The city council of Emmen has agreed to an increase in the budget for the plans for the Center for Visual Arts (CBK). The renovation of the cellars of the former Biochron will cost more than 1.7 million euros.
“The price increases in construction and materials, among other things, mean that this cannot be done otherwise,” says alderman Jisse Otter. The renovation would already cost 5.5 million. Despite criticism, the price increase was approved tonight.
The place where the shark basins used to be will soon be space for art exhibitions. The building has already been demolished and after the renovation, the CBK can move into the large underground space, where it will be given space for new exhibitions. Half of the more than 2,000 square meters is for the CBK.
No destination has yet been found for the rest of the surface. In addition, the entrance and the top of the Biochron will be tackled with the money.
According to the voters against, an extra budget of 1.7 million cannot be explained to the residents of Emmen. Several fractions do not particularly like the timing of pulling their wallets again. “It feels double, because people live in poverty. Yet we also have to look at the city’s business card.”
Renovating the Biochron and the entrance to the park must be the first major step in the recalibration of the park. “It is now a pimple in the center of the city,” said Jeroen Mulder (PvdA). According to him, raising the property is now necessary. “The facade is already out, we have to start installing now, otherwise it will continue to rain inside”, he describes the situation proverbially.