Previously there was talk that there would be city lodging, a small hotel, on Bleekerseiland. But about a year and a half ago, that plan was withdrawn. The entrepreneur who was going to run it saw no future in it. The foundation has gone back to the drawing board to look at new possibilities.
“They were homes. It turned out to be most convenient to convert them back into homes. In addition, it is of course a fantastic place to live,” says Loman. Ter Brake agrees: “I would like to live here myself. It is really a showpiece for Meppel. It is really beautiful here. We have also noticed a lot of interest from people who want to live here.”
Since the foundation announced the plans, the members of the foundation have been “busy calling” with people who already want to buy a home. “We are not going to the market yet, we still have a number of steps to take,” says Loman.
Because these are monumental buildings, there are all kinds of rules attached to being allowed to renovate. All monumental buildings will therefore remain standing. Only one building is being demolished. However, this building does fall within the protected cityscape. “It is built like a barn, you cannot make homes in it. So we will first remove it and then we will build two new modern homes in the same silhouette. When you see what it looks like, you will recognize exactly the old building,” says Loman. In addition, a new house is being built.
Ter Brake expects that the housing will mainly be for the middle class. The buildings will be made more sustainable and gas-free and all homes will have a small front garden, he says. There will also be seven parking spaces on site. “With the common use of the rest of the site: Bleekerseiland. That is simply public property. Everyone can use it.”
The plans also most likely mean the end of the heritage foundation. Ton Loman: “Our goal is to make Meppel more beautiful and to preserve monuments. And we only have one part in our portfolio. That is Bleekerseiland. As a foundation, we are going to bring this to a successful conclusion.” In other words: in a few years the foundation will be empty. “Then we’ll see what we’re going to do with it.”
