The municipality of Emmen plans to buy the Kop van Zuid building for more than 6 million euros. According to the municipality, this is a strategic purchase. In the vicinity of the building there are plans for the joint accommodation of NHL Stenden and Drenthe College and the construction of the innovation center of the Greenwise Campus.
The Kop van Zuid is located on the Boermarkeweg, between the Scheper Hospital and the former site of the Aquarena swimming pool. The building is used, among other things, as office space, care hotel and health center by various parties. The property has been put up for sale by the current owner (a real estate party in Groningen) and offered to the municipality of Emmen.
Housing for students, renting to schools or use by care group Treant (which includes the Scheper hospital) are some possible applications.
With the purchase, the Executive Board wants to better manage the campus plans. Two years ago, Drenthe College and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences announced their intention to share accommodation. The new campus is to be built on the former grounds of the Aquarena swimming pool and Camping Emmen. The Kop van Zuid is right next to this area.
Diagonally opposite the current location of NHL Stenden is an old bus depot. This location will be converted into the innovation center of the so-called Greenwise Campus. In the spring of 2021, the University of Groningen (RUG), NHL Stenden and Drenthe College announced these plans.
University, HBO and MBO students and the business community come together here to work in areas such as green chemistry and smart industry.
The Municipal Executive believes that the Kop van Zuid can play a ‘central and connecting role’ between all developments around this location. The building can offer a solution for housing issues. For example, both schools can rent space during the construction of their new accommodation.
The same applies to Treant, which wants to collaborate with Stenden and Drenthe College in areas such as healthcare training. Finally, the municipality is also considering housing for students, for example, or temporarily providing education at this location.
There are currently six tenants in the building with expiring contracts, which will continue for an average of two years. Certain parts of the building are currently vacant. Incidentally, the tenants did not have to set up and jumped out of the building: the contracts may be renewable.
The municipal council emphasizes that the building was mainly bought with a view to the developments around the schools. Once all construction plans have been completed, the Kop van Zuid can possibly be sold again.
The approval of the city council is required for the final purchase. For such purchases above two million, permission from the council is a must. The proposal will be discussed at the committee meeting next Thursday.