In the leafy heart of Pretoria East, the Old East Precinct has emerged as one of South Africa’s most inspired urban renewal stories. Seamlessly blending a relaxed suburban feel with vibrant urban energy, this precinct is the country’s first “surban” development and a living blueprint of how a collaborative process, focused on creating and enhancing public spaces to foster human interaction, community, and strategic vision, can transform a neighbourhood.

Developed and managed by Atterbury, the Old East Precinct stretches from the professional polish of The Club to the lively charm of The Village, connected by curated spaces like Village Walk and the soon-to-open Bendehuis and Pantry by Marble.

This is no ordinary mixed-use project; it’s a masterclass in how a once “happy mediocre” suburb was reimagined, revitalised, and repurposed into a precinct that locals and visitors proudly call their own.

Where It Began: The Origins of a Precinct

Back in 2018, Hazelwood was already beloved for its quirky cafés and family-friendly streets. However, the lack of coordinated planning, zoning, and infrastructure put the area at risk. Atterbury’s vision was not to rebuild but to reconnect and reimagine. The goal was to unite The Club and The Village into a pedestrian-friendly, lifestyle-focused precinct where people could live, work, play, and connect.

This vision meant tackling zoning issues, improving compliance, adding structured parking, upgrading roads and stormwater systems, and introducing noise management and top-tier security, all while preserving the unique street-side café culture The Village was known for.

Building the Bones: Infrastructure & Design Excellence

Atterbury’s development model goes far beyond leasing and construction. It’s about building places people can trust, relate to, and take pride in. This meant investing heavily in roads, water, electricity, and telecommunications to ensure the precinct didn’t just look good but worked well for decades to come.

Over R6.8 million was spent on road and stormwater upgrades alone, easing congestion and creating safer traffic flows. One-way street systems and parallel parking were introduced to maximise space and improve pedestrian mobility.

The Club Precinct: Professional, Purposeful, Polished

Today, The Club Precinct is a model for integrated commercial development. It houses:

  • Club Retail, anchored by Woolworths Food and boutique independent stores;
  • Die Klubhuis, Atterbury’s retro-industrial Head Office;
  • Club One, an upmarket office and restaurant development;
  • Club Surgical, a medical facility complete with a day hospital and Dischem pharmacy;
  • Club Advocates, chambers housing over 160 legal professionals.

The Club’s proximity to Garsfontein offramp and Pretoria Country Club ensures prime visibility and convenience. But what makes it truly special is how it complements, rather than competes with, its neighbour: The Village.

The Village: The Soul of the Precinct

Cross the street, and you enter The Village, Hazelwood’s beloved open-air eatery district. Here, restaurants spill onto pavements, live music floats through the trees, and the smell of wood-fired pizza mixes with fresh-roasted coffee. Tenants include long-standing favourites like Alfie’s, Aroma, Culture Club, and Taso’s Grill, alongside vibrant newcomers like Freddo Café, Stud Burger, and Burnt. The Village isn’t curated like a mall; it’s curated like a high-street, with each storefront unique and each corner telling a story.

Village Walk: A New Standard in Boutique Retail

Unveiled in late 2023, Village Walk added another dimension to the precinct. Built on principles of back-to-basics design and sidewalk integration, Village Walk is an open-air, pedestrian-first retail space that connects The Club and The Village. Despite having just 12 stores, it has created over 120 permanent jobs, operates at a 0% vacancy rate, and delivers average trading densities of nearly R5,000/m². The design ethos of Village Walk ensures the center ages gracefully, maintains low operating costs, and supports both local entrepreneurs and national tenants.

Bendehuis: Where History Meets the Future of Work

Set to open at the end of July 2025, Bendehuis is the precinct’s newest development and one of its most heartfelt. The name comes from a group of young girls who used the original home on site as their “Bendehuis” (clubhouse). Atterbury’s decision to preserve the old structure pays tribute to that legacy while delivering a modern, energy-efficient office space. It will be the new offices of the BetterHome Group, Chrome Traders, and PH Formula, all contributing to the dynamic lifestyle The Old East Precinct is known for.

Pantry by Marble: A New Culinary Anchor

In November 2025, the precinct will welcome Pantry by Marble, an ultra-luxury grocer and deli conceptualised by David Higgs and Gary Kyriacou. Known for their celebrated restaurants Marble and Saint, Pantry will offer grab-and-go meals, artisanal wines, baked goods, and curated produce, all wrapped in a luxurious hospitality experience.

Placemaking, People, and Long-Term Purpose

For Atterbury, the Old East Precinct isn’t a project with a start and end date; it’s a long-term investment in people and place. From graffiti installations, branded wayfinding, and pop-up events, the precinct is designed to surprise and delight. CEO Armond Boshoff emphasises that every decision made here is grounded in care for the place and its people.

A Legacy, Built on Community

The Old East Precinct stands as a beacon of Atterbury’s legacy, showcasing the company’s commitment to creating vibrant precincts that integrate commerce, community, creativity, and care. With strategic planning, responsive design, and a commitment to excellence, the Old East Precinct will continue to be a place of evolution, where the spirit of Hazelwood meets the future of Pretoria.