FLANAGAN & GERARD: Creating Opportunity Through Property
The legacy of Flanagan & Gerard is solid in the South African property development industry, but the company is not happy to standstill. Always updating, upgrading, innovating, and pushing for growth, this is a business that impacts communities and economies wherever it applies its own brand of modern retail infrastructure.
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South Africa’s property development industry is a powerful driver of economic prosperity, encouraging growth and investment – and job creation – in areas that sorely need it. By sustainably and efficiently utilising vacant land or reshaping urban infrastructure, those in the property development space are consistently able to unlock opportunities for communities that would otherwise be missed.
As more people look to the urban centres for pockets of opportunity, the demand for first class infrastructure has rocketed. Businesses looking to serve growing populations need a base, even in this modern digital world, and those that can align on a vision are few and far between.
In 2001, Pat Flanagan and Peter Gerard founded Flanagan & Gerard, a property development and investment business based in Gauteng, with the aim of satisfying some of the insatiable demand with a high-quality supply.
The pair had been long-term friends and colleagues, having worked across several high-profile developments for different businesses. Their focus had generally revolved around retail and shopping centre developments, transforming former agricultural or farmland into modern, multifunctional space, or redeveloping tired builds of the past.
Using this knowledge within their own operation, the two grew the business quickly, creating an excellent reputation. The brand became known for creative and dynamic spaces, typically in outer suburbs where an entire region requires a commercial space with a ranging offering.
By undertaking all of the work, across the entire development lifecycle, the company is able to retain a level of control over standards, allowing for a shopping centre that stands out, whatever the landscape. Previous successful developments include Menlyn Maine, Paarl Mall, Nicolway, New Redruth Village, Bedworth Centre, and Lakeside Mall, and the company has partnered with other powerhouse organisations to advance the communities in which it operates.
Now, almost a quarter century on from the founding of the business, Flanagan & Gerard remains a family business, under second generation control, concentrated on shopping centre developments, it is still focused on quality, and the company is picking up national accolades for the success it achieves.
BOARDWALK
The Boardwalk Mall, south of Gqeberha – a stone’s throw from the beach – was opened in 2022 through a collaborative effort across local business with Flanagan & Gerard on point. In 2023, the multiuse retail, entertainment and lifestyle destination – often lauded as the best of its class in the Eastern Cape – claimed success at the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) Retail Design & Development Awards (RDDA). The refurbishment/expansion category is judged through a comprehensive and established process. In particular, the judges were impressed with how the expansion had blended into existing urban landscape.
Boardwalk Mall is home to more than 90 stores and provides bright, modern spaces for people to connect.
“The re-development of Boardwalk Mall has established a high-quality retail and leisure hub in the Eastern Cape,” said Paul Gerard, MD of Flanagan & Gerard. “We are proud to have partnered with Sun International for the development and thankful for the exceptional professional team that supported us throughout the project, especially our long-standing partner MDS Architecture, which once again delivered a superb design. With this development, the Boardwalk Precinct has transformed into a leading entertainment centre offering top-notch shopping experiences with an unmatched beachfront location. It has created a vibrant new social and shopping heart for Gqeberha.”
For world-class brands to anchor themselves in a region, they must have long-term certainty and a quality base. The expansion of the Boardwalk Precinct has furthered the reputation of the area, allowing the likes of NuMetro, Woolworths Food, and Dis-Chem to open regional centres of excellence.
Now, the shopping centre opens up directly onto the beachfront promenade, connecting locals to Kings Beach and Shark Rock Pier, all the way from the Nelson Mandela University Business School.
BALLITO
Another Flanagan & Gerard site getting the upgrade and makeover treatment in 2023 was the Ballito Junction in KZN. A regional mall owned by a joint venture which includes Flanagan & Gerard, Ballito Junction was seen as perfect for a space that can host workers from decentralised teams or freelance contractors. Already home to a strong sense of community and a number of international brands, a fresh collaboration with Workshop17 has further developed the space to make way for those hunting for a comfortable, modern, digital space to do their work on a short- or long-term basis.
“It is this growing movement that inspired the decision to introduce bespoke workspace solutions to the region. We felt the timing was perfect. Many professionals will now be able to have a quality work environment within Ballito Junction – the North Coast’s premier shopping destination,” said Gerard.
Workshop17 promised the integration of Starbucks, Krispy Kreme and other big-name brands for those who choose to operate from the shared space. Combining shopping centre infrastructure with office facilities is a no brainer for those in property development, resulting in lifestyle centres that give the remote worker everything they need while continuing to offer up world-class services for local shoppers and communities.
“Shared facilities reduce friction and offer easy access to retail outlets and eateries, banking services, medical care, and entertainment. You can now go out for after-work drinks or dinner without having to get into your car,” says Workshop17 CEO and co-founder, Paul Keursten.
This exciting new development comes after Flanagan & Gerard completely overhauled the original part of Ballito Junction to bring it up to the standard of the rest of the site. Starting out as a 10,000 m2 convenience site, Ballito Junction today sprawls across 800,000 m2. The upgrade boosted the site for anchor tenants and customers alike, modernising in terms of look and feel as well as safety and sustainability.
Ballito Junction CEO, Geraldine Jorgensen said: “Our strategy for this project is to create a base from which further mixed uses can be added to the centre in future, so we are laying the foundations for even more to come.”
BT NEBS
The latest development in the portfolio, and perhaps one of the most significant in recent times, is the acquisition of BT Ngebs City in Mthatha. Flanagan & Gerard took control of the site in a R800 million deal alongside Vukile Property Fund. Major refurbishment plans were quickly enacted and Flanagan & Gerard’s imaginative and innovative nature was quickly put to use to reinvigorate the space close to the N2.
“BT Ngebs City has all the ingredients to be an exceptional retail asset in our portfolio,” said Paul Gerard. “Its great location, access and visibility make it a popular shopping destination. We are excited to work with Vukile to unlock the mall’s potential and performance and offer shoppers a wider choice of attractive retail.”
Fresh retail offerings were introduced with a range of choices bolstering an already impressive roster. This is the latest partnership between the two companies with Flanagan & Gerard and Vukile also co-owning Thavhani Mall in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, and Springs Mall in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
As the company continues to shift from traditional property developer to asset manager and investment business, it provides more and more opportunity. Nowhere else in South Africa is there a company utilising property in such a way to build new and exciting prospects for growth. Whether it’s retail or otherwise, there is one certainty in this business – long-term growth and ongoing innovation that others simply cannot deliver.