SODIC & SOLIDERE INTERNATIONAL announce plans to invest EGP 22 billion in the development of two large mixed-use city centers in both the Western and Eastern suburbs of Cairo. Construction should start shortly, and the first phases of both projects will be completed simultaneously in 2011. “Westown” is the name of the development located in Sheikh Zayed City on the Cairo-Alexandria road, while “Eastown” is located in Kattameya/New Cairo. These two huge developments aim to be the new “down-towns” of Sheikh Zayed City and Kattameya/New Cairo area, bringing new jobs, residences, offices and attractions with them.
According to Maher Maksoud, Sodic’s CEO, “The Westown and Eastown projects are a first in Egypt as we are developing two very large vibrant ‘down-towns’ that will help alleviate its congested downtown. These projects will also help create a significant number of new jobs as well as develop tourism in the greater Cairo area.”
Hisham Karameh, Solidere-Egypt's Chief Operations Manager, said “we are very excited about these projects as they are our first in Egypt, and we are confident they will be a huge success”. Solidere has a wealth of knowledge, expertise track record of such developments. Solidere has successfully reconstructed and managed Beirut’s historical city center.
Westown & Eastown are huge developments that are meticulously designed by some of the world’s leading town-planners and architects and will include a large variety of residential and office buildings, retail, hotels and leisure outlets, as well as beautifully landscaped public areas. They will each also benefit from a charming town-center or “Balad”. Both “Balads” will be designed differently, but will include traditional architectural elements and will be inspired by different periods of history.
Westown Cairo
Westown is located on the main Cairo-Alexandria highway (Kilometer 38), at the junction with the Badrasheen road, and is very close to Cairo’s Smart Village. The development is also adjacent to Sodic’s successful Allegria residential project and is expected to attract a population of over 40,000 residents, retail owners, and office workers.
Westown covers a huge area of 1.2 million square meters and will have a built up area of over 2.4 million square meters. It will benefit from a state-of-the-art office park including high-rise landmark buildings that will include over 3000 office units. There will also be up to five residential neighborhoods, with townhouses and apartments, all developed to the highest quality and design. Westown will have extensive retail space including a flag-ship 120,000 square meter mall. Like all bustling down-towns, Westown will benefit from large entertainment spaces and up to five hotels will be constructed.
In terms of design, Westown will benefit from generous public open spaces, including a large central park and numerous squares and piazzas. A significant 38% of the project is dedicated to parks, public spaces and roads. These will be connected by a landscaped and arcaded pedestrian 1.2Km-long boulevard, that will be wider than London’s famous Oxford Street. This broad, central promenade is inspired by old Cairo and Barcelona’s picturesque Las Ramblas. The main artery will contain retail shops, cafés and restaurants and will lead to the heart or “Balad” of Westown.
Eastown Cairo
Eastown is located in the Kattameya/New Cairo district. It is supremely located, as it directly neighbors the American University in Cairo’s new campus and is in the vicinity of Cairo’s International Airport.
Eastown will be built on an area of 850,000 square meters, and will benefit from a built up area of over 1.7 million square meters. One of the main advantages of Eastown is its proximity to some 37 educational establishments including several universities. This will help ensure a dynamic, lively and youthful character to this new down-town.
Eastown will offer a wide range of services for the local population, firms and institutions of Heliopolis, Nasr City and East Cairo. It will be designed to accommodate more than 30,000 residents, retail workers and office employees.
Eastown will contain high-end retail shops and department stores, grouped in the form of a car-free high street. There will be landscaped parks, streets and squares and a continuous green belt. A pedestrian spine will link up the main business park, the community center, and the entertainment district. Eastown will offer an exciting urban life and accommodating cinemas, cafés, amusement centers and hotels. It will also have a characteristic Souk, inspired by Khan el Khalili and Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.
Similarly to Westown there will be state-of-the-art mixed-use high-rise towers, designed to accommodate the most demanding residents, hotel chains, and local and multi-national firms. Also, it will have extensive parks and public areas, representing 38% of the project’s total area.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
