The De Wijert district in Groningen will be radically overhauled from next spring.
The municipality has announced that 222 houses will make way for 285 new social housing units. 63 additional social rental homes will be added in the district. In addition, the streets are being redesigned and courtyards between the residential blocks are given the function of meeting place.
Demolished in phases
The neighborhood renewal will take place in the southeastern part of De Wijert-Noord, the area between Vondellaan, PC Hooftlaan, Spieghelstraat and Brederostraat. The plans were made together with neighborhood corporation De Huismeesters and will be implemented ‘while preserving the cultural-historical values of the post-war neighbourhood’.
Alderman Rik van Niejenhuis says that the neighborhood renewal in De Wijert has been worked on for a number of years. There are 374 homes in the total plan area, 152 of which have already been renovated and partly sold. The other 222 homes will be demolished in phases, allowing residents to return to their own neighbourhood.
Garage boxes that are still here today will be demolished. This should ensure that the inner areas have a beautiful entrance. According to the municipality, 3 trees must be felled and 6 moved in the courtyards to make the demolition and construction work possible. ‘The 3 trees to be felled will be replaced by 7 new trees.’
Parking
There will also be changes for parking. ‘The parking spaces on the sidewalk are only available for cars in the evening and at night. As a result, the space can be used by the neighborhood during the day,” the municipality writes. Also for this plan trees have to be felled, 19 in total. These will be replaced by as many new trees. “From eight meters high.”
A meeting will be held at the beginning of December to update residents of De Wijert.