The leafy suburb of Springfield in Port Elizabeth is peaceful, conveniently located for the city centre and has many amenities nearby.
The modern suburb of Springfield, next to Charlo, is conveniently located and has many shops and amenities within easy reach. This is according to Charl van Zyl, a cabinet maker who has lived in the area with his wife and two sons for three years.
Charl says he and his family could not be happier in this peaceful suburb. “The neighbourhood has a lot of couples walking their dogs in the evenings as well as runners passing through and around the area. The roads other than Springfield Road itself are nice and quiet for a stroll or a run.”
The area is located close to the Fig Tree complex, Walmer Park Shopping Centre, Builders Warehouse, 17th Quarter Shopping Centre and Moffett on Main Lifestyle Centre. It’s also on the bus route to Pearson High School, though there are good schools, such as Charlo Primary, Theodor Herzl Schools and DF Malherbe High School, found much closer.
“There’s a veterinary clinic just down the road in Circular Drive, where we seem to spend lots of money,” Charl says with a chuckle.
The family’s home was built in 1974 and remains one of the most spacious houses in the area. It also has a pitched and tiled roof which helps dissipate heat in summer. “It’s a very well-built house, which is true for most of the houses in the area.”
Springfield is home to many big, beautiful trees which give the area character and plenty of shade. Charl says the man who commissioned his house also planted the big coral tree in his front garden. Since moving in, the Van Zyls have done quite a few renovations, including adding a large garage for Charl to use as his workshop. “The nice thing is that the plot is also a fair size – not too big to keep tidy, but big enough to have dogs and space for the kids to play a game of garden cricket,” says Charl.
Springfield is a middle-class family area where the average Joe is just trying to get by and raise his family in relative peace and quiet
-Charl van Zyl, resident.
Things to do nearby:
- Visit Floradale Nurseries and Garden Centre to buy plants or to have lunch at The Rose Garden Tea House.
- Visit Builders Warehouse to find tools for any DIY projects you may be doing.
- Indulge in some retail therapy at Walmer Park Shopping Centre, Moffett on Main Lifestyle Centre or the Fig Tree Shopping Centre.
Things you might not know about Springfield:
- Some consider Springfield Road to be the main road of Charlo, the suburb next door.
- Many people believe Springfield is part of Charlo, but it’s in fact a separate suburb.
- There are several bunny populations in the area.
Why property in Springfield is a good investment
- The suburb is centrally located.
- Properties are reasonably priced.
- The houses are well-built, solid dwellings.
- It’s the ideal place to raise a family, with excellent schools close by.
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
