Victory Park, the real ‘Jem’ of the Northern Suburbs

Just north of Rosebank and Parkhurst, you’ll find the delightful, tree-lined suburb of Victory Park. It’s nestled in the centre of a number of stylish settlements and villages being Linden, Parktown, Craighall Park, Rosebank, Parkhurst. Hyde Park, Greenside, Melville and Cresta, Victory Park is one of the safest and quietest areas in the Northern suburbs which is also thanks to the introduction of CAP or Community Active Policing which has reduced crime in this area to virtually zero and allows neighborhood children to walk or ride their bicycles through the suburb.

Close to arterial roads such as Jan Smuts Avenue and Barry Hurtzorg minutes from the Jozi city centre, and features a delightful green area of Delta Park and the Braamfontein Spruit which also attract cyclists that ride along this scenic and beautiful treed route.

The area’s within a 5KM radius is a real win –

With lush-green parks, stunning sidewalk cafés, gorgeous old homes, and plenty of character – and that includes the residents. The funky Rosebank Mall, The Zone, Hyde Park and Cresta are the closest mega amenities around. It’s here that you’ll find a fantastic rooftop market on a Sunday and plenty of activity at Zoo Lake and Moyo’s restaurant for hob nobbing with the trendy set. There are a number of cinema’s in the area including a Cinema Noveau , Ster Kinekor and New metro for unending entertainment.

You will find loads of trendy stores for those ‘different’ and unique shopping experiences and a host of fabulous, famous eat outs like Cranks in Rosebank, Tiffinies in Hyde park, Expresso in Parkhurst and an entire main street of funky restaurants and eateries in Greenside. Victory Park and Moonflower ‘self-catering’ Cottages are a stones throw from King David School.

Schools, Clinics, Amenities and Safety

There are also a host of good schools, tertiary institutions, hotels and hospitals like Milpark and Sandton clinic. The area seems to have attracted a great eclectic mix of yuppies and families, widely reflecting the rainbow nation. So it’s not unusual to spot trendy types in skinny jeans, and bohemian mommies and daddies pushing prams – all strolling about the suburbs.

People don’t walk much in Jo’burg bar the trek from the parking lot to the mall entrance, so it’s good to witness all the activity in Victory Park as well as seeing the Jewish residents walking to the Synagogue on a Friday and Saturday. There is also a Mosque for the Moslem residents and numerous Christian churches. This all gives the suburb a super vibe. There’s a buzz and you’ll feel it from the minute you arrive.

Property

This is not your typical complex-cluttered Johannesburg suburb, which is probably why so many Victory Park homeowners are holding onto their properties. According to property experts the majority of homes in the area are freehold. The rest is sectional title schemes. Lightstone’s analysis of the area indicates that its investors are doing very well.

A property in a sectional title scheme in Victory Park in 2004 would have set you back a mere R283K. Now, five years later, your property could fetch R1,67m. That’s a nifty R1,3m return on investment. The same is true for freehold property owners who moved into this suburb in 2004. An average house back then would have cost about R1,6m. These days, it would sell for about R2,9m – again, a neat R1,3m increase in value. If, for whatever reason, you won’t be purchasing property but only visiting in Victory Park, don’t let that keep you from the hood!

Entertainment

The marvelous Jozi (food) Market happens every Saturday in Parktown North, on the corner of 3rd and 7th Avenue and the interesting villages of Parkhurst, Melville and Greenside have regular happening catering for all tastes. Do yourself a favor, pop past and soak it all up – It’s refreshing to see so many residents of these areas, outside of their electric-fenced homes, soaking up the some vitamin D as they peruse all the interesting items on offer.

It’s always worth a visit, if only for the Schwarma’s from Mi Vami or the nightly music at the new Cool Runnings bar and restaurant, the vibey bars up the road in Melville, Parhurst and Greenside and of course, organic goodies from the Rosebank market and … well, the whole of 4th avenue in Parkhurst, and the nostalgic feel of Lindens main drag, as both are a veritable treasure trove of boutiques, antique shops and more.