The ‘yellow’ flat on Debora Bakelaan in Heemskerk will turn yellow-blue in the coming six months. The building would be demolished at the end of this year, but that will certainly not happen until May 2024, so that Ukrainian refugees can live there until then. Until November 29 apartments will become available for them in the outdated apartment building.
The municipality says in the press release that the homes will be ‘refurbished and furnished’ before the Ukrainians move in.
A win-win situation, according to the municipality of Heemskerk. Because the yellow flat was supposed to be demolished at the end of this year, local house hunters could no longer register for the apartments. A spokesman: “So no housing is taken from the regular housing stock to accommodate the Ukrainians.”
Three new residential towers
Until 2018, there were four outdated apartment buildings on Debora Bakelaan. These have been and will be replaced by three new residential towers. They should all be ready in November, collectively called ‘De Slotvrouwe’. “The first keys are now being handed out to the first tower,” says a spokesperson for Woonopmaat.
The ‘yellow’ flat is the only one of the old buildings still standing. The ‘red’, ‘blue’ and ‘green’ flats have already been razed to the ground. Ukrainians will now be temporarily housed in the yellow flat, as more and more of the current residents move from the old building to one of the new residential towers.
The ground under the yellow flat would be redeveloped after demolition into a piece ‘with greenery and water’, but that plan is now also logically postponed. According to the press release of the municipality, the decision was “discussed earlier this month with the sounding board group of local residents.”
As much as possible in homes, not in a sports hall
Although the regular housing shortage is also felt in Heemskerk, the municipality would like to contribute to the reception of refugees from the war in Ukraine by accommodating 150 people. “We want to do that as much as possible in homes, and not in emergency locations such as a sports hall,” said the spokesperson.
At the beginning of April, 43 refugees could already move into fourteen apartments on the Bilderdijkstraat. 17 Ukrainians have also found shelter with a Heemskerk host family.