Dozens of angry tenants reached an agreement about their homes on Friday evening after an occupation of the headquarters of the Mooiland corporation in Grave. They oppose the proposed demolition of 74 houses in Berghem (municipality of Oss). After the conversation with the management, demolition is no longer the only option, but the possibility of renovating the houses is also being considered.
Dozens of tenants walked into the corporation office around half past four on Friday afternoon with mats and sleeping bags. “On April 22, the residents heard during a meeting of the corporation that the district had to be flattened,” said SP municipal councilor Leroy Vossenberg. “It was just an announcement. Consultation was not possible. The neighborhood has been full of banners ever since. It has to end at some point. You don’t demolish houses at a time of housing shortage.”
During the occupation of the office, negotiations took place with the management of Mooiland. It has been agreed that consultations will take place at short notice, during which demolition is not the only option, but it will also be examined whether renovation of some of the homes is ‘imaginable’, spokespeople for tenants and the corporation confirmed on Friday evening.
That conversation takes place in the presence of an independent mediator, approved by both parties. In addition, a pause button is activated, so that no more irreversible steps can be taken until the conversations are completed.
“We had an appointment. Too bad they wanted this conversation on Friday.”
SP leader Lilian Marijnissen, who lives in Oss, also took part in the negotiations. Afterwards she spoke of a ‘fantastic result’ for the tenants. “Now they can make a new plan for their home and their neighborhood. And that’s how it should be, together with people, instead of on people’s backs,” Marijnissen said.
The corporation’s spokeswoman said that a meeting had previously been planned with the tenants for next week. “We had an appointment,” she said. “It’s a shame they wanted that conversation on Friday.”
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