As an already thriving space, Menlyn continues to rapidly expand with new developments.
Known as a top shopping, entertainment and corporate area, Menlyn is growing at a rapid pace. Two examples of this growth are the multibillion-rand development of Menlyn Maine, marketed as “Africa’s first green city”, and the R2bn expansion of Menlyn Park Shopping Centre.
Extending from Frikkie de Beer Street in the north to the Glen High School in the south and from the N1 highway in the west to January Masilela Drive in the east, Menlyn remains a popular place to call home.
The convenient shopping component of this area, which includes Menlyn Park Shopping Centre and Menlyn Retail Park along Lois Avenue, offers a diverse mix of retail stores. The extension of Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, which began in April 2014, will add another 200 stores to the centre by December 2016.
When it comes to entertainment, Menlyn Maine is being developed to become a new city centre with a casino in the pipeline as part of Time Square Urban Entertainment Complex. The developers are planning on Menlyn Maine becoming the address of choice for corporates and residents. It is being built along the principles of New Urbanism, integrating shops, offices, a gym, restaurants, a hotel, medical facilities, a day spa and parklands, all within walking distance from the apartments in Menlyn Maine.
Three bus stations near this centre link to the Gautrain, Hatfield, the BRT and Pretoria’s city bus service. A new bridge link is planned to extend off Atterbury Road, providing direct access to Menlyn Maine from the north and connecting Garsfontein and Atterbury roads to alleviate possible traffic issues.
Jordan Griffiths, a 25-year-old media researcher and strategist has been living in the area for five years and says, says Menlyn offers a great collection of restaurants, shopping centres, entertainment facilities and neighbourhood markets. He says Menlyn has everything you need, with all amenities close so you don’t have need to travel far. “There have been many new developments, with Menlyn Park Shopping Centre undergoing a revamp and Menlyn Maine under construction. It seems like Menlyn Maine will be a great new integrated space with retail, office developments and residential all mixed into one,” he says.
Arthur Piercy, a 56-year-old retired South African Air Force pilot who has been living in Menlyn for 12 years, says he enjoys the convenience of the area but is somewhat resistant to the drastic changes taking place. It used to be a quiet residential area but is fast turning into a commercial centre, he says.
The new six-storey Protea Hotel Fire & Ice Menlyn recently went up opposite Menlyn Park Shopping Centre and features a bar, swimming pool and double-storey stand-alone conference centre adjacent to it. The 150-seat conference rooms and a variety of boardrooms aim to meet the need of Menlyn’s young professionals organising business breakfasts and meetings.
If it’s shopping for a car or vehicle maintenance residents need, the area has an extensive selection of dealerships. Residents can learn more about buying a car from dealerships such as McCarthy Volkswagen and General Motors Menlyn, or have maintenance done at the Menlyn Roadworthy Centre.
When it comes to health, Menlynmed on Frikkie de Beer Street will meet residents’ physical requirements with medical professionals such as general practitioners, dentists, dieticians, physiotherapists and psychologists.
PlantLand on the corner of Atterbury Road and January Masilela Drive will inspire residents to make their gardens as pretty as their homes with its vast selection of top-quality plants, gardening products and environmentally appropriate ornamentals.
Centrally located to the highway and with a diverse mix of lifestyle, shopping and entertainment facilities, Menlyn remains an exciting area to put down roots. With so many new developments on the rise, this area is being transformed into a modern city centre and is sure to remain at the forefront of leading areas to live in Pretoria.
Property prices in Menlyn
- A typical property for sale in Menlyn is a two-bedroom townhouse at an average asking price of R880,000
- Average monthly rental for a two-bedroom simplex: R6,900
Bond repayment
The monthly bond repayment to purchase a typical property in Menlyn, namely a two-bedroom townhouse at a median asking price of R880,000, is R8,059/month over 20 years at prime of 9.25% with no deposit.
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
