Hazelwood is a fairly small but elegant neighbourhood located in the well-established older eastern parts of the Jacaranda City
Hazelwood is a fairly small but elegant neighbourhood located in the well-established older eastern parts of the Jacaranda City. Over the last couple of years, its residents had to endure a great deal of building and road construction while Hazelwood’s business area was being upgraded and redeveloped. But all things worked together well, and today Hazelwood boasts a sparkling new face and ambiance.
With many charming new eateries as well as health, beauty and lifestyle retailers, Hazelwood is turning out to be Pretoria’s trendy new hangout. “A vibrant sports bar and other gourmet drinks and dishes are now brought to the doorstep of Pretorian families,” says estate agent, Corli van Heerden. Although the area draws many people from surrounding suburbs like Menlo Park, Lynnwood, Ashlea Gardens and Maroelana as well as the neighbouring affluent suburbs of Waterkloof and Brooklyn, people from all over are gathering here to socialise.
This pretty, green suburb is also home to The Club, an upmarket lifestyle shopping centre which is “expected to become one of Pretoria’s most well-known and desirable landmarks through its sophisticated modern design that also incorporates elements of Pretoria’s rich architectural history,” says estate agent, Francois Compion.
Properties for sale or available to rent in this prime area vary from highly sophisticated forward-looking apartments to multibedroomed Victorian and traditional family homes as well as upmarket commercial properties. The booming suburb also offers sound investment and development opportunities including office and apartment blocks as set out in the Hazelwood Node Spatial Development Plan.
For those calling Hazelwood home, there are many gains, such as Hazelwood’s location close to Gauteng’s main highway (N1) and major roads like Dely Road and Garsfontein Road which link Hazelwood with other eastern suburbs and business hubs like Menlyn. It also provides comfortable access to an array of top Pretoria schools, the University of Pretoria and superb medical facilities in surrounding neighbourhoods.
Hazelwood has something stately about it, the huge trees and the combination of beautiful older dwellings and new penthouse-style apartments creates a beautiful sense of timelessness
-Ricky Buys, resident.
Schools nearby:
- Brooklyn Primary School
- Laerskool Menlopark
- Waterkloof Primary School
- Pro Arte Alphen Park (high school)
- Menlo Park High School
- Silver Oaks International (private school)
Hospitals nearby:
- Netcare Jacaranda Hospital
- Life Groenkloof Hospital
- Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital
- Kloof Mediclinic
- Life Faerie Glen Hospital
Things to do:
- Watch the latest movies at Nu-Metro Menlyn Park or enjoy art films at AK Cinema Nouveau in Brooklyn Centre.
- Play a variety of sports at the well-known Pretoria Country Club or enjoy a round of golf at Waterkloof Golf Course opposite Hazelwood.
- Classical music lovers will enjoy the regular productions performed at the Brooklyn Theatre.
Agent insight into the area:
What do you love about Hazelwood?
The word Hazelwood to me means business lunch or late afternoon sundowner. The relaxed atmosphere with open-air restaurants makes me feel like I’m in Europe somewhere. Hazelwood, situated close to the Pretoria Country Club in Waterkloof, is an appealing neighbourhood in the heart of the sought-after eastern suburbs (Old East) of Pretoria. It’s also close to Menlyn Park shopping centre. The streets are leafy, gardens well maintained and access to anywhere in Pretoria is excellent, particularly to the N1. You’re also close to a number of greenbelts and some of the best restaurants in the city.
Francois Compion: Pam Golding Properties
What are the best things about Hazelwood for families?
Hazelwood is fast becoming the new hot spot for great restaurants catering for all ages. Old favourites like Pachas, Blue Saffron, Hillside Tavern, LM in the East and Caraffa also form part of this interesting new food hub. Trendy, smaller street restaurants are popping up daily and are educating palates with their inventive menus, including Italian and Indian cuisine, specialty burgers, ice cream parlours, wineries and bakeries. On Saturdays the Hazelwood Food Market offers a food deli and fresh produce market in a new style. Often cyclists, joggers, friends and families will meet under the trees to enjoy some of the many dishes available.
Corli van Heerden: Seeff Property
What are the best things about the area for potential buyers and residents?
Hazelwood has recently become one of the most advancing and sought-after residential area. It’s also a fast-developing commercial area. It’s obvious that the two new “kids on the block” where corporate-, banking- and consulting-related services want to position themselves are the Hazelwood and Menlyn nodes. Coupled with huge upmarket sectional title residential developments in the pipeline and a perfect central location close to Brooklyn Mall, Menlyn Park and the new Menlyn Maine development, with a casino opening shortly, Hazelwood is growing in demand. Lovely older homes just off the main arteries contribute to the peaceful atmosphere of this residential area with a growing cosmopolitan look and feel to it.
Dr Bambie Heiberg: Heiberg Estates
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
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