Alexandra Renewal Project
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The Alexandra Renewal Project, is an urban renewal project in Alexandra, Gauteng, northern Johannesburg, South Africa. The project is one of eight urban nodes of the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development and Urban Renewal Programme announced by President Thabo Mbeki in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament on 9 February 2001. This programme is a key component of the Government’s approach to addressing urbanisation and housing challenges in South Africa and comprises the integrated development of an area addressing economic, social and physical challenges simultaneously.
The estimated budget in 2001 for the Alexandra Renewal Project to redevelop Alexandra was R1,3 billion over 7 years.
The Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) hoped to fundamentally change the physical, economic and social environment of Alexandra. It is a joint urban regeneration project between all three tiers of government, the private sector, NGO's and community-based organisations. The project has gone through several administrative changes and is now currently being overseen by Julian Baskin.
As township tourism rises in South Africa, Alexandra, through the ARP, is developing its tourism industry. The ARP is also getting set to release a unique book detailing life in Alex through the eyes of its youth. The target market for the book is the international tourists that come through and would like to learn more about Alex and take something with them. The book is set to detail the history of Alex, the effects of urbanisation, a pictorial look at Alex with the youth as photographers, and finally the hope and future for Alex. It is the idea of American intern Jenise Steverding and Engineer Lance Fenn. Local economic development and tourism is run by Associate Director Darlene Louw.
