According to Kok, the municipality still plays a too small role when it comes to maintaining authentic matters. “If you as a municipality determine and limit What you can do with a building as a property owner, you also limit how high the rent can be. Making policy in this area you really have to do a property for the property, and a good zoning plan must be drawn up per street. “
But social geographer Iris Hagemans is cautious. According to her, there could be more protection from the municipality, but then there may be a shopping street that there is no demand for it. “With all the world’s policy you cannot prevent stores from having to stop.”
Disappointed Amsterdammers
Hagemans recognizes the disappointed sentiment when a popular neighborhood store closes. “It’s a shame, because those authentic stores give atmosphere on the street.” At the same time, she emphasizes that those same authentic stores are not always the places where Amsterdammers really spend their money. She also sees that with herself. “I also often catch myself that the things that I greatly appreciate in the streets are not necessarily the entrepreneurs where I spend my money at.”
Rare
Kok does indicate that places such as the Haarlemmerdijk and street are rare. Streets where all retail buildings are filled are becoming scarcer, he emphasizes. “On the Haarlemmerdijk you speak of upward rental pressure,” he explains. “So property owners have relatively much freedom to increase rents. While in many places, in less centrally located areas, the rent by owners must be held.”
According to him, a solution could be in a policy plan that is drawn up with both entrepreneurs and the municipality, in which it is determined where the street scene should go.