Johannesburg

Once a thriving hub of commerce and culture, Johannesburg’s inner city fell into decline as businesses and residents migrated to the suburbs. Decades of disinvestment left behind crumbling infrastructure, empty buildings, and fractured communities. Amid this urban decay, crime and neglect took root, casting a long shadow over the city’s historic core. Yet, even in the midst of deterioration, pockets of resilience began to emerge.

One such place was the Maboneng Precinct. Born from the vision of creative entrepreneurs, Maboneng transformed a stretch of derelict warehouses into a vibrant enclave of art galleries, restaurants, and loft apartments. It sparked curiosity and optimism, showing what was possible when imagination met opportunity. But its reach was limited. While Maboneng lit a spark, the surrounding inner city remained largely untouched—disconnected, under-served, and in need of deeper, more inclusive renewal.

This was the fractured landscape Divercity stepped into. The challenge was not just to build, but to restore trust in a place many had abandoned—reviving the spirit of the city, block by block.

Divercity’s vision for Jewel City was rooted in a simple yet powerful idea: bring life back to the heart of Johannesburg by creating a neighbourhood where people could truly live, work, and thrive. The solution was holistic—transforming seven neglected city blocks into a vibrant mixed-use precinct that blended affordable housing, essential services, and public spaces into one cohesive urban experience.

At its core were 1,450 modern, affordable apartments, designed for city dwellers seeking quality homes near jobs and transport. These were complemented by over 10,000 square meters of retail space, filled with national brands and everyday conveniences like a supermarket, pharmacy, and banking. But it was the added layers that made Jewel City a success: a school, a day clinic, sports facilities, and a safe pedestrian boulevard—all integrated to support community life.

Key to its success was active urban management—ensuring clean streets, working lights, and 24/7 security. Divercity also embraced smart technology: biometric access, digital tenant platforms, and Wi-Fi across the precinct. With strong partnerships and award-winning property management, Jewel City became more than a development—it became a model for inclusive, sustainable inner-city living.

The impact of Jewel City reaches far beyond bricks and mortar. What began as a bold redevelopment of neglected inner-city blocks has grown into a living example of how urban regeneration can create lasting social, economic, and environmental value. In a place once defined by abandonment and decline, a thriving, inclusive community now stands—one that pulses with the everyday rhythms of people living, working, learning, and connecting.

Jewel City’s transformation didn’t just restore buildings; it reimagined urban living for Johannesburg’s inner city. The precinct brought together affordable housing, quality public amenities, and reliable urban management to build not just a development, but a neighbourhood. For residents, it offered dignity and opportunity through safe, well-maintained homes close to jobs, transport, and schools. For the city, it demonstrated that mixed-income, mixed-use urban precincts can be both socially impactful and financially viable.

This tangible success has not gone unnoticed. Jewel City has received widespread recognition for its design, management, and innovation. Prestigious awards from SAPOA honoured it as the best mixed-use and residential development in consecutive years, while the UN-PRI listed it among the top five most impactful real-world projects globally. The SAFMA Awards further validated its success, celebrating Divercity’s excellence in facilities management and cutting-edge technology integration, including digital tenant systems and precinct-wide connectivity.

Perhaps most meaningfully, these accolades reflect the lived experience on the ground—of families finding stability, of communities growing stronger, and of urban spaces once forgotten, now alive with possibility. Jewel City has not only set a new benchmark for inner-city development in South Africa—it has rekindled belief in what our cities can become.