Cape Town - After years of standing idle, Muizenberg’s notorious “Peppermint Palace”, considered an eyesore by locals, and the site of the former Atlantic Hotel, is finally being demolished.
Pictures and videos of the demolition were welcomed after years of the derelict building being used by squatters and criminals, with suspected illegal occupancy and drug trafficking taking place.
Heritage Western Cape chief executive Michael Janse van Rensburg said: “The demolition of the structure was approved by Heritage Western Cape in terms of Section 34 of the National Heritage Resources Act.”
He said the site had undergone various levels of heritage scrutiny and approval processes, and the demolition and subsequent replacement structure was permitted as it would not negatively affect the heritage context.
Raybin Windvogel, a resident who lives in Zandvlei, adjacent to Muizenberg, posted a video on Facebook of the demolition taking place and said: “The beginning of the end for ‘The Muizenberg Eyesore’.”
Shane Zeeman, who lived on the second floor of the building about 25 years ago when it was still called “Cape Sand”, visited the site on Wednesday and spoke fondly of the place.
He recalled a restaurant on the ground floor, and the caretaker, who lived in a pad on top (visible in some of the pictures, painted light green), hosting loud parties.
“He had the best view of all,” Zeeman said.
Windvogel said the site had been an eyesore for years, and he was excited about it being turned into something new and bright and useful.
Heritage Western Cape confirmed that the replacement structure would consist of apartments.
The newly appointed chairperson of the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID), Simon Roberts, said the demolition and development was good for the area, and that the MID was happy about the business and safety it would bring by ridding the area of the criminal element the building had been home to at times.
In April 2020, the False Bay Echo reported that Salicure Properties had proposed the construction of a five-storey block of 39 flats called The Muse.
kristin.engel@inl.co.za