She has enjoyed living in her house on Koninginneweg for 48 years, but that happy time is coming to an end: because the municipality of Hilversum is going to give the station area a major refurbishment and build houses, residents of the existing houses have to leave their homes. One of the residents – who prefers to remain anonymous – tries to fight the forced relocation with all her might, but her struggle seems pointless.
The metamorphosis of the Hilversum station area extends beyond just the station square and the bus station. The Koninginneweg is also being tackled. The part from the station to the small railway barriers will be completely redesigned. For example, the current 32 buildings will disappear. Four new buildings will be erected there, with space for about 125 new homes.
In order to actually implement this plan, the municipality of Hilversum is buying up the existing buildings. A bit technical, but the municipality has acquired the ‘right of first purchase’ thanks to a special law.
Beloved
But not everyone is ready to leave. For example, a resident of Hilversum, whose lawyer has drawn the attention of local politicians to her situation in a letter, absolutely does not want to leave her beloved Koninginneweg.
This street has been her home since 1974. After having been a tenant for 25 years, the Hilversumse bought the house in 1999. “She enjoys living there and wants to live there for a long time,” she says.
“This law is a bit of horse drug. You have to weigh that drug carefully”
As a single resident, can you stop a development that costs millions if the municipality wants to buy you out? Alderman Arno Scheepers’ answer to that is a short and sweet no.
Within boundaries
“It’s very complicated to do something about it,” says Scheepers. “This law is a bit of a horse remedy. You have to weigh that carefully. In this case you want to realize something for the city, where you have to deal with many property owners. Too much to negotiate one-on-one with. As Hilversum we simply have to do everything within the existing boundaries in terms of construction plans and then you proceed to this law.”
The municipality has already bought a number of buildings, because not everyone is against it. Scheepers says he has invited all owners and residents for a discussion about the plans the municipality has and especially what consequences this will have for them.
Pointing out rights
The responses to those conversations vary widely. Some understand very well that Hilversum is going to refurbish this part and will participate in the sale from the start, while others do not want to leave at all and are putting their heels in the sand. “It is very emotional for some people. I understand that,” says the alderman. “In the conversations I have had, I point out to them the rights they have. I give them their options.”
More homes in station area than planned
The 125 new homes are part of the last part of the metamorphosis of the Hilversum station area. The entire refurbishment should be completed by 2030.
Not only will Hilversum have a new station square, but 450 new homes have also been built on the center side. That is quite a bit more than initially thought. Alderman Arno Scheepers says that until recently 325 houses had been registered.
The fact that more than a third more homes are now being built has everything to do with the coalition agreement concluded. Hart voor Hilversum, VVD, GroenLinks and the CDA have agreed that more floors may be built on the new station square, as a result of which 325 new abodes will arise there alone.
Because according to Scheepers, the law itself is all very tightly regulated. This is important because the ‘forced sellers’ have rights and are therefore entitled to a decent settlement, says the alderman. This does not alter the fact that the residents or owners cannot prevent them from really having to leave. If someone really does not cooperate, then expropriation follows. The alderman calls this the ‘worst case scenario’.
crazy role
Left or right, the municipality knocks on the door and comes up with a proposal for the reimbursement of the home, moving and some other costs. It is true that the seller has to find another home himself.
The Hilversumse, who has been living on Koninginneweg for 48 years, indicates that the municipality would be better off offering her another home in the center – if she really has to leave – than giving her a bag of money. But the municipality is not a broker. “That would be a bit of a crazy role for us,” says the alderman.
Incidentally, the municipality is only allowed to start building houses if there is a zoning plan and then we come to a municipal pain point. Hilversum had made a plan for the center, but there was a lot of resistance. For example, many are against moving the center ring through Koninginneweg, Schoolstraat and Langwensen. The case started by residents in the center ended up with the Council of State, which decided in February to quash this plan.
The municipality is currently working on a new plan. The law prescribes that a new plan must be drawn up within one year. It will probably be at the beginning of the new year that the council will assess this new plan, so that Hilversum can, for example, continue with the purchase of the buildings on Koninginneweg.
Appraisals
According to Scheepers, the owners are offered a market price for their property or home. Other sounds can be heard from the Koninginneweg, but no one wants to say that ‘on the record’. The alderman tells an objective and competent party before they do the valuations. Hilversum has entrusted the appraiser Gloudemans with this task. “They are on it. As a result, everyone gets a fair price for their home,” is his conviction.
The woman who has lived on Koninginneweg for almost fifty years believes that the municipality has enough options to develop Koninginneweg without buying her home. But leaving this house standing, while the rest of this part of the street gets a completely different layout, is really not an option, the alderman swears. In the end, the municipality also knocks on her door. There is no escaping that.