Reviving the Forgotten Heart of Gqeberha, South Africa: Adaptive Reuse Challenges and Opportunities in Urban Regeneration

<p dir="ltr"><i>This paper examines the challenges and socio-economic impacts of adaptive reuse in Gqeberha's Central Business District (CBD). It focuses on understanding the barriers to converting vacant office buildings into residential units and explores how adaptive reuse can contribute to urban regeneration and sustainable development within Gqeberha's unique context.</i></p><p dir="ltr"><i>A qualitative approach within an interpretivist paradigm was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine construction professionals with over five years of experience in conversion projects. Data was analysed using thematic narrative analysis, supported by ATLAS.ti software, to uncover recurring themes and insights into adaptive reuse.</i></p><p dir="ltr"><i>The study identified significant challenges to adaptive reuse, including regulatory barriers such as zoning and heritage laws, technical issues like structural deterioration and deep space configurations, and economic obstacles including high conversion costs and insufficient municipal enforcement. Despite these challenges, adaptive reuse presents compelling socio-economic benefits, including improved safety, housing availability, community revitalisation, job creation, and enhanced property values.</i></p><p dir="ltr"><i>The study's scope was limited to professionals with experience in Gqeberha and focused solely on conversion projects within the central business district (CBD). Future research could explore broader urban development strategies, comparative studies between South African cities, and financial risk mitigation in adaptive reuse projects.</i></p><p dir="ltr"><i>The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers, developers, and urban planners, emphasising the need for revised zoning regulations, streamlined heritage approval processes, and municipal incentives to facilitate adaptive reuse. Recommendations include creating dedicated teams for approvals, offering tax incentives, and prioritising urban decay remediation.</i></p><p dir="ltr"><i>This research addresses a significant gap in the literature by providing localised insights into the feasibility and impacts of adaptive reuse in Gqeberha's CBD. It contributes valuable insights to the urban sustainability discourse and provides practical recommendations for stakeholders involved in urban regeneration.</i></p>