According to the municipality, the old V&D complex and the adjacent Vlinderpassage form ‘a barrier’ between the two parts of the Emmer shopping centre, namely the Weiert and Het Oude Centrum. There is also persistent vacancy around the old V&D building. The municipality now wants a different interpretation of this area.
V&D department store was housed from 1973 to 2016 in the complex between Marktplein and Mondriaanplein. After the bankruptcy of the department store chain, Emmen suddenly had 7,000 square meters of vacancy. After a few temporary fillings, part of the building has been filled in recent years by the Die Grenze store.
Filling in large adjacent parts of the retail spaces on the Dalipassage and Kleepassage is also difficult. The same applies to the Pavilion on Mondriaanplein, the building that once served, among other things, as the gateway to the now demolished Traverse.
In addition, according to the municipality, there is no smooth transition between Het Oude Centrum and the covered De Weiert due to the extensive V&D complex. The municipality wants to give this part of the shopping center a ‘future-proof interpretation’. “This can be done by repurposing or redevelopment of the area between Markt and De Weiert,” a spokesperson said.
The municipality is not alone in looking at the area from a different perspective. Property owner Synvest, owner of the Pavilion Building and surrounding retail spaces, indicated earlier this year through property manager Intercity Management that you can no longer get there with shops alone. One of the ideas suggested is a combination of living and shopping in these locations. This requires a zoning change.
Facet (formerly the library and the Art Movement) announced earlier this year that it sees the Pavilion as a suitable new home. The current housing on Noorderplein has become too cramped.