Urban renewal in Johannesburg is severely compromised by poor urban management in that it hinder coherent and incremental development. The Hillbrow Tower Precinct at the iconic Hilbrow Tower has attracted significant investment necessitating a innovative Area-Based Management Model. The project presents a institutional arrangement that is directly aligned to a spatial plan that integrates the agency of residents of the neighbourhood. A toolkit for ideation was developed to facilitate residents pioneering their own project initiatives.