First site visit: Juta Street

Arrived in Braamfontein around knock off time (15/07/13), right when the Braamfontein traffic is at its highest. As unpleasant as that was, it showed how much of an integral part of the city Braamfontein is. With a daily influx of commuters, students and others, Braam is one place where many Johannesburg users go, (if not pass through).

Having stayed in Braamfontein, in a student housing block on  Juta street, one may be viewing from the mind-set of the preconceived notions developed during the time spent there , but this offered an opportunity to take a more objective look. One easily notes the speedy developments taking place in the Braamfontein “regeneration”, with the refurbishment of ground level coffee shops, café’s art galleries among others. As interesting as these developments and refurbishments, some seem to be slightly detached from the immediate users of Braamfontein users/ dwellers or the everyday commuter. I question whether this is really a good or a bad thing. On the one hand, there is little active benefit to, e.g. The students living in Braamfontein, (with exception to perhaps the interesting views into the shop front windows), but on the other hand the developments are bringing in a certain culture into the [part of the] city which possibly would not be there were it not for the developments. Where in other parts of the city (most notably the CBD), the up market, wealthy, suburban, user only experiences the city from the inside of his private car, the developments in Braamfontein create a certain collective community which is quite attractive.

Interesting finds along Juta