Behind the Fences: Nine Yards, Rosebank’s new Johannesburg lifestyle and urban precinct, set to open in stages

For months, motorists and pedestrians passing through the Jan Smuts Avenue and Chester Road intersection have watched an unlikely transformation unfold - glass and steel emerging alongside old brickwork, neglected yards turning green and hints of bespoke brands appearing along construction fencing.

Now, those glimpses are being explained.

Nine Yards, a new green urban precinct positioned on the edge of Rosebank and The Parks, will begin opening in stages from early December, with full tenant activation expected by February or March next year.

The development rises on a site long associated with one of Johannesburg’s best-known nurseries and has expanded to include nine surrounding properties. According to developers, Nine Yards is intended to function less like a shopping centre and more like a neighbourhood town square.

“A bold new chapter for Rosebank and The Parks is unfolding,” the developers said in a statement, describing Nine Yards as “Johannesburg’s new green town square”.

Unlike traditional retail developments, Nine Yards is being pitched as a place to linger rather than rush through - a precinct designed around walking, gathering and everyday rituals. The space includes a 450-metre urban promenade designed by landscape artist Patrick Watson, with architecture by Matthew Miller of Milarchi that blends restored heritage buildings with contemporary forms.

“This is not simply an upgrade of an existing space,” the statement said. “It is a carefully considered piece of city-making and an invitation into the kind of Johannesburg we aspire to live in: open, green, neighbourly and rich in creativity.”

The precinct will eventually house more than 30 tenants, including restaurants, artisanal food outlets, wellness spaces, fresh-produce traders, contemporary design studios and a gallery. Developers say the tenant mix has been deliberately curated to avoid the feel of a conventional mall.

“Nine Yards is built around a simple but powerful idea: Johannesburg deserves places that feel human, hopeful and full of possibility,” said Timothy Sammons, CEO of Cadastral Capital.

“This is not more of the same. It’s a new kind of urban experience – one that reflects the Joburg we all dream of in our own way. A modern sanctuary where people can gather, wander, connect and breathe.”

Sammons said the vision was rooted in both heritage and aspiration, creating a space that feels public and welcoming while benefiting from consistent private management.

The development has been designed to encourage slower movement through the city, with landscaped pathways, shaded seating areas, outdoor dining spaces and pockets of urban gardens intended to soften the pace of daily life.

Centrally located and easily accessible, with parking available, Nine Yards is expected to become a new landmark for Johannesburg - particularly for residents of Rosebank, Parktown North, Parkhurst and surrounding areas who have watched the transformation unfold from behind their windscreens.

Nine Yards is owned by the Lubner family, Arnold Forman, investors and Cadastral Capital and developed by Cadastral Capital. Further tenant announcements and opening dates are expected to be shared in the coming months.