Soweto yesterday was the site of the launch of an R400-million development project that aims to uplift the area, and merge heritage with retail convenience.

The Orlando Ekhaya project in Orlando, launched by the city of Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), will be developed next to the landmark cooling towers of the now moribund Orlando power station.

This is to be the biggest development in Soweto, and the biggest development in a formerly black township, says GM of portfolio management Mashilo Pitjeng.

Projects for much of the 90 000 m2 development have already been determined, at a cost of R1-million. But the developers are open to ideas for some of the sites and proposals are being accepted until June 21.

Ironically, what apartheid-era city planners purposely left as a buffer between Soweto and the 'white' suburbs could now be transformed into Soweto's equivalent of Sandton City.

Pitjeng says that the development is to be situated adjacent to one of the main arterial routes into Soweto, Old Pootchefstroom road.

Speaking at the launch, recently appointed MD Gugu Mazibuko said the time was right that for the development, as there would be no cheap land by 2007 and no bricks by 2009 - thanks to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

The aim is to incorporate the vibrancy and the history of Soweto into a public meeting place with recreational aspects.

The 300 ha site stretches from the old power station up to the Vista campus of the University of Johannesburg.

It also includes the Vista koppies, where legend has it Enoch Sitonga wrote the national anthem.

Around it will be those townships that made up early-day Soweto: Klipspruit, Pimville and Orlando East.

Pivotal the entire plan is the Orlando dam, the biggest in the area, which will serve as a waterfront.

The concept masterplan, says Pitjeng, details ten projects, the first five of which are to be corporate social investment sponsored.

These include a recreational area on the south shore of the dam that will include water-sport facilities and a dock.

Also intended is a platform performance stage, a viewing area and a beach.

An environmental wetland will be created for conservation and education purposes.

Market gardens will be available as agro-business opportunities for community members.

A heroes' bridge will be built linking Kliptown to Vilakazi street - where tourists visit Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu's former houses.

The bridge, to be designed to carry vehicles and pedestrians, will have Soweto heroes names engraved on its pillars.

Several sites have been identified as part of the commercial development.

The power station is to become the site of a mall, which will feature a jazz club, restaurants, theatre, cinemas as well as niche retail stores.

On the south-east bank of the dam is the Orlando housing project.

Aimed at middle to upper income groups, the houses will retail for between R500 000 and R1-million at the current market situation.

This contract has already been awarded.

Erf 121 has been zoned as either business or church and the JPC will decide what form it will take once all the proposals are finalised.

Likewise, Erf 252 could be developed in the form of a conference venue of a hotel.

Vista koppies will be developed into an environmental attraction, adds Pitjeng.

The final construction project named yesterday, Orlando Wedge, is to be situated on the corner of Nicholas street and Old Potchefstroom road.

Due to the prominence of the site, it will be developed as a high-rise landmark building.

Currently, the developers are awaiting approval for single township zoning; this is expected to be complete by the end of May.

Proposals are still open until the June 21 and development is due to start in 2006.

It is hoped that the precinct will be complete by 2008 - in time for the Soccer World Cup.