Village Collective, an initiative to breathe new life into Somerset West’s CBD, was officially launched on Thursday, April 4.
Taking place at The Forum building in Drama Street, the launch celebrated the culmination of a massive partnership initiative to revamp and restore infrastructure, attract new businesses and, ultimately, transform the town centre into the kind of place people want to live, work, visit and shop.
Village Collective is spearheaded by the three founding partners: Dewvest Property Fund, the Rola Group and the Somerset West City Improvement District (SWCID). It operates within the SWCID’s boundaries, spanning the precincts of Main Road, Caledon, Drama and Bright Street with the Village Garden forming the green heart of the area.
“Since as far back as 2017, Somerset West’s old town has been earmarked as a potential growth area and, as a result, much has been done to upgrade properties and create a cleaner, safer environment,” explains Bertus De Waal, managing director of Dewvest.
A tiered partnership model has been developed, offering all levels of business within the precinct the opportunity to join the Village Collective and participate in promotional activities.
Chairman of the Village Collective and representative of the Rola Group, Gerhard Nel, commented: “We are extremely proud of all that has been achieved so far and look forward to seeing increased interest in the area from businesses, residents and visitors alike.”
Village Collective is working on a marketing campaign with Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold, previous CEO of Cape Town Tourism, owner of marketing agency Destinate and proud Somerset West resident.
“It’s exciting to see the historic heart of Somerset West coming back to life with new developments, retail offerings and a whole host of local eateries and cafes,” says Ms Du Toit-Helmbold.
“In my mind, the Village Collective is like a traditional village square where people can gather to reconnect, share stories and support local businesses. We invite you to get together with friends and loved ones to explore what’s on offer.”
At its heart, the Village Collective is a community effort and will only succeed with the support of everyone who loves Somerset West. If you want to get involved, contact Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold at connect@villagecollective.co.za
