Originally meant to be called Panorama, the suburb of Plattekloof ended up with a name meaning ‘flat hill’, in error. Still, this leafy green suburb oozes superior character from its north easterly position overlooking the city.
The story about a street naming error that crept in here many years ago, stems from street planners accidently mixing-up the suburbs of Plattekloof and Panorama, which were both located in the Tygerberg hills area. Since Plattekloof is located in an upper sloping position, it was intended to be named Panorama after the magnificent views from there, but got its name after another suburb on the lower foothills was already named Panorama.
This residential area is surrounded by other more densely populated suburbs along the southern slopes of the Tygerberg hills, including Welgelegen, and Plattekloof Glen, and the more northerly positioned suburbs of Tygerfalls, Tygervalley and Durbanville nearby.
With little to beat the spectacular views across the Bay to Table Mountain, this suburb’s tree lined streets and tranquil setting makes for a pleasant lifestyle. Considered as one of the city’s secure suburban areas, Plattekloof residents enjoy invaluable freedom such as seeing their children walking to school, and riding bicycles in the streets.
Owning a home in Plattekloof also relates to higher property values, that according to Lightstone have held out steadily over several years. Average freehold prices here starting at R1.479-million in 2004 peaked at R2.364-million in 2009, and after a slight decline are currently standing at R2.266-million. Average municipal freehold values currently at R3.018-million places Plattekloof in the company of top ranking suburbs in other regions, such as Craighall in Gauteng, Waterkloof Ridge in Pretoria, and La Lucia in KwaZulu Natal. The suburb’s municipal freehold rankings show opposition from upmarket areas such as Noordhaven and Noordhoek in Cape Town’s far south, and the Melkbosstrand Atlantic Beach Golf Estate along the West Coast.
Not surprising then are the sectional share values of R1.526-million that compare well with the likes of Mount Edgecombe in KwaZulu Natal, and Melrose in Gauteng. Demand seen for estate properties in this area is reflected in the 24% market stock that last year, that saw a turnover of 31 estate properties changing hands at average values of R2-million, compared to 45 freehold at R3-million, and 22 sectional share at R1.5-million.
This area is close to a number of upmarket retail centres such as Canal Walk, Tyger Valley and Willowbridge, all including restaurants, hotels as well as a choice of friendly bed and breakfast facilties. Located within close vicinity to the private hospitals in Panorama and Durbanville, it is also near Tygerberg Hospital, renown for its affiliation with the Medical Faculty of the University of Cape Town.
Plattekloof offers a number of excellent public and private schools as well as sporting facilities for family entertainment at nearby clubs. Several challenging golf courses in the neighbourhood cater for golfing enthusiasts, and the local racecourse attracts visitors from afar. Wide open spaces along the hills and the Tygerberg Nature Reserve allow for open air recreation and leisure activities including cycling, hiking and bird watching.