Building with purpose: How MBDA projects take shape
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Mandela Bay Development Agency Acting CEO Unati Peter discusses the considerations that guide urban development and regeneration projects. Visit Mandela Bay Development press office What does it mean to build with purpose? At its heart, the role of the Mandela Bay Development Agency is simple: to bring neglected areas back to life and to create opportunities for communities and businesses to thrive. The real measure of success is whether each project serves a clear purpose and addresses a need for the city and its communities. Sometimes that need is about safety. Other times, it’s about preserving heritage, beautifying spaces or creating an environment for opportunity or development. The Mandela Bay Development Agency was established through a partnership between the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Industrial Development Corporation in 2003. As a municipal entity, it works under national legislation and a formal service delivery agreement with the municipality. Every project it implements is guided by a mandate that is approved by council, to ensure that development is aligned with the city’s broader goals. In development, the answer cannot rest on financial viability alone. A project may be financially and technically sound, but it could still fall short if it does not contribute meaningfully to the place and the people it is meant to serve. What this means for the MBDA is that clarity of intent has to be the starting point for every project. When the MBDA transformed the South End Anglican Church ruins into St Peter’s Rainbow Village, the goal was not only beautification of the area. It was about reclaiming a public space for community use, tourism and heritage preservation. St Peter’s is now a site that honours 150 years of South End heritage. It is open to the public and has become a place that everyone in the city can enjoy. Listening carefully to residents and businesses helps MBDA to distinguish between what is desirable and what is necessary. An annu