Crime has dropped by an incredible 80 percent in just four months in Parson’s Ridge, one of Port Elizabeth’s newest residential suburbs.

That’s according to Jennifer Deyzel, chairperson of the Parsons Ridge Patrols (PRP), a Neighbourhood Watch-based organisation formed earlier this year to combat housebreakings and thefts from vehicles in the area.

And a significant portion of its funding comes from an unusual source: leading Port Elizabeth development company Cohen Property Developments, which built most of the homes in the suburb.

Asked by the local community for his assistance in establishing a local Neighbourhood Watch to combat crime, Cohen Property Developments MD Aaron Cohen’s response was simply to ask what they needed, said Deyzel.  “He then went ahead and provided us with signage, vests and caps, reflectors, torches and self-defence equipment all vital to the success of the PRP, which has grown from 12 to 32 patrollers since its inception.”

Cohen, who along with his brother, fellow director Stanley Cohen, says their interest in an area lasts beyond the sales.  The company, which built the first home in Parson’s Ridge and still owns it, is committed to protecting their buyers’ long-term investments.  “We take an interest in the areas we develop and I have to admit that I still regard each house as my own,” he says.  “For us it’s not just about the money; we don’t walk away when the last unit has been built.”

Originally a farm, Parsons Ridge has been divided into 400 residential stands, 200 of which were bought and developed by Cohen Property Developments.   Now one of the fastest developing areas in Port Elizabeth, Parsons Ridge is a thriving, caring community that works hand in hand with the Kabega Park Police Station to ‘keep the bad elements out and the good ones in’, says Deyzel.

There’s no doubt that the Parson’s Ridge Neighbourhood Watch is working, agrees Warrant Officer Egmond Potgieter of Kabega Park SAPS.  “Housebreaking and theft out of motor vehicles are always a problem but with the help of the PRP which reports anything suspicious to us immediately, crime in this area is under control. The Neighbourhood Watch members are our eyes and ears.”

The PRP works closely with Sector Commander Constable Paul Disenyane, meeting regularly with him to discuss crime-related issues.  “Without communication between the sector commander and the Neighbourhood Watch, this whole concept will be fruitless,” says W/O Potgieter.  “The commitment and positive attitude of the Parsons Ridge NHW are the contributing factors to their success.”

W/O Potgieter says other key factors in a successful Neighbourhood Watch include residents taking a greater interest and becoming more aware of what’s going on around them, using their collective strength to prevent crime, physically participating in patrols and liaising closely with the police.

“Patrols with marked NHW clothes and signage help from a visibility point of view, but people in their homes can also play a big role in preventing crime, by checking their neighbours’ houses, knowing each other’s phone numbers, arranging with neighbours to check your house when you are away, and phoning your neighbours if you notice anything suspicious,” he adds.

Deyzel says the PRP focuses on three key areas, namely visible patrolling, educating residents on security and safety, and reporting crimes or suspicious activities to the police.  “We’re not a vigilante group but rather a group of community-oriented residents who give of our time and money to keep our area and our homes safe,” she explains.  “We’re proof that Neighbourhood Watches definitely work.  And while we don’t have a collective database in South Africa to measure success scientifically, statistics in the UK show that Neighbourhood Watch members are on average 68 times less likely to be a burglary victim.”

Formed with a legally binding constitution, the PRP is a non-profit organisation that holds monthly meetings with members, patrollers and the local SAPS and sends out a quarterly newsletter to residents containing information on crime prevention and incidents.

As the result of the success of the PRP, Cohen says they have decided to sponsor Neighbourhood Watches in every suburb they develop in order to leave a lasting legacy for residents.  These include Pinelands near Lorraine, where they’re currently building 140 units, Fairview (250 units), Mt Pleasant (274 units) and Kamma Heights (10 units).

The neighbourhood watch concept originated in New York in the US in the late 60’s, spreading rapidly throughout the world and arriving in the Western Cape in South Africa in the 1970s.

Cohen Property Developments, which has built more than 3 000 residential units in and around Port Elizabeth in the last 13 years, has just been awarded the Greyvensteins Attorneys Developer of the Year Award.

Caption (left to right): Delana Van der Bergh, Ian Clements, Aaron Cohen, Stanley Cohen and Arno Thompson after the Greyvensteins Attorneys Developer of the Year Award was presented to Cohen Property Developments.

GREYVENSTEINS ATTORNEYS DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR AWARD

The award, presented for the first time this year, recognises the contribution of a development company, not only in terms of the number and value of units built but also factors such as job creation, community input and its legal and financial integrity, says Cor van Deventer, a director of Greyvensteins Attorneys Inc, which is a member of the national Phatshoane Henny Group of Associated Firms.

Recognised as Port Elizabeth’s leading developer at the Greyvensteins Gala Event on 24 November at the Tramways Building, a glittering gathering of the highest achievers in the local real estate industry, Cohen Property Developments was launched by brothers Aaron and Stanley Cohen in 2003.

Now the largest developer in Port Elizabeth, the company is currently working on 75 units on a daily basis, says co-director Aaron Cohen.

Accepting the award from Greyvensteins directors Liesel Greyvenstein and Cor van Deventer at the black tie event, Cohen said it signified not only the attainment of a long–held dream but also an ongoing commitment to Port Elizabeth.

Cohen, whose grandfather Daniel Cohen was also a developer, says developing is in their blood and that they measure their success beyond the financial aspect.  “For us it’s about building the future.”

The company, which brought the duet concept to Port Elizabeth during the property market slump in 2008, is working on a number of new developments in popular, family-orientated suburbs throughout the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area, including Parson’s Ridge, Pinelands, Mount Pleasant, Fairview and Kamma Heights.

It will also be launching a new flagship development in Salisbury Park early in 2017.

AFFORDABLE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT – BEST VALUE FOR QUALITY

Focusing on entry level and middle market affordability, it has made upmarket home ownership possible for thousands of families wanting quality designs and finishes without the usual hefty price tags, says Van Deventer, adding that in so doing, it had also established a strong and growing investor following, with business buyers from across South Africa snapping up their product.

Priced from under R700 000 to around R1,5 million, the units offer the best value for money anywhere in Port Elizabeth, avers Van Deventer.

“And with the resale value averaging around 12 percent year on year, they’re providing an excellent return on investment (ROI) for investors. So typically, if you were to buy a unit at a launch price of R720 000, in all probability you’d sell it for R764 000 before transfer has even taken place. Alternatively you could expect a healthy rental return of about R7 200 a month,” he says.

Another value-add is Cohen’s undertaking to provide tenants for investor buyers at no extra cost. Explains Aaron Cohen: “As part of our service, we will select tenants from our waiting list”

TURNKEY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AT COMPETITIVE PRICING

Asked what the secret of their success is, Cohen said it was a combination of factors.

“Firstly, we offer an attractive product at a very competitive price.  Comparing apples with apples, our units are the most affordable new homes available in the Port Elizabeth property market today.”

Further, says Cohen, they are extremely flexible with architectural design and finishes.

“No matter how big or small, we believe a home is a family’s castle, so we make it possible for clients to choose their own architectural styles and sizes as well as flooring, fittings and colour schemes.  We impose as few limitations as possible.”

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE & SECURITY

As part of its signature turnkey package, the company also makes financing easy and accessible.

“We are approved by all the major banks and have a dedicated bond consultant to advise clients on affordability and assist them with completing the documentation. What’s more, there’s no risk to buyers since we don’t require a deposit and in many instances they will be able to secure 100 percent bonds,” he explains.

Also key to their success is their commitment to protecting their purchasers’ investments by assisting in the establishment of Neighbourhood Watches in the areas they’re developing.

“We have a hands-on, ongoing interest that lasts beyond the sales,” he says, adding that crime has dropped by an average of 80 percent in all the suburbs in which the company has been involved.

Van Deventer also lauds the company for much-needed job creation in the Bay.  At any given time, he says, it directly and indirectly employs around 1 000 workers, from builders to service suppliers.

“The feedback we’ve received from their purchasers is excellent and we’re proud to be associated with a company of this calibre,” he concludes.